Woman bought a broken Ford GT40 abandoned for years, then fixed it and surprised old owner with it
- This American YouTuber traded a Dodge Daytona for a broken Ford GT40
- She decided to take it on as a challenge to try and fix it back up
- Her plan was to take the Ford GT40 back to the old owner
Published on Mar 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Mar 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
This woman bought a broken Ford GT40 that had been abandoned for years and in a heartwarming move, surprised the old owner with it.
The previous owner originally bought the fabulous Ford GT40 as a retirement project, rebuilding it, replacing the motor, and resetting the clock, but never drove it.
The YouTuber traded the car for $35,000 in cash and a Dodge Daytona, and it seemed like she got the short end of the deal because the Ford didn’t even run.
She planned a complete makeover for the supercar so it was in amazing condition when it was returned to the original owner.
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The story of a Ford GT40 and its surprised old owner
American YouTuber Emelia Hartford is known for her popular videos all about cars. And this one is no exception when it comes to going viral.
Meet Dean: A retiree who purchased an old broken Ford GT40 with plans to make it his retirement project. After replacing the motor, he realized it still didn’t run. But instead of fixing it, he left it in his driveway.
Instead of seeing an old abandoned broken-down car, Emelia saw potential. She decided to trade with Dean. The YouTuber gave him $35,000 in cash and a Dodge Daytona in exchange for the old Ford.
It seems like the YouTuber got the worst end of the deal with the old car that didn’t run. But she had big plans to give it a full makeover.
The Ford looked unrecognizable after its makeover
After buying the Ford GT40, Emelia took it on its first drive to see what was stopping the car from driving properly.
It suffered from a severe transmission failure, so it kept switching out of first gear. Emelia realized there was a design issue with the gearbox and sent it back to the manufacturer.
After fitting a new air intake manifold and new headers, she got a properly functioning gearbox back from the factory and fitted it.
The Ford was being driven for the first time properly in 21 years, but she faced further issues with the car. In fact, it broke down on the way to the shop to get it rewrapped.
After consulting with a Ford guru, they discovered that it needed a return system on the boiling hot fuel.
The car was then rewrapped in a cool Nardo gray with black and yellow stripes. It looked amazing and was soon on its way back to the old owner, Dean, so he could see his brand-new – old – Ford GT40.
“It’s way better than I expected,” said Dean on the car’s new DIY look. He can’t wait to do donuts in it on the racetrack!
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
