NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The Ford Motor Company will end production of the $150,000 Ford GT high-performance sports car this year after two model years.

The car was intended for a short run, according to Ford. The end of production this year is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the famous first, second and third place finish of the original Ford GT40 cars, on which the car is closely modeled, in the 1966 LeMans race.

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Production of a small number Ford GT's began in 2003, to coincide with Ford Motor Co.'s 100th annviersary. Full-scale production didn't begin until 2004.

While far from a big seller, the GT has been profitable for Ford, spokesman John Harmon said. The company sold about 1,300 GTs last year.

It's greatest value for Ford, however, has been as a "halo vehicle" advertising Ford's performance engineering capabilities, he said. The GT has been featured on the covers of at least 40 magazines worldwide, he said.

"It's a car you do occasionally," Harmon said, "not a car that needs to be in our line-up continuously."

The role of Ford's "performance flagship" will be taken over by the Shelby GT500, a high-performance version of the Ford Mustang. It is scheduled to enter production this summer. That car is expected to cost about $40,000, far less than the Ford GT.

Ford GT details and photos

Related: Detroit to New York in the Ford GT

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