Although the Galpin Ford GTR1 made its debut at this year's Monterey Weekend, we didn't get a good look at it until the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show held this week. And while it's an impressive build, one has to ask themself a simple question: Why?
The company building it, Galpin, says it is supposed to be an evolution of what Ford's GT would have been if the company kept on its development.
OK, that's a nice thought but isn't that — more or less — what the Ford GT was? Or, was that simply an homage to the Le Mans winning original?
Either way, why wouldn't a buyer just snap up a real GT and strap on a Heffner twin turbo kit and call it a day? OR, if you REALLY have $1 million burning a hole in your bank account, why not go pick up a Bugatti Veyron. Or a McLaren P1. Or a Ferrari LaFerrari, Or a Porsche 918 Spyder?
What is it I am missing here?
MORE information and images below...
Galpin's press release follows:
GALPIN DEBUTS ITS FIRST COACH-BUILT SUPERCAR IN MONTEREY
* The Galpin Ford GTR1 is a vision of what the Ford GT may have looked and performed like today had Ford continued its evolution
* Prototype revealed in Monterey, Calif. at The Quail and on the Concept Lawn of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
* Powered by twin-turbocharged 5.4L V8 rated at 1024 horsepower, 739 pound-feet of torque
Los Angeles, Calif. (August 16, 2013) - Galpin Auto Sports (GAS) debuted its first coach-built supercar, the Galpin Ford GTR1, on the Monterey peninsula with initial showings at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on August 16 as well as a display on the prestigious concept lawn of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 18.
Galpin Auto Sports 1024 horsepower Galpin Ford GTR1 debuted at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on August 18.
The Galpin Ford GTR1 is a vision of what the Ford GT may have looked and performed like, had Ford continued its evolution. Once the design of the prototype was finalized late last year, a hand-formed all aluminum body was constructed by renowned concept car builder, Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, Inc., of Fountain Valley, Calif. - a process that in and of itself took more than 12,000 man hours to complete.
Underscoring its commitment to providing buyers with the ultimate custom coachwork experience, Galpin has worked with Metalcrafters to offer owners the choice of ordering their GTR1 in either a carbon fiber body or an aluminum body. In addition to its aluminum work, Metalcrafters has several decades of experience providing carbon fiber bodies for a number of established supercar manufacturers and world champion race teams.
Complementing the bespoke body created for the GTR1, Galpin equipped the car with a twin-turbocharged system specially tuned to produce 1024 horsepower and 739 pound feet of torque. With all that available power on hand, early estimates show the GTR1 is mechanically capable of speeds in excess of 225 mph, 0-60 mph in approximately three seconds and 0-100 mph in the mid-six second range.
Galpin also commissioned the design of a special set of brakes for the limited production run to assure the car could safely slow from such extreme speeds. Normally found on the F22 fighter jet, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Formula One racing cars, a special set of carbon-carbon brake rotors were crafted and paired with Brembo six-piston calipers. The decision to use carbon-carbon rotors was made because of carbon-carbon's superior resistance to fade even under the most rapid deceleration from high speeds and the material's reduction in unsprung weight.
In addition to its twin-turbocharged V8, bespoke body and brakes, the GTR1 also features specially made 20-inch forged aluminum knock-off wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires, jeweled headlamps, tail lamps and select carbon fiber exterior accents.
Inside, owners will find a machined aluminum instrument cluster, McIntosh sound system and equally exquisite hand fabricated leather trimmed seats, dash, door panels and headliner all available in the buyer's preferred color and stitching.
In fact, the leather used for the interior was sourced from Bridge of Weir, a specialty Scottish leatherworks that for the past 100 years has provided material for some of the most exclusive luxury automotive applications the world over. For this GTR1 in particular, a gorgeous blue Sateen Marine leather was selected that makes use of a special recycled chromium process reducing the environmental impact of leather processing. In total, roughly eight hides were needed to complete all the leather appointments in the vehicle; each selected from free range cattle that graze at altitudes in excess of 4,000 feet to reduce potential blemishes to the finished surfaces that would ordinarily come from barbed wire and insect bites.
"For more than 60 years Galpin has placed the utmost importance on the craftsmanship and performance of each of the cars we build," said Beau Boeckmann, President of Galpin Auto Sports. "I'm incredibly proud to share our interpretation of one of the most iconic automotive designs of the twenty first century."
Production for the GTR1 will be extremely limited. Galpin anticipates an initial build of just six vehicles and a maximum of 24 units created with an initial price of just over one million dollars. For interested buyers outside the U.S., Galpin will facilitate international shipment and delivery as needed.
Orders for Galpin's supercar are being taken immediately with full-scale production scheduled for early 2014. For additional information on the Galpin Ford GTR1, please inquire with Galpin Ford GTR1 Sales Manager, Stuart McIntosh at (818) 922-3683 or via email at GTR1@Galpin.com
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The 2013 LA Show photo galleries are sponsored by Lexus.
Official LA Auto Show Photo Gallery
