Automotive

Galpin reinvents the Ford GT with 1,000 horses and a $1 million price tag

Galpin reinvents the Ford GT with 1,000 horses and a $1 million price tag
Galpin debuted the GTR1 as part of the Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach weekend (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Galpin debuted the GTR1 as part of the Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach weekend (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Galpin Auto Sports' first coach-built super car
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Galpin Auto Sports' first coach-built super car
The GTR1 rolls on Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The GTR1 rolls on Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Top speed: 225+ mph (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Top speed: 225+ mph (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 features jeweled headlamps
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The Galpin GTR1 features jeweled headlamps
Still a 5.4-liter V8, but this one makes 1,024 hp
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Still a 5.4-liter V8, but this one makes 1,024 hp
Galpin GTR1 sketch
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Galpin GTR1 sketch
Gone are the circular taillights of the original Ford GT
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Gone are the circular taillights of the original Ford GT
The debut GTR1 featured a Sateen Marine leather interior
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The debut GTR1 featured a Sateen Marine leather interior
What the Ford GT might have been in 2013...
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What the Ford GT might have been in 2013...
Buyers can choose from aluminum and carbon fiber body options
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Buyers can choose from aluminum and carbon fiber body options
Galpin plans to build no more than two dozen GTR1 models
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Galpin plans to build no more than two dozen GTR1 models
Output spikes to 1,197 hp and 887 lb-ft with 100 octane fuel
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Output spikes to 1,197 hp and 887 lb-ft with 100 octane fuel
Inside, a leather interior and McIntosh sound system await (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Inside, a leather interior and McIntosh sound system await (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Galpin debuted the GTR1 as part of the Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach weekend (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Galpin debuted the GTR1 as part of the Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach weekend (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 uses a Ricardo six-speed transaxle transmission with twin-disc clutch (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The Galpin GTR1 uses a Ricardo six-speed transaxle transmission with twin-disc clutch (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The Galpin GTR1 at Concours d'Elegance (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Buyers will be able to choose other interior colors (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Buyers will be able to choose other interior colors (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The 5.4 liter V8 engine gets twin turbocharging (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The 5.4 liter V8 engine gets twin turbocharging (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Galpin displayed the GTR1 at both The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Galpin displayed the GTR1 at both The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
Galpin worked with California-based Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters on crafting the GTR1 body (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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Galpin worked with California-based Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters on crafting the GTR1 body (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The GTR1 reworks the original GT's styling (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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The GTR1 reworks the original GT's styling (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
0-60 mph (96.5 km/h): 3.1 seconds (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
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0-60 mph (96.5 km/h): 3.1 seconds (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
View gallery - 25 images

It's been more than half a decade since Ford had a legitimate answer for the SRT Viper and Chevy Corvette, and some parties are getting antsy. Galpin Auto Sports made its own rendition of a 2013 Ford GT, adding a downright beastly 1,024-hp V8 engine. Galpin's GTR1 remains true to the original GT in many ways but soars right past Viper and Corvette territory and into McLaren / LeFerrari / Bugatti turf.

A supercar builder born out of six decades worth of customizing and selling cars, Galpin Auto Sports presents its very first coach-built supercar. The GTR1 was designed to represent what the short-lived Ford GT, built between 2004 and 2006, might have become had it continued along an evolutionary production path.

The GTR1's body is five inches wider than the original GT, and its lines and curves evolved, but you can see the GT influence from nearly every angle – the broad, shoveled-out hood, the shape of the profile, the flat, angled rear-end, etc. This is a successor, not a replica, so there's an equal amount of change, including the overall body sculpting, refashioned headlamps and taillamps, and redesigned side intakes. We greatly prefer the lithe, muscular, track-like styling of the original, but in its absence, the GTR1 will provide an acceptable substitute.

The GTR1 reworks the original GT's styling (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)
The GTR1 reworks the original GT's styling (Photo: Angus MacKenzie / Gizmag.com)

Helping to foster acceptance among the GT-loving masses, the GTR1 packs nearly double the power of the original GT. Its mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 is reminiscent of the original power plant in displacement and cylinders, but its 1,024 horses and 739 lb-ft of torque add a whole lot of extra punch. Run it on 100 octane fuel and those numbers leap to 1,197 hp and 887 lb-ft.

Galpin hasn't written all its figures in black pen just yet, but it does estimate that the car is "mechanically capable" of speeds surpassing 225 mph (362 km/h) and acceleration times of 3.1 seconds to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) and around 6.8 seconds to 100 mph (161 km/h). Helping the engine meet its potential will be the buyer's choice of aluminum or carbon fiber body, 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tires. Brembo calipers with specially designed full carbon rotors will rein it back to standstill.

The debut GTR1 featured a Sateen Marine leather interior
The debut GTR1 featured a Sateen Marine leather interior

The driver gets to interact with all that bullish hardware from within a rather distinctive cabin with a machined-aluminum instrument cluster, McIntosh sound system (a feature that was available on the original GT) and handcrafted leather trim from Scottish leather specialist Bridge of Weir. Thankfully, buyers will have options besides the Sateen Marine blue motif that Galpin showed at Concours d'Elegance Pebble Beach, an electric blue-purple that looks like the passenger drank a little too much Blue Curacao before the driver dropped pedal to 225.

Galpin plans a very limited production, starting off with just half a dozen examples, not to exceed 24 in total. The car will carry a price tag of US$1,024,000 and production is planned for early 2014.

Source: Galpin Auto Sports

View gallery - 25 images
15 comments
15 comments
Bull Moose
A lot more expensive then the GT & not as good looking.
Guy Macher
For a million dollars, I could make a Yugo perform. Yes, this car is gorgeous but it's not worth a million.
Pin
They don't tell us how tall it is. This is important information when we're talking Ford GT(40)
Jon Smith
Pin,
Only the original 60's GT 40 was under 40 inches tall the Ford GT (note they left out the 40 part) was actually 43 inches tall.
Anyway what a beautiful car... oh wait I just saw the interior...
Seriously the original GT 40 (which this article doesn't mention) and the re-imagined 2000's Ford GT are stunning cars, this not so much even if you exclude that down right terrible interior.
Mirmillion
These guys should stick to engines and drive trains. Better to leave the design work to the purists rather than those hoping not to be sent a cease and desist letter.
Timothy Rohde
Start here: http://www.superformance.com/gt40.aspx Add $800K. Kick the tar out of this thing.
Gregg Eshelman
If those are metal rings in the cushion, don't get in it while wearing shorts on a sunny day.
holdenmidfield
Another ridiculous “let them eat cake” car for the billionaire set. A huge waste of money and know how; silly, shocking and sad.
John Findlay
Does Megan Fox need plastic surgery to look better ? NO and neither does the Ford GT ! Please Ford just re-start production on the GT PLEASE !!!!!!!
Stephen N Russell
I say worth 100K minimum. For 1M Id better have GPS & road map, backup camera & roadside service etc etc. Or Maint Plan.
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