GMA delivers not one but two specials for Monterey Car Week

Gordon Murray Automotive has been busy preparing for Monterey Car Week in California. The firm has no one but two supercars to show off there. The first is a longtail reworking of the T.50 and the other is a different take on the Le Mans-winning McLaren F1 GTR LM. 

These are the first two offerings from GMA’s Special Vehicles division (GMSV). Clearly GMA doesn’t know about GMSV operating on the other side of the planet. 

Anyway, its brief is pretty obvious: to create one-off or special editions of existing cars with their own styling and bespoke mechanicals. In other words, infinite scope for customisation.

SV Design will create limited-run special editions while the Bespoke division will handle unique customer-commissioned one-offs. A third arm, Heritage, is for continuation-style reworkings of cars originally designed by Gordon Murray.

Le Mans GTR

The GMSV Le Mans GTR is based on GMA’s T50 hypercar. Powertrain aside, much of the rest of the car is modified.

The naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V12 and six-speed manual gearbox remain but they’re in a new bodyshell that’s inspired by the ‘longtail’ racers of yesteryear. They dominated Le Mans years, especially the 90s, and included McLaren’s F1 GTR.

The extended rear deck boosts downforce and aerodynamic efficiency. At Le Mans, a slightly higher top speed proved to be a winning advantage. So the LM GTR minimises drag and maximises downforce. Special additions are prominent splitters, skirts and diffusers that “generate maximum ground effect aerodynamics”, along with a fixed rear wing. So no ground effects fan is required.

Between the two channels of the massive rear diffuser are the dual exits of a re-engineered exhaust system. It evidently produces a deep V12 soundtrack. A roofmounted air intake adds to the drama “as owners explore the full 12,100rpm rev range”.

Other changes include stiffer, lighter suspension components, a wider track, larger tyres and new solid engine mounts that boost dynamics while avoiding the typical NVH issues.

The interior is more track-oriented than the T50’s. So new instruments, controls, pedals and seat cushions, along with a fresh dashboard design. Customers can personalise the colour scheme and materials as desired.

The first GTRs will be delivered next year. GMSV is building 24 examples- one for each hour of the race –  all of which have already been sold, at around $NZ7m a pop. 

S1 LM

GMSV’s second new vehicle comes from the Bespoke division. It is a tribute to the McLaren F1 GTR LM that won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1995. Known as the S1 LM, it mimics several design elements of the racer that was victorious 30 years ago. Included are a central aerofoil, a roof-mounted air intake, a split-level rear wing and circular rear light lenses flanking a quad-pipe exhaust system.

GMA says it has a track focus, gaining a substantial chassis update to go with its striking aero kit. However, it remains road legal.

This vehicle features a special engine. Yes, the Cosworth atmo V12 remains but displacement jumps from 4.0 to 4.3 litres and it targets output of over 515kW. It retains the astonishing 12,100rpm redline. The six-speed manual transmission is also carryover. Drive is to the rear wheels. 

Inside is race-inspired and it “explores new lightweighting concepts, utilises the finest materials, and showcases bespoke design quality at every touchpoint”.

Just five examples of the S1 are being built, all for one client. So one for each day of the working week. Why not?