GT Goes Topless: Ford displays GTX1 at SEMA Show
Ford has chopped the top off of its Ford GT and cut it into four pieces for the SEMA show, thanks in large part to Ford SVT engineering supervisor Kip Ewing and some SEMA aftermarket friends.
Insipired by the 1966 Sebring-winning Ford GTX1 roadster, Ewing, who worked on the Ford GT project, completed the initial design sketches and engineering studies on his own. With the backing of Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s SVT and Advanced Product Creation director, Ewing was able to get the support from Ford to build a SEMA project vehicle based on the original car.
Mark Gerisch of Genaddi Design Group (www.vgdauto.com), an experienced designer and metal shaper with a history of cutting the roofs off of exotic cars, was chosen to help make a roadster out of the GT. Gerisch and his team developed a roof system consisting of four individual hard panels for the GTX1, allowing it to be configured as a coupe, t-top or full convertible. With all the panels installed, the outer panels can be locked into a vent position and all four panels can be stored inside the vehicle when removed.
The GT’s rear clamshell covering the engine has been redesigned for the GTX1 to feature two buttresses that flow rearward from the seatback, but the view into the engine bay, showcasing the imposing 550-horsepower 5.4-liter supercharged V8, remains.
“The Ford GTX1 project is a great example of manufacturers working together with the aftermarket to stretch the boundaries and investigate potential design and product innovation,” said Thai-Tang.
The GTX1 conversion, which will be on display at the SEMA show starting Nov. 1, is available for any owner of a Ford GT. For more information, check out www.gtx1.com.
Besides Genaddi, the GTX1 features several SEMA-member company products, including:
Wheels: 6061 Alloy Corporation 19-inch front/20-inch rear
Seats: Sparco Carbon fiber Ford GT custom
Brakes: Brembo Alum. mono-block/two-piece rotors
Tires: Pirelli P-Zero Rosso
Dampers: Dynamic Dampers, Adjustable coil-overs
Trunk: Multimatic Carbon Fiber
Exhaust: Ford Racing - Borla
Interior trim: WK Industries
Paint: Debeers
Roof latching: RMD
Clam shell cassette: Manitowoc Composites
Engineering: Quality Metal Craft