cazalea[Seiko Moderator]
16935
Light Weight + Analog Horsepower
Aug 05, 2020,07:02 AM
Gordon Murray has just launched his new supercar, the T50. Gordon was designer at McLaren when they brought out his life-long dream, the McLaren F1 in the early 1990's.
I have to confess a personal interest - we lived about 5 miles from McLaren HQ. I bought a book about the making of McLaren (now sold to another collector).
The book purchase also included a tour of the factory and a chance to meet Gordon briefly. To read my report from 10 years ago on WPS, CLICK HERE
Back to the launch. I'll save you time and reading - it's over $3 million so most of us can't afford one of the 100 cars to be built. But it's the ultimate ANALOG car. Only 980 kg!
Tiny Cosworth 3.9L V12, 12,000 RPM redline with 6-spd manual transmission. No Automatic!
Unknown acceleration & speed.
Every electronic nanny can be sent to her room without supper, while you flog it mercilessly (at the risk of your life).
Like the F1 it has 3-abreast seating
Unlike the F1 it also has a ground effects fan (think early Murray, think Chapparral)
Everthing you need and nothing that you don't need.
Dihedral doors, no visible spoilers or flaps, adequate ground clearance for normal driving, single central nut wheels for ultra-light weight
Skeletonized console (and everything else) This car weighs about 1000 lbs less than its competitors - about 1/3 less.
Analog instruments "I wanted them to look like a watch face" with needles machined out of aluminum and dials are flood-lit, not backlit
IF you must insist on punishing yourself with envy, check out the video on Murray's site.
But a warning - turn down your sound before you click PLAY, the narrator is Dario Franchitti and if you stop it, the video starts over...
Say Hi for me if you see him.
Cazalea