- Jan 7, 2002
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LAS VEGAS -- Just as development work was winding down on the iconic Ford GT, one of the vehicle's key engineers wondered: "What's next?"
Ford Motor Co. will unveil one possibility this week at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show when the wraps come off the X-1, a Ford GT with an open cockpit.
"To me, the ultimate expression of any great sports car is the open version," said Kip Ewing, who was a GT engineering supervisor.
Using a die-cast scale model of the GT, Ewing fabricated an X-1 version to show his ideas in three dimensions.
Hau Thai-Tang, chief engineer for the new Ford Mustang and now director of Ford's special vehicles team, which focuses on performance vehicles, gave Ewing the go-ahead to build the X-1 for the SEMA show. Ewing worked with Wisconsin coachbuilder Mark Gerisch and his Gennadi Design Group on the X-1 body conversion with its unique, removable roof panels.
Through Ford's SEMA liaison team and Ford corporate design, Ewing found accessory and performance parts makers, known as aftermarket suppliers, to participate on other custom components, such as the X-1's 6061 alloy wheels, Sony audio system, Sparco seats and Brembo brakes. The car also has a Ford Racing/Borla exhaust system, Pirelli tires and special Valencia Yellow paint with Tungsten Silver striping.
"The Ford GT X-1 project is a great example of manufacturers working together with the aftermarket to stretch the boundaries and investigate potential design and product innovation," Thai-Tang said. "There is something to be learned by going through this process."
Like the GT itself, the X-1 harks to Ford's history. The original GT40 racecar was inspired by the open-topped, 1962 "Mustang" concept car. In 1965, a handful of GT roadsters were built. One raced at Le Mans; two had experimental aluminum chassis and were dubbed X-1. Will you be able to buy an X-1 someday?
"It's a car for SEMA," Ewing said.
"But it shows there's room left for the development of the car." http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/30/D04-365342.htm
Ford Motor Co. will unveil one possibility this week at the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show when the wraps come off the X-1, a Ford GT with an open cockpit.
"To me, the ultimate expression of any great sports car is the open version," said Kip Ewing, who was a GT engineering supervisor.
Using a die-cast scale model of the GT, Ewing fabricated an X-1 version to show his ideas in three dimensions.
Hau Thai-Tang, chief engineer for the new Ford Mustang and now director of Ford's special vehicles team, which focuses on performance vehicles, gave Ewing the go-ahead to build the X-1 for the SEMA show. Ewing worked with Wisconsin coachbuilder Mark Gerisch and his Gennadi Design Group on the X-1 body conversion with its unique, removable roof panels.
Through Ford's SEMA liaison team and Ford corporate design, Ewing found accessory and performance parts makers, known as aftermarket suppliers, to participate on other custom components, such as the X-1's 6061 alloy wheels, Sony audio system, Sparco seats and Brembo brakes. The car also has a Ford Racing/Borla exhaust system, Pirelli tires and special Valencia Yellow paint with Tungsten Silver striping.
"The Ford GT X-1 project is a great example of manufacturers working together with the aftermarket to stretch the boundaries and investigate potential design and product innovation," Thai-Tang said. "There is something to be learned by going through this process."
Like the GT itself, the X-1 harks to Ford's history. The original GT40 racecar was inspired by the open-topped, 1962 "Mustang" concept car. In 1965, a handful of GT roadsters were built. One raced at Le Mans; two had experimental aluminum chassis and were dubbed X-1. Will you be able to buy an X-1 someday?
"It's a car for SEMA," Ewing said.
"But it shows there's room left for the development of the car." http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0510/30/D04-365342.htm
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