Jalopnik
Iconic Motors announced what they call "a truly groundbreaking automobile," which is pretty amazing given that it looks a lot like a certain other car that's already been recreated a few times. What does $600K get you? A lot of carbon fiber, a 420-cubic-inch V8 good for 800 horsepower, heated-and-cooled seats and a center display that utilizes bright-view technology "found in military fighters." With 18 pending U.S. patent applications this could be the ultimate modern realization of the 427 Cobra... or it could be lawsuit bait. Only time and Carroll Shelby's legal team will tell. Press release below the jump.
CONIC MOTORS UNVEILS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED GTR ROADSTER AT AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D' ELEGANCELong Island, N.Y. (March 13, 2008) - The GTR Roadster by Iconic Motors was unveiled at the duPont REGISTRY Live! this past weekend at the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance. A truly groundbreaking automobile, the Iconic GTR boasts 18 pending U.S. patent applications, a chassis made of high strength chromoly, a carbon fiber passenger tub and carbon fiber body panels, and a high performance air management system with under body inverted carbon fiber wings designed to generate more than 500 pounds of downforce at 175 miles per hour.
The Iconic GTR's 1950s inspired body design features many panels constructed of a poly silicate matrix sandwiched between two layers of carbon fiber that results in an incredibly strong light weight and rigid body. With its carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb reinforced chassis having over 20,000 pounds of torsional rigidity, the GTR offers a level of performance handling that rivals that found in many modern race cars.
"I have wanted to build a car that combines the latest innovative technologies with the most exquisite detailing, design and all out performance since the day I began reading car magazines as a kid," said Claudio Ballard, the inventor and visionary behind the GTR Roadster. "Everything from the custom-built, heated and cooled carbon fiber seats to the computerized gas cap that slides open like the glass on a moon roof embodies my vision."
From its luxurious leather and suede hand-stitched interior to its hand-assembled 420-cid/800-horsepower naturally aspirated V-8 engine, the vehicle is a rolling showcase for revolutionary technology shrouded in a racecar. The entire nose clip swings up and forward to reveal the highly detailed engine compartment, showcasing a custom-fabricated engine built to super car racing standards featuring titanium valves, high strength light weight stainless and aluminum components throughout along with the very latest in high performance friction reduction technology. The patent pending shifter mechanism is specifically designed to display its inner workings as a beautiful piece of automotive artwork, and even the gauges, dashboard starter and hazard light push button switches are custom designed from stainless steel and manmade synthetic sapphire with a hardness level just below that of diamond. The dash center console has a 8-inch touch screen display utilizing the same bright-view technology found in military strike fighters and bombers for clear visibility regardless of sunlight exposure in support of its onboard GPS navigation and driver information displays.
The Iconic GTR - proudly designed, engineered and constructed using state-of-the-art computer-aided design and manufacturing technology entirely in the United States with over 99% U.S. sourced materials.
[Source; Iconic Motors]
Comments
The extra E-brake handle for the passenger is a nice touch...
Ultimate Aero TT for the win.
Pretty, but I'll take a FFR Daytona Cobra kit done in my garage over this any day. Heck I'll take 10 of them and I'd be way under this blacky beauty of cha-ching.
My Camry has authentic bug splatter on its front cowl, also "found in military fighters". So I feel a sort of kinship with this uber-Cobra.
It's a replicar
Priced like the real thing
All your fancy bags
That you just can't bring
It's 3,000 bucks
Just to fix a door ding.
Isn't it Iconic?
@Mike the Dog: Beat me to it!
Cute but not 600-large cute.
Why can't somebody crank out something less crack for less whack? Is the Miata going to be the only (relatively) low end two seater rag top sports car?
Honestly, i don't see how it's a "replicar". Certainly yes it resembles any number of 1960s sports cars, but i think it's more of a boutique car than a replicar. I definately don't see the SHelby people coming after it. It's DEFINATELY not as "ground-breaking" as the Iconic people are so breathlessly saying, but it isn't a Factory Five roadster either.
@Mike the Dog: Some passengers are the only ones to have an e-brake
Ahahaha. This is probably more stupid than that SSC turd.
@Novaload:
Id say the Solstice (GXP) / Sky (Red Line) models aren't too shabby for MX-5 competitors, or at least that's what I've generally gathered about them.
The MX-5s just keep going up and up and up - I'll be only partly surprised if the Elise ends up being a 'near competitor' in pricing to the MX-5..
Not that I have 600 large to spend, but the concept of a custom-built car using the latest technology and all sorts of high-zoot parts is something that's definitely appealing to me. That being said, if I was rich like Glickenhaus, this wouldn't be what I'd buy.
sexy
@Mike the Dog: Impromptu e-brake drifts FTW! It's like driver's ed all over again.
Isn't the majority of the fun with rep-cobras found in building and crashing the death machines yourself?
But yeah, this really isn't a replicar. There isn't enough inherent value in merely the machine of a Cobra to justify paying anywhere close to $600k. The only way it's worth that much is if its one of the originals. This is something that (at least aspires) to be a modern supercar that looks like a Cobra. Also, I can't remember if the Cobras had a solid rear axle or not, but I'll be damned if I'd pay $600k for anything with a solid rear axle.
yup. I'd much rather have one of these than that awful Pontiac Banshee. Oh sorry. Ferrari P4/5.
I wouldent pay $400K for a house.
Nice job Carroll Shelby signing huge on the glove compartment of that cobra. Questionable.
Even if it looked just like a cobra (and it doesn't, but it's close) wouldn't AC be the ones to sue and not Shelby. Isn't that sort of like RUF suing over a 911 copy?
1. To Buckster, where do you live, AFRICA?
2. I just took a look at the iconic website. Seeing the side-view i have to change my stance a little bit. Whilst its still not a replicar, it certainly is VERY much influenced by the Cobra.
3. Dunno if it has a live rear axle. I can't imagine it would, considering how much work they put into it and the crazy cost of it.
ehhh naw ill just buy a Nissan GT-R, Build my Recording Studio, Buy Penthouse and jus have more fun. Who will be stupid enough to buy this other than Jay Leno,,,
IF you think of anyone else let me know!
@Sketch d[-_-]b: There are several gentlemen in Dubai and Saudi Arabia that may a few extra dollars and limited automotive impulse control.
Sure, it's cool but I think if I had the money to spend, I'd get one of those Cheetah kits and a nice house on the beach.
@POLAЯ - EDITOЯ WANNABE:
Ahhhh no you didn't just show a Ford GT! Damnit, just when I thought I was going to be able to do some work today, you go ahead and get me daydreaming about pretty blue oval.
@Papercutninja: Palm Beach County, FL. Just bought a 3/2/2 House 1.25 acres for $177,000. Lot of foreclosures.
That's about 300 El Caminos.
Think about it™
I was at the unveiling at Amelia Island. Despite what anyone may think of the design, it does have some pretty neat technology. Several of us were speculating about the price at the event and our consensus was $150-200k. Oops!
I'd buy a Mallet Solstice, save 500-550K or so, and call it a damn day.
@nick2ny: Considering that CS will autograph your BVDs and issue them a Shelby VIN if you offer him enough cash, maybe not so questionable?
BTW, where did the galleries and link to the original post go?
@elwood:
I'd still rather have the MX-5. Even over an Elise. (MX-5s are much more civilized... i can't say i wouldn't feel cheated, though.) Fortunately, since the MX-5 is basically the same car it has been for the last fifty years you can buy them for next to nothing used. I'm just waiting for the folding hardtop models to show up used...
That said, you could buy loooooots of MX-5s and Elises for 600 large...
@Shapeshifter: I don't know that I want to debate the relative worth of MX-5s and Elises versus a what's essentially a custom supercar, but no amount of MX-5's or Elises would get you the technology and hardware that's wrapped up into this beastie. But, like I said before, I wouldn't buy this one, but if I was made of cash, I'd probably pay someone to build me a supercar to my specifications, kind of like the Arab Sheiks and their uber-expensive cars.
Didn't Corky Bell already do this?
Let's see... It looks a whole bunch like a Cobra. It's got a 420 CI (6.9L) engine, but they call it a 427 GTR. It has a 427 badge in the same location, and with a similar appearance to the original "Powered by Ford" emblem. Nah, it isn't worth Shel's time to fire up the legal team.
@Novaload: S2000 also comes to mind.
@KingRoyale: The engine compartment of a Ford GT almost made me late for my run group once! One of my favorite cars to drool over at the track.
I have a feeling that the scale of economics building this thing are favorable. The motor, trans, wiring harness, suspension, brakes, and some interior bits... amongst lots of other things, are already being made in mass quantity. Other Kit Car, i mean replica cobras, use identical parts, i am sure. So the interior cost 400,000 Dollars.
This is not a bargain. You could buy any number of older luxo cars, have them tweaked, and wail the crap out of them, because you already have a wharehouses full of 10 year old Merc SL's Old BMW 635csi's, Jag XJS's , a bunch of El Caminos, rancheros, a VW transporter or two with a WRX swap. And still have money to fix them all. Mini Coopers with 'Busa engines, A Mazda 323 turbo, an Omni GLH, a 240Z, a skyline R34, and as maybe an Audi Quattro Coupe. Boatloads of Rols Royce Phantoms, (i see the malaise era ones going for 12G consistently.)
What a waste of money. But people who buy these cars are largely care-free spenders, will drive the car 4 or 5 times, and buy a new toy. Prob a deuce coupe, or some oter hyper popular kit kar, with a custom interior. Money does not equal taste.
What the hell; you have people here complaining about the Tesla roadster's $100k price and that also has all carbon fiber body panels and it's been crash tested. This is $600k, sure it is 800hp, but you can get that in a $240k SSC Aero; 1000hp henessey viper for $188k. What else do you get, some kind of bright screen?
The recently revived AC Cobra MKV is "a complete rolling chassis that is factory assembled, painted, fully instrumented and upholstered with brakes, suspension, exhaust and wheels, but without an engine or transmission." The car is designed to accept Ford 4.6-, 5.0- and 5.7-liter V-8s, including the 351 Windsor crate engine. $94k, carbon fiber skin too, but only in Britain so far. Ironically they were going to have Unique Performance handle the sales in the US, but everyone here knows what happened to that company...
No. And I wouldn't pay $600K for this thing either.
As an aside, "Conic" looks and sounds suspiciously like "colonic". This leads me to wonder if a higher-horsepower version would be called a "High Colonic". And, if said "High Colonic" required racing fuel, would said fuel then be referred to as "High Colonic Tonic"?
Just wondering.
ok ok, everyone here is wrong about that second lever, its not an e-brake, its an ejection seat button/lever
oh and it looks more like a panoz esperante
@Novaload: You speak the truth, but there are profit margins. Looks like this Cobra probably has at least $200K profit per sale, unlike say $1,500 for a Miata. Only a truly big company with lots of production can stomach that sort of margin.
I have some insider intel on this car and a few of you are way off base on your perception. I do agree that the nearly $600K is a bit steep for another copy of a Cobra Kit Car. But, the things you don't know about it would fill volumes. The company that built this car has talent up the old stool hole. But as you know, the client is always right and it is his money. From what I was told the client really tried to make a statement with keeping to an "iconic" look for the exterior, that's where it all stops. The guy giving their client direction, on the other hand shouldn't have. He assembles kit cars in NY; I would guess they come WITH instruction. This guy is about as much of a car guy as my dead cat and knows about as much about what it takes to actually build one. When I met this NY cretin at the unveiling he claimed to have built it himself… not true as I found out when I talked to a few more of the people around the car. It was built where cars should be built, somewhere in Detroit. The motors is a bit odd (420 or was it 427 like the badges- anyway it's out of a truck). I guess the NY cretin guy hasn't heard of a modern motor, maybe he likes NASCAR. The intake was kinda cool and unique. The chassis, well let me just let you, it's the real deal. There were only a handful of parts that I could see that were bought- the rest were pounded out buy these guys in Detroit. NO other Cobra on the planet has this stuff on it. Way cool car… just look harder.
I like mine better, and it will be affordable.
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[IMG][i121.photobucket.com]]
Carroll Shelby may not sue but Jerry Weigert called. Wants his outlandish Vector claims back.
Before you speak you should know what your talking about.. I actually know Claudio(the founder of Iconic Motors) This car is not a cobra replica, it's modern homage to one of the greatest cars ever designed, and is being built only after getting the consent and blessing of Carol Shelby. The claims may seem grandiose, but I've seen the dyno data sheets and the light weight GTR's V8 does in fact put out 800+ HP. The man behind the GTR is passionate perfectionist (you would have to be to spend what he did on some thing as pedestrian as the shifter assembly {witch I've seen and held the prototype of and can honestly say is an engineering marvel, and cool as hell}).. As kid rock said it, it ain't bragging if you back it up.. So hold your comments till you've seen it at an autoshow or at least read a test drive review in a mag.
From what I hear, Claudio is a pretty interesting guy. Frankly, anyone who would fund a project like this has a serious love of cars. I mean, think about it, when was the last time you thought to spend a serious amount of money to build a car? Most of us are limited to a life of finding something cool at the dealership with just the right color of paint and floormats.
I have some limited experience in the car building world, but from what my buddy said, car project like this can cost in excess of $10 million dollars to complete. And from what Claudio has said in interviews, he is pretty far along on this project. I mean they wouldn't say that the car can do 200+ mph, unless, they've gone 200+ mph, right? Anybody know what that takes? It's pretty intense!
Something else I've heard and Rightfoot touched on it...this car wasn't built in New York, but just outside Detroit! That's right! The Motor City, Baby! You hear people talking about hidden technologies and designs at the OE, but this car looks like Claudio hired a few good men and put them to work, Bob Lutz style!
I haven't heard of the company that did the actual work, but I overheard someone at the New York autos