Autoweek Picture of GT-40 Running over a Viper Bigfoot style LOL

[John ACR]

Got my Autoweek 4/15/02 issue ysterday and there was a picture in the .... But Wait, Theres More. (BWTM) section with a very funny photo of a bigfoot GT-40 crushing a Viper GTS. ROFLMAO.
It is not on there website yet but I will post a link when it is.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

hmmm, I'll have to photoshop up a response and send it to them...

 

[KenH]

Yeah, it's amazing how many non-existent cars can thrash a Viper.

--- Ken

 

[Bonkers]

Yeah my (non-existant) Zonda C12 can kick my (non-existant) RT's rear bumper.

 

[varanus]

Me too. . .I'll believe the GT 40 when it actually shows up on the dealer's floor and get's road tested. Until then it's just a publicity vehivle for Ford.

 

[John ACR]

Craig,
Great idea!
From there website you can submit your picture for them to use.
Maybe you can use that bigfoot blue/white GTS shot that has been
posted here before.

 

[Ulysses]

Here you go!

You must be registered for see images

 

[John ACR]

Ulysses,
Like Charlie Brown once said: "That's it!"
U Da Man

 

[DEVILDOG]

Wasn't John Coletti the head of Ford's SVT group in 1999 when they couldn't even get the Mustang Cobra up to it's published meager less than 400 hp rating? Hey John, send your first GT-40 ( really a GT-44 ) down here to Texas to reduce the Viper's status to " somewhere between a garter snake and an earthworm. " Make sure your industrial strength snake bite kit is onboard...you're gonna need it!

 

[dadsvpr]

coletti apparently said the gt-44 would trounce the srt-10. i guess the competition coupe isn't a fair comparison (its scheduled for production afterall). it's good the mopar boys are keeping the new coupe plans under wraps.

this will be a good question for the fellow meeting with pvo management. any guarantees the new coupe (when) it arrives will utterly dominate us major manufacturer market? what about saleen?

jason

 

[Viablo]

Did you guys notice that the gt40 had to sneak up on the Viper from behind while it was standing still??

No guts to go head to head. It may be a prelude of things to come.

 

[John ACR]

GT-44

 

[Vic]

The worst thing you can say about the new GT 40 is that its an old design.

However, it is also a timeless design, honestly rendered. It is an icon in the halls of automotive history, like the 1937 Mercedes 500K, Auburn boatail speedster, Cord, Cobra, various Ferraris, Dusenbergs, etc and etc, ...on and on.

Proudly displayed under the rear glass, sits the engine, like a diamond ring in a jeweler's window. That pretty small block will sing with a commanding note under boost, and make the blood of those listening boil with excitement, like fanatical spectators at an F-1 race.

Far fetched? Not that far off, if any.

Somehow I must get that car, and keep my Viper, too. God I love a challenge!

No flames intended. Just wanted to check in on the issue. Gabby me, you know.

 

[John ACR]

Vic,
All true.
It is very sad indeed to not have the Gen III Viper
a modernized V-10 interpretation of the GT-40.

The DNA line is simple

AC Cobra = RT/10

Daytona Coupe = GTS

GT-40 = ? , but NOT the SRT!

"Oh the humanity." I may buy a Ford!

 

[bad viper]

Rumor is production will be meager..maybe 100-150 units!
It's still unusual to see a T bird on the floor and they are building 25,000 of those!!!!!!!!

 

[Snakester]

I like the looks of the new "GT44", as I liked the GT40 years ago.

I think that it is actually good to see the yet-to-be-produced GT44 compared to the Viper, because it recognizes that the Viper represents a performance standard that other supercars will have to attain.

But of course the Viper is a moving target with the Gen III model coming out soon, and when the GT44 actually hits the dealerships (already all pre-bought for $150K++) it will be interesting to see how the magazines will try to play down the huge price difference between the two cars relative to their comparable performance.

Hopefully for everyone's sake they will throw in the Ferrari 360, Porsche 996TT, and the new Lambo and Z06 into the mix for comparison.

-Dean.

 

[Ron]

You must be registered for see images

 

[John ACR]

Ron,

Thanks for posting the picture.

Craig,

I can't wait to see your photoshop stuff.
Maybe a GTS crushing a GT-44, Z-06, Etc...

 

[Jay Herbert]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by bad viper:
Rumor is production will be meager..maybe 100-150 units!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's the Rumor I'm hearing as well, 100 units to celebrate Fords 100 Yr anniversary at 100K each.... To bad Ford fans get only get 100/100/100 while we get 500/500/500

I always hoped the Gen III Viper would be the a mid engine to be a better GT-40..... We have the RT/10 (a better Cobra), the GTS (a better Daytona Coupe and LeMans Winner), why not a Gen III GT40 killer.

For 100K, anyone could have a GT-40 built, so IMHO, Ford is not doing anything that special, heck, if they don't watch out, there may be kit GT-40's out that look just like the "new GT-40" (which looks like the old GT-40) before they get it out ...... if they only make 100..... I like the car a lot, but in my book it will really just be a "kit" GT-40 with a Supercharged Cobra engine.

If Ford sold 2000/yr. at 70K they might have something, but 100 total at 100K. Who cares.

 

[slaughterj]

I still seem to recall reading somewhere that the first year would be a 100 units to get some produced for the anniversary, but then the #s produced thereafter would rise to a "normal" production level (probably similar to the '03 viper).

 

[Vic]

It seems unlikely that Ford would go to all that trouble for just 100 units.

If I was running that show, I would make as many as I could sell.

At 100K or less each, it is likely that they can sell quite a few, before giving up on the tooling.

My guess is that Ford will run this model for a few years.

 

[Motor City Mad Man]

I am a sports car fan first an foremost and not a loyal buyer of any particular brand of car. I especially like way out exotic looking cars. If Ford can build the GT-40 and it kicks the Vipers butt, so be it. I come from a GM family and have worked for GM and now Ford, but I will buy what ever I like. My everyday car is a Ford since I feel I should be loyal to my employer, but my weekend fun toys are whatever I want. It seems like a lot of you are loyal Dodge buyers or just cringe at the thought of another car being King of the Hill and topping the Viper. Sure I wish my Viper could remain on top since I don't plan on selling it anytime soon, but the competition will good in the long run for all of us. If I had the funds to keep my Viper and get a GT-40 too, I would.

 

[james97gts]

I also really doubt that they will make that number of units.

 

[Paul Fischer]

I had the pleasure of running against a beautiful GT40 at Cabaniss Field a couple of years back. I was amazed how quickly the Vipers present got around it. I mean it got it's butt kicked and was back on the trailer and out of there before the end of the first day. Our first heat I passed, watched it quickly disappear in my rearview, enjoyed the moment, and got back to driving. It shattered my memories of this once mythic car, the one that as a boy I watched beat the Ferraris at Le Mans. One of our neighbors in my elementary school years had a GT40 that they took out on the street occasionally (Real hard luck cases,they had a Rolls for every day of the week and a few other toys, I suppose walking the Ford once in awhile was almost a chore. When they got a divorce she locked the massive driveway gates to keep him out, he had a Chinook fly in and lift them off their posts to get in

! ) and I couldn't peel my eye's of the thing. And what an engine note. It was top of the heap in it's day and will always be a classic.

Ford had better blow the motor because it's simply too **** slow otherwise. If all you want is a midengined retro you might as well get a Pantera and pocket the change. Put a blown small block
and some tires ad suspension to match in that puppy and it could be some serious fun. I'd much rather pass a blown GT40 than a plain vanilla any day. Been there, done that...

 

[DanElam]

Folks, I love my Viper and my Cobra. Let's not make any mistake about that. But I could not be more delighted with Ford's decision to build GT-40. For a number of years I have thought that Ford needed something to get people to visit the showroom. The mustangs are great cars for the money, but I don't see a Viper driver buying one. When the GT-40 comes out, it will be Ford's 'Viper' that got people back in the showroom.

Will I buy one? Who knows? Let's see what they actually come out with. But hats off to Ford for making the decision to build it. I sure hope my garage has enough space.

One thing is clear to me: if my choice is the Mercedes-Viper (looks too much like an SL-500) or the GT-40 and the performance is anything close to each other, I am taking the GT-40!

 

[John ACR]

If they ONLY make 100 GT-40's that is NOT alot of showrooms to bring people back to.

 

[Craig 201 MPH]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by John ACR:
Ron,

Thanks for posting the picture.

Craig,

I can't wait to see your photoshop stuff.
Maybe a GTS crushing a GT-44, Z-06, Etc...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

John,

Look for it wednesday, I'm home right now.. no photoshop

Craig

 

[John ACR]

Craig,
Looking forward to your post.
Let me know if it is OK with you to post it on another website.

 

[King GTS]

I saw the GT-40 at the Houston Auto Show yesterday. It was a very nice looking car. But no Competition Coupe! If I'm spending $100K - I'd rather have the Competition Coupe in street form over a GT-40 ANY DAY!!

 

[2tall]

If I had $100K to spend on a Ford, I'd.
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Buy a Ferrari Modena or MB SL55 AMG.