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Image credits: © Shelby.
2005 Shelby GR-1 Concept news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Coupe Chassis Num: 6R12004PEBBLE0002 |
| Sold for $82,500 at 2011 RM Auctions. | |||
Although the Shelby Daytona project would be lost, it would not be forgotten. And forty years after the first Daytona's would be produced the idea would come back around to make a modern version; to use the old Shelby Daytona as inspiration for a modern design.
Since even the Daytona would inextricably linked to Shelby and Cobra it would be fitting that one year after the debut of the Ford Shelby Cobra Concept the new Ford Shelby GR-1 would be introduced. Its name obviously diverges from the Shelby Daytona name, but the influence of the car in the design of the new concept is more than obvious.
Only three sketches would be needed before a design would be decided upon. The flat, low and wide nose hints of the modern GT40. This point is further hinted at by the large rectangular radiator inlet and the squared-off look of the nose. However, an overall look of the car lends to immediate thoughts of the Daytona. And small intricate design details further enhance the correlation.
The aerodynamic headlight covers and fender design give the car the high fender look used in the Daytona, however. The long nose with slot-venting is also very reminiscent of the Daytona. But perhaps nothing of the new design translates the old into the new more than its far-aft positioning of the passenger compartment and the Stubby Kamm-like tail.
The first representation of the design would debut at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August of 2004. It would only be a clay model of the concept. However, an actual rolling platform model would be designed. And it would be that platform model that would be offered at this year's RM Auctions in Monterey, California. Offered by the Ford Motor Company, the proceeds from the sale would go entirely to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Although not a working concept, the model is more than capable of catching attention and serving as an example of modern and contemporary representation of classic design.
Completed in a striking silver metal finish, the concept would have the look of pure water flowing around the rugged, and yet, gorgeous long nose and teardrop-shaped passenger compartment. Out of the sketches would come a design that would be able to capture the racing successes of the Daytona in its design. Therefore, the GR-1 has a mean competitive look to it. But it wouldn't be all brawn. Its styling and design would also give the brawny car an elegance that gets into one's mind. Therefore, the car's design seems just as ready for competition as it does for being admired amongst a concours of classics. The platform model was expected to raise $150,000-$200,000 at auction to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Sources:
'Featured Lots: Lot No. 120: 2005 Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept Platform Model', (http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r234&fc=0). RM Auctions. http://www.rmauctions.com/featurecars.cfm?SaleCode=MO11&CarID=r234&fc=0. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
Wikipedia contributors, 'Shelby Daytona', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 23 May 2011, 17:42 UTC, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shelby_Daytona&oldid=430543303 accessed 18 August 2011By Jeremy McMullen
'Last year's Ford Shelby Cobra roadster concept only hinted at the possibilities for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship wîth Carroll Shelby. The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept provides another glimpse at what the future could hold.' J Mays, Group Vice President of Design and Chief Creative OfficerThe Ford Shelby GR-1 concept springs from a long line of Ford performance project cars and quickly establishes itself as one of the most contemporary and dramatic front-engine, two-seat, fastback supercars. This running prototype reaches closer to reality wîth a 605-horsepower, 390-cubic-inch all-aluminum V-10 engine, a road-tested version of the Ford GT suspension and a stunning new polished-aluminum body.
Sensuous, perfectly proportioned and wholly modern, this show car builds on the success of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept – the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 'Best in Show' winner – and reinforces Ford's continued commitment to performance.
The Shelby GR-1 concept's name pays tribute to both a performance great and 'Group Racing.' This uniquely emotional American sports car design represents Ford's continued desire to include a high-end, limited-production specialist supercar in its lineup. Initially unveiled as a design exercise at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August, the Ford Shelby GR-1 concept is a sports car salute to 'performance art.'
The Shelby GR-1 concept combines modern sculptured surfaces and a sleek muscular fastback design into a car that could succeed the Ford GT once its production cycle concludes. All of the sophisticated mechanicals of this extraordinary coupe are wrapped in a sleek, muscular aluminum skin left bare and polished bright. The result is a forward-lòòking supercar wîth attention-grabbing Ford presence and Carroll Shelby inspiration.
The center portion of the spaceframe also borrows liberally from the Ford GT as major aluminum extrusions are based heavily on existing pieces. At the front of the coupe, the team incorporated extruded main rails, a §teering rack cross-member, crash-management sections and the bumper beam from the Ford GT.
The Shelby GR-1 concept sits on 19-inch, 12-spoke milled aluminum wheels and features Goodyear 275/40R-19 tires in the front and 345/35R-19 tires in the rear, mated wîth the unique Tire IQ™ system, which allows the driver to monitor precise tire performance.
The interior door panels feature air-vent apertures and integrated 'door close' pockets. The door release employs a pull-ring themed design wîth quick-release slide action and an illuminated door lock/unlock indicator. The exposed rear bulkhead cross-car structure braces to the roll hoop and features a snorkel air-register outlet that controls the ambient cabin climate.
The heart of any supercar is its engine, and the Ford Shelby GR-1 concept does not disappoint.
Inspired by the biggest, baddest engine of them all – the renowned 427 – Ford engineers created a new aluminum-block V-10 to power last year's Ford Shelby Cobra concept. This 390 cubic inch, 6.4-liter engine, reprised for service in the Shelby GR-1 concept, is adapted from Ford's MOD engine family. It delivers the rush of raw power – wîth 605 horsepower and 501 foot-pounds of torque – associated wîth that big 1960s V-8 powerplant without the aid of supercharging or turbocharging.Source - Ford
Ford took the occasion of the world's foremost showcase of automotive splendor, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, to unveil the Ford Shelby GR-1 concept, calling the new sports car a salute to 'performance art.'
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a uniquely emotional American sports car design that makes a bold statement about Ford's performance future.
'The Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship with Carroll Shelby,' says J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Global Design. 'And the Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future.'
The GR-1 concept takes the performance car genre in a new direction combining modern sculptured surfaces in a sleek muscular fastback design. The result is a forward-looking supercar with attention grabbing Ford presence and Carroll Shelby inspiration.
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a front-engined, two-seat, fastback supercar that is based on the architecture of the Ford GT.
Design
Racing inspired and wholly modern in design, this show car builds on the success of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept - the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 'Best in Show' winner - and reinforces Ford's on-going commitment to performance excellence.
The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept is a sinewy, athletic design with a dramatic front engine proportion. The long hood blends seamlessly into the teardrop-shaped cabin while the dramatic fenders dart rearwards into curvaceous haunches thrusting the car forward and enhancing the aggressive stance and width.
The car looks as if it is in motion, even when standing still. The optimized wheel arches and compact overhangs define the dramatic proportion while the sensual surfaces express the car's athletic nature. A chiseled physique is achieved with sheer and full surfaces working together, interfacing one another in harmonious lines such as the strong shoulder line orbiting the car's form.
The front of the GR-1 is dominated by an impressive air intake aperture and air flow splitter, directing cooling air into the engine bay and wheel wells, while air vents on the top surface of the hood exhaust hot air from the radiator.
The V10 engine pushes unashamedly upwards into the hood's surface exposing prominent bulges - a potent reminder of the car's powerful performance - while air vents at the base of the front screen allow the motor to breathe. Intakes and vents perforate the body side and Kamm tail, further exhausting hot air out of the vehicle.
The front corners of the GR-1 are dominated by the front wheel well and trapezoidal HISS (high intensity solid state) and LED headlamps. The distinctive Kamm tail, a strong concave section, is further defined by the bold vertical tail lights at the rear.
A visor-like side glass graphic gives a hint of the dramatic motion of the butterfly-hinged doors.
The race-inspired, ultimate high performance, Ford Shelby GR-1 is the next chapter in a long line of emotionally-charged Ford supercar concepts.
The Designer
In the Irvine Advanced Design Studio, George Saridakis, a young designer, new to Ford in 2000, was known for his contributions in executing the details of some of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury's latest production and concept designs.
Saridakis created a sketch that caught the attention of the Irvine team and resonated with Mays.
'George produced this completely resolved sketch - the best I've seen in 10 years,' says Mays. 'When I saw it, it wasn't a matter of 'Let's do more sketches.' It was really more of a 'Let's get this into clay.''
Remarkably, only the original sketch of the car, in three perspectives, was created.
'George nailed it in one crack,' Mays opines. 'This is a designer so masterful at visualizing every aspect of the car and its story that it literally flowed out of his pen. And because the design is so pure, we really believe this show car will be a hit.'
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a uniquely emotional American sports car design that makes a bold statement about Ford's performance future.
'The Ford Shelby Cobra concept was a small step in our plans for the Ford GT supercar architecture and our relationship with Carroll Shelby,' says J Mays, Ford Motor Company group vice president of Global Design. 'And the Ford Shelby GR-1 is a giant leap toward the future.'
The GR-1 concept takes the performance car genre in a new direction combining modern sculptured surfaces in a sleek muscular fastback design. The result is a forward-looking supercar with attention grabbing Ford presence and Carroll Shelby inspiration.
The Ford Shelby GR-1 is a front-engined, two-seat, fastback supercar that is based on the architecture of the Ford GT.
Design
Racing inspired and wholly modern in design, this show car builds on the success of the Ford Shelby Cobra concept - the 2004 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 'Best in Show' winner - and reinforces Ford's on-going commitment to performance excellence.
The Ford Shelby GR-1 concept is a sinewy, athletic design with a dramatic front engine proportion. The long hood blends seamlessly into the teardrop-shaped cabin while the dramatic fenders dart rearwards into curvaceous haunches thrusting the car forward and enhancing the aggressive stance and width.
The car looks as if it is in motion, even when standing still. The optimized wheel arches and compact overhangs define the dramatic proportion while the sensual surfaces express the car's athletic nature. A chiseled physique is achieved with sheer and full surfaces working together, interfacing one another in harmonious lines such as the strong shoulder line orbiting the car's form.
The front of the GR-1 is dominated by an impressive air intake aperture and air flow splitter, directing cooling air into the engine bay and wheel wells, while air vents on the top surface of the hood exhaust hot air from the radiator.
The V10 engine pushes unashamedly upwards into the hood's surface exposing prominent bulges - a potent reminder of the car's powerful performance - while air vents at the base of the front screen allow the motor to breathe. Intakes and vents perforate the body side and Kamm tail, further exhausting hot air out of the vehicle.
The front corners of the GR-1 are dominated by the front wheel well and trapezoidal HISS (high intensity solid state) and LED headlamps. The distinctive Kamm tail, a strong concave section, is further defined by the bold vertical tail lights at the rear.
A visor-like side glass graphic gives a hint of the dramatic motion of the butterfly-hinged doors.
The race-inspired, ultimate high performance, Ford Shelby GR-1 is the next chapter in a long line of emotionally-charged Ford supercar concepts.
The Designer
In the Irvine Advanced Design Studio, George Saridakis, a young designer, new to Ford in 2000, was known for his contributions in executing the details of some of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury's latest production and concept designs.
Saridakis created a sketch that caught the attention of the Irvine team and resonated with Mays.
'George produced this completely resolved sketch - the best I've seen in 10 years,' says Mays. 'When I saw it, it wasn't a matter of 'Let's do more sketches.' It was really more of a 'Let's get this into clay.''
Remarkably, only the original sketch of the car, in three perspectives, was created.
'George nailed it in one crack,' Mays opines. 'This is a designer so masterful at visualizing every aspect of the car and its story that it literally flowed out of his pen. And because the design is so pure, we really believe this show car will be a hit.'
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