Over the last few days, I have had time to watch videos on the development of the Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T.50 supercar. Gordon Murray was a successful Formula 1 designer through the 1970s, 80s and 90s, who challenged the status quo with his innovative racing car designs.
One of Gordon's most notable designs was the Brabham BT46 Formula 1 "Fan Car". Introduced in 1978, the BT46 generated an immense amount of downforce through a large fan at the rear of the car. The fan accelerated the speed at which the air travelled underneath the car, giving it a vast aerodynamic benefit over its rivals.
Whilst at McLaren in the 1990s, Gordon Murray designed the McLaren F1 road car. The car featured unique designs elements, including a lighter and a more streamlined structure. The driver's seat was located in the centre (and slightly forward), with two passenger seats on each side of the driver. It was designed to be the ultimate road car, and despite not having been designed as a track machine, a modified race car edition of the vehicle won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Fast forward to today, and Gordon Murray is again aiming to build the world's best road car. A distinctive feature of the GMA T.50 is the forty-centimetre aerodynamic fan integrated into the rear of the car. Inspired by the Brabham BT46B Formula 1 car, it is purpose-built to improve the ground effect of the T.50.
GMA plans to build 100 road cars costing £2.36 million each, before taxes. With the design pedigree that is Gordon Murray, it wasn't surprising that all of the 100 road cars were sold within 48 hours of its global premiere.
One of Gordon's most notable designs was the Brabham BT46 Formula 1 "Fan Car". Introduced in 1978, the BT46 generated an immense amount of downforce through a large fan at the rear of the car. The fan accelerated the speed at which the air travelled underneath the car, giving it a vast aerodynamic benefit over its rivals.
Whilst at McLaren in the 1990s, Gordon Murray designed the McLaren F1 road car. The car featured unique designs elements, including a lighter and a more streamlined structure. The driver's seat was located in the centre (and slightly forward), with two passenger seats on each side of the driver. It was designed to be the ultimate road car, and despite not having been designed as a track machine, a modified race car edition of the vehicle won the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Fast forward to today, and Gordon Murray is again aiming to build the world's best road car. A distinctive feature of the GMA T.50 is the forty-centimetre aerodynamic fan integrated into the rear of the car. Inspired by the Brabham BT46B Formula 1 car, it is purpose-built to improve the ground effect of the T.50.
GMA plans to build 100 road cars costing £2.36 million each, before taxes. With the design pedigree that is Gordon Murray, it wasn't surprising that all of the 100 road cars were sold within 48 hours of its global premiere.