800HP Iconic GTR Roadster: Cobra copy ?
 

http://www.iconicmotors.com/

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/r...-gtr-roadster/

Source: NY Times

March 24, 2008
ICONIC GTR ROADSTER
Tribute to a Reptilian Icon

By EZRA DYER
Introduced on Wednesday: Iconic GTR Roadster.

Is it real? Yes. The firm will begin taking orders in April, and plans to build 100 cars.

What they said: “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,” said Claudio Ballard, founder of Iconic Motors.

What they didn’t say: While the top speed of this two-seater is promised to be more than 200 miles an hour, the Iconic people didn’t mention anything about the car having a roof of some sort. So top speed runs could potentially mess your hair.

What makes it tick? A 420-cubic-inch V-8 generates a claimed 800 horsepower, which is a lot for any car, but particularly so for one that weighs only 2,200 pounds. With a carbon fiber passenger tub and hybrid steel and carbon fiber chassis, Iconic says the GTR’s torsional rigidity is about 80 percent that of a typical Formula One racecar.

How much, how soon? If you have to ask, then you might not have the $600,000 it will take to get into an Iconic GTR when production starts next fall.

How’s it look? With the name Iconic, it’s not hard to tell which automotive icon the company is referencing — the GTR looks a whole lot like a 1960’s Shelby Cobra that’s been updated with a few modern touches while remaining true to the classic “A.C. Ace stuffed with V-8” motif.

Cobra makeover.

It looks nice. I wonder if they will be able to sell 100.

:D :D

"200 MPH plus" Oh, yeah, that areo package will work!:LOL:

Wasn't this someone from the board here a while ago who showed us the plug for the body?

Oh, ya. Guess what.... They only want $600k for it too....

http://jalopnik.com/367618/iconic-gt...cobra-replicar

You simply can't improve on a classic.......period!.

Could you make 100 of these for 60 million dollars?

I suppose there will be 100 people who are not paying taxes that will buy them...maybe?

:D :D

Gas cap seems like a solution to a non-existant problem. + whittled out of 80 lbs. of aluminum? Give me a break!

800 hp with 3.90 gears ???? :eek:


I don't think so. Like driving on a frozen lake


.

Carroll Shelby will be on them like stink on poop....it looks too much like a Cobra.

"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

Now that's a laugh..... 1950's????

They should just call it a Cobra replica, because that's what it appears to be. Interesting, but I don't really like it.

Actually - yes.
In a pre-emptive strike on any lawsuit aspirations by Ol' Shel, the Iconic's designer claims its inspiration came from the same 1950's Ferrari Barchetta that inspired cars like Tojiero's AC Ace and later the Cobra, etc.:rolleyes:

http://www.classicaldrives.com/imgna...-barchetta.jpg

As for the lines, the biggest problem I have is with the flattening of the front fender lines. Looks way out of place on an otherwise curvaceous shape and "lightens" the appearance of the front half of the body in relation to the rear haunches.

I've seen this car before, doesn't really work for me. (besides the price)

The old AC is a hansome brute, but, well, a brute.

The no-compromise approch here fails because making it resemble the original itself was a compromise.

Ultimately it's one of two things: a pimped out Cobra, or a badly designed supercar.

Well said. If it was an updated, modern day Cobra by Ford or Shelby, it might be viewed differently, but as it is - you hit the nail on the head.