GMA GMA T.50

[Bridster]

I like this photo from that set

I've read the evo article and I don't quite get how come MSO hasn't yet come up with an evolution package that improves on F1's shortcomings.
Squeaky brakes? How hard would it be to custom order a CCM-R kit at Brembo?
Fuel bladder that degrades every 5 years? Well, euro-spec F40s also have that problem, that's why people have been getting custom tanks made or swap them with US-spec aluminum ones. Surely McLaren owners would prefer one-time investment in maintenance-free solid tank (unless the bladder is enclosed within the monocoque, much like on a Formula 1 car).
What's next? Shitty headlights? Literally pick a modern ones from Hella catalog...

It doesn't even sound that difficult. And if MSO doesn't want the money, I'm sure Lanzante could easily offer such a package. Why won't somebody do it?

Yeah, it's actually not that easy to do on the F1.

Brakes - the F1's brakes are unassisted, no brake booster, and CC brakes need a lot more pressure, so just adding CC brakes would make the brake pedal really heavy. They would need to re-engineer the whole system and figure out where to add a brake booster.

Fuel tank - As you say, it's inside the monocoque! The bag tank comes in through a small hole in the monocoque from the engine side. To get an aluminium tank in there, they would have to cut the car open! Or somehow construct it piece by piece right inside the car.

Headlights - Yeah, pretty easy, and there has actually been an option from Mclaren to get upgraded lights on the F1.

As for the Shmee photo... I haven't seen it before, so maybe! Not that I care in the slightest!

 

[Revvd]

I'm starting to appreciate why GM wanted a do-over with the T.50.
I had to see what the bladder looks like. Luckily Mr. Leno has a nice video where he shows everything.

 

[empower77]

Will this car ever gain the popularity and cult like status of the F1, which by GM‘s own admission was a bit crap?

 

[empower77]

Yep. It's almost ugly. The flat sides, the fan in the back, the spartan interior......... It has nothing on the F1, looks wise. And it's the most boring looking hypercar in the history of hypercars.

But other than that, it's like flawless, so I forgive its looks.

Did you see the driving videos where the A pillars are so tiny and you feel like you are in A go kart? Don’t think any modern hypercar gives that feeling. It’s very raw in its purpose.

 

[Revvd]

Will this car ever gain the popularity and cult like status of the F1, which by GM‘s own admission was a bit crap?

No doubt it will be highly regarded among the petrolheads, but I don't think T.50 will have the same cult following among the general public as the McLaren. Let's be honest, the F1 is most well known for its top speed record, which it held for 24 years.
The truth with these incredibly limited and expensive halo cars is, most people don't care about how well they handle or how driving them makes one feel.
Other than its weight and the fan element, there isn't all that much for layman to appreciate about the T.50. It's not super fast and people have issue with the way it looks. Of course, the same can be said about Carrera GT, but that one has established brand recognition and a massive heritage going for it.

Ironically, the fan, not even being the focal point of the cars philosophy, might be the single most memorable thing about the car, for normal people.

 

[KiwiRob]

I like this photo from that set

I've read the evo article and I don't quite get how come MSO hasn't yet come up with an evolution package that improves on F1's shortcomings.
Squeaky brakes? How hard would it be to custom order a CCM-R kit at Brembo?
Fuel bladder that degrades every 5 years? Well, euro-spec F40s also have that problem, that's why people have been getting custom tanks made or swap them with US-spec aluminum ones. Surely McLaren owners would prefer one-time investment in maintenance-free solid tank (unless the bladder is enclosed within the monocoque, much like on a Formula 1 car).
What's next? Shitty headlights? Literally pick a modern ones from Hella catalog...

It doesn't even sound that difficult. And if MSO doesn't want the money, I'm sure Lanzante could easily offer such a package. Why won't somebody do it?

BTW, is Shmee about to drive a T.50? Or is this an old photo?

There is a fx for the headlights.

Ironically, the fan, not even being the focal point of the cars philosophy, might be the single most memorable thing about the car, for normal people.

Normal people are irrelevant, the only people that matter in the game are the several thousand people who can indulge in the hypercar fantasy.

 

[Revvd]

Normal people are irrelevant, the only people that matter in the game are the several thousand people who can indulge in the hypercar fantasy.

I interpreted the question of popularity in very broad terms. Not just limited to prospective buyers.

So many kids grew up with supercar posters on their bedroom walls (F40, F1, Countach, etc.). I think it's reasonable to say T.50 won't ever get close to that same status. F1 just had too many cool factors going for it. It's an unfair comparison to any new car:

• the looks
• groundbreaking construction
• direct connection to Formula 1 team
• won Le Mans
• held top speed record for 24 years
• dominant performance over competition (it still might be the fastest accelerating NA road car today)

I actually like T.50 a lot, but let's be real, it has none of those things. It's the same concept, massively improved upon in most aspects. A McLaren F1 2.0 30 years later. No doubt a fantastic car to drive and own, but not good enough to secure the status, I'm afraid.

 

[mihc]

I interpreted the question of popularity in very broad terms. Not just limited to prospective buyers.

So many kids grew up with supercar posters on their bedroom walls (F40, F1, Countach, etc.). I think it's reasonable to say T.50 won't ever get close to that same status. F1 just had too many cool factors going for it. It's an unfair comparison to any new car:

• the looks
• groundbreaking construction
• direct connection to Formula 1 team
• won Le Mans
• held top speed record for 24 years
• dominant performance over competition (it still might be the fastest accelerating NA road car today)

I actually like T.50 a lot, but let's be real, it has none of those things. It's the same concept, massively improved upon in most aspects. A McLaren F1 2.0 30 years later. No doubt a fantastic car to drive and own, but not good enough to secure the status, I'm afraid.

My only problem with the T.50 is exterior design. It' simply just not pretty and from a lot of angles weird. Judging by it's looks it's more in the 150K price range than 2 million plus.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

T50 will not even come near the status the F1 has had and still has. Independant of this, it’s a pity they failed so much with the design: too much a copycat of the F1, strange proportions, and those huge headlights in 2024….!

 

[KiwiRob]

I interpreted the question of popularity in very broad terms. Not just limited to prospective buyers.

So many kids grew up with supercar posters on their bedroom walls (F40, F1, Countach, etc.). I think it's reasonable to say T.50 won't ever get close to that same status. F1 just had too many cool factors going for it. It's an unfair comparison to any new car:

• the looks
• groundbreaking construction
• direct connection to Formula 1 team
• won Le Mans
• held top speed record for 24 years
• dominant performance over competition (it still might be the fastest accelerating NA road car today)

I actually like T.50 a lot, but let's be real, it has none of those things. It's the same concept, massively improved upon in most aspects. A McLaren F1 2.0 30 years later. No doubt a fantastic car to drive and own, but not good enough to secure the status, I'm afraid.

Kids aren't what they once were.

 

[Revvd]

Just heard Dario Franchitti say on the FoS stream that GMA have already delivered about 20 cars.

 

[Jonathan19]

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[Revvd]

I timed the last run of the T.50s at the very end of the Sunday's stream at about 48.5s.
He was going pretty quick, but nothing out of control.

 

[Bridster]

I timed the last run of the T.50s at the very end of the Sunday's stream at about 48.5s.
He was going pretty quick, but nothing out of control.

Is this the run you timed?

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Seemed to be about 45-46s, but I think we are missing a bit of the start. Either way, just by eye it seems very quick, even compared to a lot of the cars that actually did the timed shoot-out. And this wasn't even the shoot-out, so unlikely he was actually going 100%. And it was on wets. And the dynamic development of the car only started this year, so they probably haven't even started optimizing the performance.

In perfect condition I can absolutely see this car doing legit 45s, if not less. Maybe they enter into the shoot-out next year. Although with how the car was going, they probably could have even done that this year.

The only thing that needs sorting is the low speed - so it doesn't have to be pushed everywhere.

 

[Revvd]

Is this the run you timed?

I don't think so. Mine had different camera angle at the start and way less spectators, being one of the very last runs of the entire event. I have a single screenshot from it, because I was telling a mate, and it doesn't match with your video.

I would love to see an onboard! I hope they had a GoPro running.

 

[Bridster]

I would love to see an onboard! I hope they had a GoPro running.

You are in luck! There's actually a couple of those on GMA's channel - although under "shorts" so some people might have missed those. Then again... the camera angles are not the best. In fact, in one of the shorts the camera just films Dario... and in the other one it's in the passenger seat, having the view blocked by the driver's seat. So you really can't see shit!

Still:

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[Revvd]

Oh, no wonder I couldn't find anything. I use browser extension to hide youtube shorts.
The engine sounds pissed off. Love it!

 

[Jonathan19]

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[Revvd]

I'm just waiting for the Jay Leno's Garage T.50 episode. I want to know what he thinks of it, as a long time F1 owner.

 

[Bridster]

I'm just waiting for the Jay Leno's Garage T.50 episode. I want to know what he thinks of it, as a long time F1 owner.

Sadly, it's Jay Leno. So he will say that everything is brilliant - as in literally every car video he has ever made.

Either way, I wonder if anyone will mention or ask about the cabin noise. Because that for me emerges as possibly the car's biggest (and only) weakness. For a daily driver - or even for something you'd want to take on longer trips - it seems pretty noisy. Because of mics and audio balancing and so on it's often not easy to accurately assess how loud the noise is on video, but it certainly seems high enough to be a bit of blemish on the car's otherwise spotless record when it comes to meeting their goals.