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This is a build story about a car I refer to as a “C5 GTO”. It’s a hand built replica (sort of) of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. If you’re not familiar with the GTO, here’s a picture of some at Pebble Beach.
The GTO below (#3943GT), I was able to get access to for pictures, templates and taking measurements. That's me taking tail light measurements. While GTO’s are rare (only 39 ever built) and quite expensive (one sold for $38.5 million last year), this GTO is still used actively in vintage car races and the rear axle was out for repairs when this picture was taken.
What’s the C5 part you ask? I’ve made extensive use of 5th generation, C5 Corvette parts in building this car. I sourced the engine, trans-axle, suspension, steering, and brakes from Corvettes of model year 1998 through 2004.
The reason I say it’s sort of a replica is that in addition to the C5 internal parts, I also had to re-style the body shape to account for a difference in track width of 6 inches. I wanted to use the complete unitized front and rear Corvette suspensions so the track width couldn’t be narrowed. The wheel base is same as original but the C5 GTO is wider. I personally think the ’62 GTO is one of the best styled car bodies ever made, so my basic challenge was to not “screw it up” while making the body 6 inches wider. The most succinct description I’ve heard on the visual difference is that the C5 GTO looks like a real GTO that’s on steroids. Sort of like comparing a 289 FIA Cobra to the 427 SC model.
I’ve been working on this project for about 14 years now. Why so long, simple answer is, "life happens" and I do have other priorities like family and work. If this is the first time you’ve heard of the C5 GTO, I’m starting the story in this thread not from the beginning but somewhere way down the line. You might have read about the C5 GTO in either Kit Car Illustrated or Kit Car magazines before they went out of circulation several years ago. Word got out to a magazine editor when I decided to do the project and they convinced me to write a recurring build article which I called, “Last Chance Garage”. I’m not a car building professional or professional writer but just a car guy who likes cars not made in a factory.
The first thing I did when starting the project was to make a plan for the chassis. Nothing fancy but good enough so I could get it reviewed by a chassis builder. His opinion was that I’d over engineered it and he helped identify where I could simplify it. Once you see the actual chassis, you’ll probably chuckle because it still looks like a pile of pick-up-sticks. Here's the chassis plan top view.
Given where I’m at on the project now, most of the early parts I’ll show mostly in pictures. If you have questions or want more context, please post/ask them. I’ll try to answer the best I can.
The GTO below (#3943GT), I was able to get access to for pictures, templates and taking measurements. That's me taking tail light measurements. While GTO’s are rare (only 39 ever built) and quite expensive (one sold for $38.5 million last year), this GTO is still used actively in vintage car races and the rear axle was out for repairs when this picture was taken.
What’s the C5 part you ask? I’ve made extensive use of 5th generation, C5 Corvette parts in building this car. I sourced the engine, trans-axle, suspension, steering, and brakes from Corvettes of model year 1998 through 2004.
The reason I say it’s sort of a replica is that in addition to the C5 internal parts, I also had to re-style the body shape to account for a difference in track width of 6 inches. I wanted to use the complete unitized front and rear Corvette suspensions so the track width couldn’t be narrowed. The wheel base is same as original but the C5 GTO is wider. I personally think the ’62 GTO is one of the best styled car bodies ever made, so my basic challenge was to not “screw it up” while making the body 6 inches wider. The most succinct description I’ve heard on the visual difference is that the C5 GTO looks like a real GTO that’s on steroids. Sort of like comparing a 289 FIA Cobra to the 427 SC model.
I’ve been working on this project for about 14 years now. Why so long, simple answer is, "life happens" and I do have other priorities like family and work. If this is the first time you’ve heard of the C5 GTO, I’m starting the story in this thread not from the beginning but somewhere way down the line. You might have read about the C5 GTO in either Kit Car Illustrated or Kit Car magazines before they went out of circulation several years ago. Word got out to a magazine editor when I decided to do the project and they convinced me to write a recurring build article which I called, “Last Chance Garage”. I’m not a car building professional or professional writer but just a car guy who likes cars not made in a factory.
The first thing I did when starting the project was to make a plan for the chassis. Nothing fancy but good enough so I could get it reviewed by a chassis builder. His opinion was that I’d over engineered it and he helped identify where I could simplify it. Once you see the actual chassis, you’ll probably chuckle because it still looks like a pile of pick-up-sticks. Here's the chassis plan top view.
Given where I’m at on the project now, most of the early parts I’ll show mostly in pictures. If you have questions or want more context, please post/ask them. I’ll try to answer the best I can.
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