GTD Speedster

The Dream Job of Car Design: Is it All It Seems?

Speaking for myself along with legions of other car enthusiasts who have been sketching their own views of automotive greatness since elementary school, few jobs are more desirable than designing cars and trucks, or so it would seem. This perception isn’t necessarily the reality many have experienced, however.

Behind the Curtain of Automotive Design: Limits to Creative Freedom

In speaking with various auto designers over the years, there is little question that this profession can be rewarding, considering the access these talented individuals have to the next generation of technology, style, and performance. But, as with most perceptions, not all is as it seems, as the most desirable aspect of this creative process—freedom—is often missing from the equation.

The GDT Speedster: An Unrestricted Vision of Automotive Artistry

This GDT Speedster is a prime example of what can be accomplished when skilled car enthusiasts are allowed to explore new concepts and processes that would otherwise never find their way beyond the sketchpad in the corporate world. Born from the combined insight of retired and current designers and engineers from Ford Motor Company and Visteon Corporation, this stylized machine benefited from the latest methodology in automotive design and fabrication.

Building the GDT Speedster: Design, Fabrication, and Innovation

Unlike most concept vehicles that are purely visual explorations, or a select few that are running, albeit limited prototypes, this GDT Speedster was designed and built to be driven anywhere you’ll find a Corvette or Mustang. But unlike these and other mass-produced cars, this specialized vehicle is the only one of its kind, and so it will be in the future, because the molds for the body were destroyed after the body panels were finalized.

Crafting a Custom-Built Machine from Scratch

Built from scratch, more than 2,000 individual components are held together with 2,129 fasteners, many of which were specially made to suit the unique nature of this car. More than 61 hours were spent welding the different elements together in custom welding fixtures based upon 719 computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, along with 84 full-sized pencil drawings.

The Precision of the Electrical and Mechanical Systems

The electrical system alone utilizes more than 1,080 components united through extensive planning and testing to achieve reliability on par with any production car. In fact, the only element missing from this complex entity is by design: the car doesn’t have cupholders.

An Iconic Design: Defining the GDT Speedster’s Unique Look

To arrive at this design, numerous sketches were prepared for consideration before the best of these concepts was chosen for a limited production of just one car. Afterward, a clay model was sculpted in 1/8th scale, transferring all sorts of two-dimensional designs into one cohesive blend of elements that could then be considered in the third dimension.

From Concept to Completion: Finalizing the GDT Speedster

With most of the major details completed, attention turned to the smaller elements, such as the wheel caps, fuel filler cap, horn button, gauge faces, and center console, all of which are emblazoned with the Team GDT Speedster logo. These were the defining details that marked the completion of the first and only GDT Speedster on November 5, 2005.

Redefining Automotive Innovation and Creativity with the GDT Speedster

In uniting their creative efforts to shape an entirely new vehicle, the GDT Speedster team underscored the importance of creative freedom. While its design is certainly not for every taste and may not please everyone, what it does represent are the dreams of generations of car enthusiasts looking to expand upon the envelope of what is and what can be.