Tuthill debuts stunning GT One at Monterey

Any car that Tuthill Porsche unveils to the world this time around is sure to be something special. After all, Monterey Car Week was the launching pad for the astounding 911K. But even that in mind couldn’t prepare us for Tuthill’s latest dream machine: the GT One. Clearly inspired by the successful 911 GT1 of the ’90s but with a modern twist, the GT One is said to have been born out of discussions between Richard Tuthill and Elliot Ross (who makes films and collects cars), and Ross was probably very keen on a fresh interpretation of such a famous sports car racer. The GT1 has spawned some truly amazing racing and homologation cars. Think Toyota GT-One, Elise, Diablo and Panoz before you think of the Germans. So, this is the perfect time for a revival. If the McLaren F1 were to be reborn (in a way) in modern terms as the GMA T.50, then there would be a flat-six GT One that looks a bit like a 911…

While it’s not yet clear what the car will be underpinned by in terms of the chassis, it’s worth noting that this is a road-legal car, rolls on completely ordinary Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres and has a standard output of 500 horsepower. This isn’t a 1,000 horsepower madness that requires a private track day to drive. A racier looking aero kit “may be developed for track use,” but this is first and foremost a road-legal car, and that’s a great thing. However, it does have carbon clams, carbon doors, and a carbon roof with built-in scoop and rollover protection. When Tuthill makes a road-legal car, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same as any other road-legal car.

Power for the GT One comes from a 4.0-liter flat-six “inspired” by the 911K at 11,000 rpm, a very capable engine making more than 500 horsepower naturally aspirated. There will also be a forced induction option for outputs over 600 horsepower (Tuthill didn’t say whether it would be turbo or supercharged). Oh, and the car shown at the Quail is fitted with a seven-speed DCT, but a manual will also be offered. The rest of the hardware is appropriately premium, with double wishbones, ceramic brakes with bespoke calipers, and an Inconel exhaust. Tuthill estimates the GT One will weigh in at 1,200 kg.

The design is by California-based Florian Flatau, whose previous work includes the Singer ACS (with Tuthill), the E-Legend EL1, the stunning Audi Quattro Concept from 2010, and his recent work with Lucid. So it’s no surprise that the GT One has emerged as such a stunning car, almost entirely in the Singer style, which is almost Porsche-like but otherworldly. If a grey coupe can catch the eye like this in a week of ridiculous supercars, it must be something impressive indeed. Perhaps never before have the wheels of a road car been so perfectly set into their arches.

Tuthill Porsche will build 22 GT Ones. Perhaps one has already gone to Ross, but given the popularity of 911s and flat-six engined cars in Southern California, there aren’t actually that many left. It wouldn’t be too surprising if they all sell out in the next few days. No price has been announced, but just look at the carbon and imagine the 3,500 hours of work that went into each one. It’ll no doubt be a respectable seven-figure sum.

Richard Tuthill said of the GT One: “At the heart of this work of art is, of course, the relentless pursuit of mechanical excellence. We are inspired by all that has been achieved in the past, and by what others have done and continue to do. As always, we sincerely hope that anyone who wishes to own this car will want to drive it as often as possible and create lifelong memories. The FIA ​​GT1 class has enabled manufacturers to build amazing race cars; our focus has been to take the best of that and build an amazing road car. We hope you’ll join us in the fun.”