More progress made on the body : )

[The Stig]

Crash - Started a thread asking GTM builders/owners to give a History of their GTM, since it appears as though production of the supercar is winding down. I posted on that thread, but thought that I would also post it herel, to sort of cap off Pandora'a build thread.

Build Thread for “The Stig’s GTM”
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...e-on-the-body-)

I went through the build process until I got to a point that I felt I was getting in over my head: electrical/wiring, body work, and paint. I spoke to Jeff Collins of Whitby Motorcars, and told him what I would like to do. Wiring was started, and the Body and Paint was completed.

Whitby Motorcars – Jeff Collins
https://youtu.be/eovwIUakKJo?list=FL...Dn3qanwxLkTPDA


When the car was delivered back to me, I started more chassis work and clean up.

It was time to have the interior designed, fabricated, and installed. I met Steve Kurzman of Custom Stitching Co., a Good-Guys car show in Charlotte. He came to my house to see the GTM, and agreed to take on the project. I had seen a few cars that he had worked on, and was extremely impressed. He and his team, produce high quality interior work. Everything in the GTM was fabricated from scratch and installed by his shop.

Custom Stitching Company – Steve Kurzman
https://youtu.be/NgIDjQmnRAU

When Steve and his guys finished their magic, I decided that I wanted to have the body and paint reworked. There were some updates that I wanted to have done on the body that included the Rear Hatch, the door/window fitment, the shape of the wheel openings, and how the hood fit the fenders and body/doors.

Tony Kutas of Charlotte Speed Shop performed that work that I requested, and did a great job. It soon became obvious that so much work was being done that the body would need to be resprayed. I figured that if I were going to repaint the car, It would be a color that was closer to what I wanted originally. Dark, Dark, Dark, Pearl Blue. Tony suggested a BMW color that was being used at the time, called Carbon Black Metallic. He did a couple of sprayed samples, and I fell in love with it. It was exactly what I wanted on the car. This work ended up taking about a year and a half to complete.

Charlotte Speed Shop – Tony Kutas Owner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzh0w0BCyU4
Moving the car around at the paint shop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6a9QOvhyxw
Moving the car outside

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60GWyiCmhM
Showing the reflection and clarity of the freshly painted rear hatch.


When Tony and his guys finished the body and paint rework, the GTM went to its first car show. Caffeine and Octane, in Jekyll Island, GA. It got a ton of positive attention, and was fun to see people's reactions to it as it sat next to Ferraris, Lamborghini's, and Rolls Royce's. I had a tag made up with the name "PANDORA". It was really funny when a couple of kids walk behind the GTM, saying that "They had always loved these Pandoras"...

The Next Car Show was the Charlotte Auto Fair in 2017. Pandora had come full circle. Tony had reserved 4 slots for cars that he and his shop had worked on. While we were talking to people about the GTM, and listening to them tell me what kind of Ferrari it was, I was approached to do an impromptu interview. I've never been interviewed, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I guess it turned out well enough.

Charlotte Auto Fair – Car Show Interview
https://youtu.be/hJJowl3ngIY?list=FL...Dn3qanwxLkTPDA

During that show, I learned how much the GTM terrified Pam. She loved the build process. She loved the way it turned out. She loved the way it sounded. But sitting so low, and realizing how fast it accelerated (pins you back in the seat), scared her too much to want to ride in it with me. Since that sort of defeated the purpose of building it, I decided to sell Pandora.

I spoke to RK Motors in Charlotte, who agreed to sell her (the GTM) for me. It took a little longer than expected, but it sold for the price that I told them that I wanted for it.

Sold by RK Motors – Charlotte, NC
https://youtu.be/nETknDLDD44?list=FL...Dn3qanwxLkTPDA


I do not know who actually bought it, but I was told that they were from Maryland...

It would be great to know who bought it, and whether or not they are enjoying owning it. Oh well.

Maybe the F9 will come to life in much the same way that the GTM did. Here's hoping...