First Shots with new camera - Ford GT

[iwatkins]

Hi All,

I upgraded to the 1D MkII last week but have only just today had the time to really use it in anger for the first time. Messing about do some car shots of this beauty.

Shots with 1D MkII with either the Canon 28-135IS or Sigma 12-24.

Cheers

Ian

http://www.focal-one.co.uk/Stuff/20050610_1033_1042.jpg

http://www.focal-one.co.uk/Stuff/20050610_1041_1053.jpg

http://www.focal-one.co.uk/Stuff/20050610_1054_1068.jpg

http://www.focal-one.co.uk/Stuff/20050610_1106_1089.jpg

[Ballen Photo]

That is one AWESOME car Ian. I looked at one at a Ford dealer here in Vegas. The car wasn't really for sale, as it was a present to the dealerships owner from Ford, but the saleman said He reckoned it would sell for around $200,000 US. :shock:
-Bruce

[iwatkins]

Hi Bruce,

It is nice, the GT40 was my childhood fantasy car.

This one is off out to a customer tomorrow hence I got the chance to shoot it today. I believe it is the only one in the UK that is road legal (first few in have been recalled due to wishbone problems, this one is post recall). I think it went for around £175,000 over here, so yes, close to $1/4million in the US ? Needless to say I was very careful :shock:

Still had the urge to take it outside and lay down some rubber and get the rear arches full of smoke. Just wonderful sounding indoors as well. Spent most of the morning with it, I'm in love :)

Cheers

Ian

[Ballen Photo]

Hi Bruce,

It is nice, the GT40 was my childhood fantasy car.
I've always liked those too. It's amazing how long that design has been around. ;)

I think it went for around £175,000 over here, so yes, close to $1/4million in the US ? Needless to say I was very careful :shock:
Over, more like $350,000 US. :shock:

Still had the urge to take it outside and lay down some rubber and get the rear arches full of smoke. Just wonderful sounding indoors as well. Spent most of the morning with it, I'm in love :)

Me too, I'd LOVE to have one of those. :D
-Bruce

[skade]

Great shots! I really like the way you have done the 2nd shot! Its different but looks good!

[mrclark321]

Very nice shots, love to take that baby for a spin!!! and I mean spin!!

Dan

[PhotosGuy]

Great car! I remember when they first started making them in Car Craft here in Detroit. You'd think that there would be a decent version in the corvette price range by now, wouldn't you?

[Michaelmjc]

The last picture is stunning! Great job, glad you like the new cam.

[Jackal]

Beautiful car. It's one of my favorites.

I think over here it's supposed to sell for $150,000.

[Cadwell]

Nice shots Ian :D Some really good angles, excellent work!

As to the car... well as much as I love the original GT 40, this leaves me cold. I dislike retro styling. To me, this just shows a lack of imagination. I'd prefer Ford came up with a decent modern design which lives up to the standards of the old one rather than just knocking off a copy.

[PhotosGuy]

To me, this just shows a lack of imagination. I don't mind them going back to a time when someone had some imagination! There's a reason why some cars become Classics, no?
Still, you do have a point. Problem is, by the time these things go through the multi-multi-level corporate approval process where everyone gets to have a say*, we're left with something that's so bland that it doesn't offend or impress anyone.
Great cars usually have one thing in common. They were made in one persons vision; Chapman, McClaren, Ferrari... (Try to get Enzo to make a pink GT 250!)

* Ask someones opinion & they'll feel that they have to give one! " I saved their ass this time because I made them change... "

[Ballen Photo]

As to the car... well as much as I love the original GT 40, this leaves me cold. I dislike retro styling. To me, this just shows a lack of imagination. I'd prefer Ford came up with a decent modern design which lives up to the standards of the old one rather than just knocking off a copy.
I have to strongly dissagree in this particular case.
Here they have taken a car design that was basically a "Legend", retrofitted all the mechanics, which IMHO are a huge improvement, then made it available to the public. The end result supplies a street legal car that can be put on the track and made to compete if you want, with great classic styling. ;)
-Bruce

[Cadwell]

I agree that using an older car for inspiration can sometimes be valid. What Ford did with this car goes beyond that, though. It's closer to a "replica". I don't like replicas. They're basically dishonest and they de-value the prestige and memory of the original.

At Goodwood a few years back I saw some people drooling over a Jaguar XJ13. Truly a gorgeous car and this one was a very fine example in dark blue. It was on sale for a little over £80,000 sterling. The only problem is that it was a complete and utter fake and everyone who knows anything about cars would know that instantly. You see, there only ever was one Jaguar XJ13... it's green and it lives in the Jaguar museum in Coventry. If it ever did come up for sale, the price would be in the millions...

I feel the same way about the Ford GT. Give me a real GT40, yes please. That thing, no thanks. What Ford has done is no different to what "kit car" builders like Dax, Tornado and GT-D have been doing with fake GT40's for years. Except they've charged you a bucket load of money for it...

Good job we all don't like the same thing, eh ;)

[quickben]

I think it is a bit of a fake, only it's a GENUINE fake :-). Ford have re-engineered the concept using todays materials/techniques. It has to be far better built and engineered than those replicas made by DAX.. etc. If you remember, it was originaly only a concept to celebrate Ford's aniversary a few years back but they got so much interest in it, they put it into production.

I think it looks gorgeous, but that's because the original was gorgeous.

Oh.. cracking photos Ian :-). Are those rear wheels as big as they look ?

Gary.

[Red]

I can't remember where I heard it, but someone once said that the reason the Italions produced such amazing cars is because they told everyone what they would like, rather than ask them what they'd like. People don't know what they want, they only know what they like when they see it.

I've sat in an original GT40. The one at Gaydon. To someone who's used to clambering in and out of Esprits, it's still a challenge getting in! Surprisingly comfortable though

[chris.bailey]

I agree that using an older car for inspiration can sometimes be valid. What Ford did with this car goes beyond that, though. It's closer to a "replica". I don't like replicas. They're basically dishonest and they de-value the prestige and memory of the original.

At Goodwood a few years back I saw some people drooling over a Jaguar XJ13. Truly a gorgeous car and this one was a very fine example in dark blue. It was on sale for a little over £80,000 sterling. The only problem is that it was a complete and utter fake and everyone who knows anything about cars would know that instantly. You see, there only ever was one Jaguar XJ13... it's green and it lives in the Jaguar museum in Coventry. If it ever did come up for sale, the price would be in the millions...

I feel the same way about the Ford GT. Give me a real GT40, yes please. That thing, no thanks. What Ford has done is no different to what "kit car" builders like Dax, Tornado and GT-D have been doing with fake GT40's for years. Except they've charged you a bucket load of money for it...

Good job we all don't like the same thing, eh ;)

I'm with you. Though the GT may be a hell of a car, the days of the GT40 have been and gone and its time to move on rather than replicate the past. The GT40 is a classic and should remain so. The trouble is that Ford have lost any flair for a modern version so they just re-invent the past. The DB9 and Tuscan show that it is possible, just not in Ford design.

[Wasiq]

What kinda settings did you use to take the last picture? I have the same type of lights in my car and I'd like to try it out, usually when I take pics with the lights on, I have to use a very fast shutter speed to capture the light, but then everything else becomes black.

[neil_r]

Awsome pics. Aparently Mr Clarkson now has a blue one.

N