The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

#001 Ford GTX1 Supercar to Cross Block for Charity at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction

PALM BEACH, Fla.--March 22, 2006--Sports car enthusiasts are expected to line up for an opportunity to own rights to the first production Ford GTX1 supercar at the fourth annual 2006 Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Collector Car Event. Built by Genaddi Design Group, the prototype car will cross the auction block at No Reserve to represent the first production model. Net proceeds from the sale of the roadster during Barrett-Jackson will benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The fourth annual automotive lifestyle event at the South Florida Expo Center will include three days of No Reserve auction excitement from Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1; PEE will broadcast the event again this year.

"This is a truly remarkable car with some of the most innovative engineering ever incorporated into a roadster, much less a supercar," Craig Jackson, president and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Co., said. "The opportunity to own serial #001 of this amazing car will draw interest among collectors worldwide."

Designer Kip Ewing created a remarkable hardtop that can be configured in three ways for Ford's sizzling GT depending on an owner's taste. With all four pieces attached, the GTX1 is a closed coupe. The removal of certain pieces can turn the vehicle either into a T-top or full open roadster. The top's innovative design also allows for the top clamshells to open up as a moon roof.

Originally designed as a special edition vehicle for the 2005 SEMA show, Ewing contacted master coach builder Mark Gerisch of Genaddi Design Group to turn his vision into reality. Gerisch had a reputation for working with vehicles that most builders would not tackle. The GTX1 caused a sensation when it debuted at SEMA and has been a favorite of the show circuit ever since. The prototype car has also been the subject of media stories around the world.

The #001 Ford GTX1 will include all street legal options. Besides its 650 HP supercharged V8, the vehicle will feature a modified exhaust, wheels and custom paint. 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the brainchild of John Walsh of "America's Most Wanted." NCMEC fights each year to prevent child abduction, help find missing children and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

"We believe our bidders will open their hearts to help when the GTX1 crosses the block," Jackson noted. "It happened during the sale of the 2007 Shelby GT500 in Scottsdale, to the tune of $600,000, for the Carroll Shelby Children's Foundation, and we're sure that people will open their hearts again to help struggling kids. It's rare to have an opportunity to own an instant collectible and support such an important cause."

The Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach automotive lifestyle event will include a gala, vendor displays and three days of No Reserve auction excitement from Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1, 2006, at The South Florida Expo Center. This year's event will include more than 500 quality collector cars.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Co.

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. The company produces the "World's Greatest Collector Car Events(TM)" in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Palm Beach, Fla. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com or call 480-421-6694.