Gas Monkey Garage repairs a Ford GT

[Buzz]

I may be missing something but I wonder how many real track cars have undergone extensive damage repairs or restoration without anyone being concerned about sharing a track with them. I thought your initial gripe with this car was the issue that it could be sold on with no note on the title indicating it was damaged; or maybe the fact that it had some custom modifications. How would it be any different if the owner at the time of the accident decided to keep it, fix it and put it back on the road? Do you believe the damage was so extensive that it would be impossible to repair to original specs? Should the car have been discarded and sent to the crusher instead of being repaired?

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Buzz

I may be missing something but I wonder how many real track cars have undergone extensive damage repairs or restoration without anyone being concerned about sharing a track with them. I thought your initial gripe with this car was the issue that it could be sold on with no note on the title indicating it was damaged; or maybe the fact that it had some custom modifications. How would it be any different if the owner at the time of the accident decided to keep it, fix it and put it back on the road? Do you believe the damage was so extensive that it would be impossible to repair to original specs? Should the car have been discarded and sent to the crusher instead of being repaired?

I have no gripe on this car. I actually find it an interesting "conversion" and because of that, the history of it can never be buried. I thought it looked "wicked" but that's just because all black no stripe cars look "wicked". It's probably fine for street use.

The frame should have been replaced not welded.

By the way, you'd be surprised how many cars have been repaired with no history on carfax. That is the reason every GT purchase should get a PPI.

Race cars are immune from the stigma of a repair. Original Cobras included. That beautiful Jag original that got wrecked at the vintage race a few weeks ago will be repaired too with no stigma attached. But most modern era cars that have a carfax blemish (GTs included) will trade for less than an unrepaired car. Salvage cars are penalized even more That's just the way it is.

I keep waiting for the video of them bouncing the front wheels off the ground. The diffusers probably wouldn't survive though.

[Bernica]

I watched it and must say that I cringed when they started welding up the frame!

My gut kept telling me that the car needed to be at a different place that was familiar with repairing Ford GT's. I'm sure are plenty because they get wrecked all the time.

But...I guess it makes for good TV to the masses.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Bernica

I watched it and must say that I cringed when they started welding up the frame!

My gut kept telling me that the car needed to be at a different place that was familiar with repairing Ford GT's. I'm sure are plenty because they get wrecked all the time.

But...I guess it makes for good TV to the masses.

The guy that sold the car to the Monkeys knows how to repair them. Hinted that there might be some other issues. All the Monkeys cared about was clear title.

[Armrer]

[quote=Bernica;1369996]I watched it and must say that I cringed when they started welding up the frame!

I agree. The frames on FGTs are special alloy, and require appropriate welding technique, equipment and after-weld process. That frame is suspect, and not trustworthy. Apples to zucchini comparison to a mini-van type low tech sheet steel repair. FGT Forum has a detailed thread on the Monkey GT.