GMA T.33 Spider is a lesson to millionaires: always wait for the convertible model.
UK-based automotive manufacturing seems to be done best in low volume. Legendary McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray sold all 100 units of his Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) T.50 hypercar, then went on to sell all 100 of his T.33 supercar. Now he’s showing a convertible version of the T.33 in the hopes of selling 100 more expensive performance vehicles.
Fundamentally, the T.33 Spider is just an open-top version of the original T.33. However it wasn’t as simple as lobbing off the roof to create a new vehicle.
The roof of the T.33 Spider is made of two lightweight carbon composite panels and they’re available in a variety of colours. GMA had to re-engineer the bodywork from the A-pillar back.
This was in order to give the T.33 Spider sufficient rollover protection. The bulkhead that protects occupants also features a rear window that can drop down for a complete open air experience, allowing for the Cosworth-sourced naturally-aspirated V12 to be heard in all its glory.
As a reminder, that engine displaces just 3.99L yet produces 607hp at 10,500 rpm and 451Nm of torque at 9,000rpm. The engine has a redline of 11,000rpm. It’s also worth noting that the automatic gearbox has been dropped for the Spider model. This is reportedly because only 4 customers out of 100 opted for the automatic for the T.33 coupé.
To keep proportions between the coupé and convertible models consistent, Gordon Murray sketched out both models at the same time. To keep engineering work low and to keep the same kind of performance out of both cars the coupé was made to be as rigid as the convertible from the get go. Despite that this new Spider model weighs 18kg more than its fixed roof counterpart.
The GMA T.33 Spider comes with 19″ wheels in front and 20″ wheels at the back. These are lightweight, forged alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres. Stopping power comes from six-piston 370mm monoblock calipers in front and four-piston 340mm monoblock calipers at the rear.
Given the success of GMA’s first two products, it’s reasonable to assume that all 100 units of the G.33 Spider have all been sold out already. But if that’s not the case and you’d like to put some money down, prepare to hand over at least £1.37 million (RM 7.5 million) for just the vehicle alone. That was the price of the coupé model, and inflation may also drive the price of this Spider model up significantly.
