ABOUT

The Front

This project was meant as a direct follow up to the second Maserati MC-13 set. As the set, lighting and cameras were all an evolution from that series, staying with the GT1 theme felt only natural.

This time we have a 1998 911 race car modified for road use. The vague story behind it is that someone found a third generation GT1 and converted it, adding a 4.0 L engine in the process. Hence the name, fourth gen, 4.0 L.

As for the appearance, many changes, big and small were made. One of the biggest was a redesign of the front shell. The fried egg headlights are now united, making for a far more intimidating light signature.

The mid section of the array makes use of six holographic flood light pods. They give the car a certain cyberpunk touch while avoiding yet another rally light-like design.

The main beams themselves were replaced with an old-tech version of the far more recent, four point headlight used by Porsche. The blinkers now serve as running lights when not being used as indicators. And small internal vents were added for cooling. No vents leading directly outside from the headlamps this time.

Other changes to the front have to do with making the car road legal. The added grill at the front for pedestrian safety and the added tow hook help give the car some character while adding otherwise "boring" safety features.

Finally, the whole front had its lines smoothed out and simplified. The spare headlights were covered up, the top front vent was reshaped to evoke the classic 911 lines and a badge was added to help guide the eyes.

The Body

The aero in this model has been significantly changed from its original form. The front side grills were sealed, having these channels redirected further down the body to help cool the new bigger engine (4.0 L up from 3.2 L).

Continuing along the car, the roof intake was cut back to achieve a sportier look that better compliments the lines of the car while keeping its original intake volume capacity. Being meant for road use and complimented for the redesigned front channels, this new shape should prove more than enough even for more extreme driving styles.

The one change that is perhaps most notable to those familiar with any form of the GT1 911 is the removal of the rear wing. Carrying the design style from the MC-13 (my previous project), the wing was removed and the body work discreetly reshaped to gain back the necessary downforce.

Smaller changes include reshaped vents along the car and slight alterations to the bodywork in order to make it look and feel more streamlined. Much to my discontent, no iconic elements populate the original GT1's side that could be refined for the viewer's enjoyment.

The Rear

The last part of this car to talk about is perhaps the most successful in its redesign. The many changes make for an extremely aggressive and raw-looking appearance.

This new rear grabs the full lightbar design from the Carrera 4S and the roadgoing version of the second gen GT1 and runs with it. The mid section replaces simple reflectors for the same flood light pods seen at the front, tuned accordingly.

The original taillights are still present, only updated and partially covered by fox eyes. This second modification, along with uniting the headlights, had been planned for the Carrera 4S model of the same generation. An idea that may be executed at a latter date in conjunction with other modifications. The fox eyes help establish a link between the then-new 996 and the outgoing 993, the last of the air-cooled 911.

Further changes include the very obvious wing delete and a reshaping of the integrated ducktail spoiler. The side lip was completely smoothed out to allow for a cleaner design. The now wingless rear can show off its true width with the visual top line dropping down drastically.

The last big change was the new exhaust route, cutting through the rear bodywork in a manner similar to many open wheel racers. This brings an odd touch of classic design into an otherwise modern setup. The exposed tips now meshing with the incredibly curvy body lines.