PALM BEACH, Fla., Apr 01, 2006 – The first production Ford GTX1 supercar will roll across the block at No Reserve during the 36th annual Barrett-Jackson “World’s Greatest Collector Car Event” in Scottsdale, Ariz. during January 2007. Built by Genaddi Design Group from a 2006 Ford GT supplied by Nelson Exotics, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the first production roadster during Barrett-Jackson will benefit The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The automotive lifestyle event at Westworld in Scottsdale will include No Reserve auction excitement, vendors and live coverage by SPEED. The official dates will be announced later this year.

“We wanted to maximize the value of this charity offering by bringing the first actual production car to Scottsdale,” Craig Jackson, President and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company said. “The opportunity to actually take home a complete car instead of just auctioning the rights to a GTX1 that will be completed over the following several months is far more exciting for bidders. We believe the longer promotion period before the sale will benefit The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children even more.”

The GTX1 features 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.

Initially created as a special edition vehicle for the 2005 SEMA show, designer Kip Ewing contacted master coach builder Mark Gerisch of Genaddi Design Group to turn his vision into reality. Gerisch has 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 approximately 700 HP supercharged V8, the vehicle will feature a modified exhaust, wheels and custom paint.

Genaddi Design Group and Nelson Exotics, LLC. have committed 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale to benefit The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Founded by John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted,” the organization fights to prevent child abduction, helps find missing children and assists victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

“The Barrett-Jackson Auction has a long history of supporting non-profit charitable organizations,” Jackson noted. “We believe that our bidders will open their hearts to help the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when the GTX1 crosses the block. This is an opportunity to own a collectible supercar and support an important cause.”

The Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach automotive lifestyle event will continue through Saturday, April 1, 2006, with vendor displays and No Reserve auction excitement at The South Florida Expo Center. This year’s event includes over 600 quality collector cars.

About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

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 http://www.barrett-jackson.com or call (480) 421-6694.

SOURCE: Barrett-Jackson [size=18][/size][b][/b]

Oh but wait, it was signed by Shelby so that makes it a REAL collectible? Thanks but I’ll take a 67 GT350 signed by the Legend. This car is a remake of a classic and therefore will NEVER be a classic itself, just like the Ford GT.

All it really shows is that Ford decided that the only cars they can sell well are re-makes of cars that worked for them once upon a time i.e. T-bird, Mustang, GT etc. Perhaps its just me, but all these Retro cars just don’t seem like major improvements and the body designs are stale. Where are the NEW American cars that will be classics decades from now? Oh, sorry, there aren’t any so Chevy has to jump on the this profitable Retro bandwagon by doing the same thing to the Camaro etc.

When will American cars actually move FORWARD? I’ve been waiting for 30+ years!

“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.â€?

What humaintarians.