CONSULIER: HISTORY OF A VISION
great minds think alike
Enzo Ferrari
Carroll Shelby
Colin Chapman
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Throughout history, the automobile has meant many things to many people. To the men who created sports cars, it has been the center of their lives. Men like Enzo Ferrari, Colin Chapman and Carroll Shelby all had visions of great race and street cars. Many years after these men made their dream come true. The desire to create great sports cars still lives on.
Warren Mosler, a lifelong racing enthusiast, shared the same passion for sports cars that had driven many before him. Mosler spent years at, around and on race tracks. He drove and raced many of the great sports cars including Porsches, Ferraris and Corvettes. Eventually Mosler became disillusioned with the difference between race cars and street cars. " I was disappointed with the sports cars available," Mosler said. " I wanted a road car to offer the feel and excitement of my race cars without sacrificing comfort and livability." Mosler envisioned a low-weight sports car capable of top-notch acceleration, cornering and braking in a comfortable environment. In 1985 Mosler formulated a plan, based on his vision, to produce the GTP. And all composite, Monocoque sports car. He decided to build and market a lightweight unibody. Many hours logged at Moroso Motorsports Park by Mosler and Chet Philip, former IndyCar driver and head of Consulier research and development. |
getting started
With this mission of building the Ultimate sports car, Consulier was formed in June 1985. The car would consist of a lightweight body, using a powerful engine and a straightforward chassis. In 1986 Mosler bought the Riviera Beach complex which housed Mosler Auto Care Center. In early 1987, Consulier moved into the building. Consulier was still in development with all bodies being produced in Cocoa Beach at the time.
In August 1987, Consulier leased a composite shop operation a quarter mile way to build the molds and the body chassis. All research, development, assembly and production of bodies and early production prototypes were done in Riviera Beach. Throughout 1988, research, development, testing and refinements continued. The building, staff environment and parts were ready for production. Consulier decided it would make the car in 3 models; the GTP sport, a high-performance model, the GTP LX loaded with luxury amenities, and the GTP CV a luxury convertible.
In August 1987, Consulier leased a composite shop operation a quarter mile way to build the molds and the body chassis. All research, development, assembly and production of bodies and early production prototypes were done in Riviera Beach. Throughout 1988, research, development, testing and refinements continued. The building, staff environment and parts were ready for production. Consulier decided it would make the car in 3 models; the GTP sport, a high-performance model, the GTP LX loaded with luxury amenities, and the GTP CV a luxury convertible.
The prototype - Proof of concept
This was the prototype car Mr. Mosler put together as a proof of concept. (Pictured below) It proved his theory that a lightweight monocoque composite car could out run the other cars on the track, and it did. The next step was to take it from prototype to a road legal car.
Bob McKee - master of the pavement
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The Consulier group called upon renown suspension builder Bob McKee to build the front and rear sub-chassis. Mckee for many years has specialized in building prototype cars and chassis as well as Indy race cars. Based on Mosler's specifications and goals, McKee produced a lightweight suspension offering neutral well-balanced handling a good ride with no surprises.
To help develop the composite body and actual design of the car they went to high performance boat builder Paul Lindbergh in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Consulier goals were minimum weight with maximum strength. The design would contribute low wind resistance and negative lift that would push the car down harder as it went faster. |
power applied
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The designers chose the intercooled Chrysler Turbo 2 for the Series 1 GTP powertrain and the Chrysler Turbo 3 for the series 2 GTP powertrain married to the A568 Getrag transaxle. This High Performance Engine, developed for Shelby automobiles, Inc., a proven and reliable power source, provides a high power-to-weight ratio, governmental approval and convenient serviceability.
Performance on the Turbo II were:
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EPA certification
In February of 1990 the three models of the GTP received formal Federal Environmental Protection Agency certification. Giving it "US Legal" (in all 50 states) status just like the big 3.
The EPA Mileage rating was:
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crash test approved
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The NHTSA Crash tested the Consulier GTP. This was an important step to becoming a production US legal Automobile (like the Big 3) NHSA crashed the Consulier GTP and ranked it one of the safeset production vehicles in the United States that year!
It was a huge push to get that accomplished and took almost 2.4 million dollars to get to this point in the process. The certification proved to the automakers that the new design was not only viable but now an EPA certified, crash tested production car. A huge victory for Warren and Company! |
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the start of something real
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The first major Milestone of the Consulier as a race car was at the 1988 Nelson Ledges 24 hour race. The Consulier easily outran all the other cars competing. It's showing at this race confirmed the founder's belief it had built a fast, reliable and durable world-class sports car.
Confident after the Nelson Ledges performance and the 1989 Road and track manufacturers challenge where the GTP easily outran a ZR1 Corvette, the Consulier issued the GTP sports car using many proven Mechanicals, like the Pioneers before him. The car would offer true race car like handling and performance, minus the bone jarring ride. |
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Over 40+ wins for the GTP
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Concentrating on competition-only cars, Warren Mosler & Chet Philip started winning races across the country. Starting with a core group of drivers led by Philip, Rick Titus, Bruce Macinnes, Bob McConnell, John MacComb, John Dinkel, Steven Taylor, Tom Reese then hiring drivers as diverse as Shane Lewis, Scott Lagasse, and even Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader. Their track record is distinguished: 40-some wins, including victories in SCCA regional and ITE divisions, in the IMSA Bridgestone Supercar Series, in the Twin-Six Enduros at Sebring, at 24-hour races at Nelson Ledges and Moroso, and in Car & Drivers own "One Lap of America."
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Bobby rahal brings in Consuliers to Driving school
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The Consulier quickly gained the reputation for being one of the most reliable race cars on the track with low operating expenses and excellent driveability in all track conditions. It didn't take much for Bobby Rahal to recognize this when he contacted Consulier Industries to have them send a few cars to the Mid Ohio school to teach their new drivers the ropes. It was not surprising to see some students that drove the GTP during school go on to purchase one as their "Track Day" car. The cars were ultra dependable with many different drivers using the cars day in and day out, the 3 most replaceable things during their time at the school were brakes, tires and an oil change!
" We are so confident in the GTP's superior performance," described Mosler, " that we offer a $100,000 to anyone who can drive a faster race track lap with any other regular production car."
Lasting Impressions...
In the next installment, we'll take a look into the reaction to the car from the people & the press. There was a love-hate reaction to these supercars. In the coming weeks, we'll take a look back at the "lasting impressions" they made...
Next, we'll take a look at the the different models of the Consulier GTP that were produced...
