Gordon Murray Special Vehicles Debuts S1 LM and Le Mans GTR at Monterey

GMSV is the new skunkworks beside Gordon Murray Automotive’s core lineup of hand-built production cars like the T.50 and T.33. While GMA focuses on premium series models, GMSV delivers one-off commissions, limited-edition special designs, and heritage-inspired continuations for enthusiasts and collectors who want cars that transcend convention.

Headlining the debut is the road-legal S1 LM, limited to just five cars and inspired by the McLaren F1 LM. The brief: push Gordon Murray’s core principles further, with a particular emphasis on exclusivity, beauty, engineering artistry, lightness, and driving perfection.

The centerpiece is a 4.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 producing more than 700 hp. The extra displacement enabled by removing the rear fan and oil cooling pack comes with lighter internals and a higher compression ratio, allowing the engine to spin to a soaring 12,000 rpm.

Power is routed through a six-speed manual that marries a T.50s case with T.50 internals and an optimized linkage for an even sweeter shift. A bespoke suspension sits lower than any previous GMA setup and is paired with revised geometry and damping for razor-sharp response. A new carbon aero package adds high-speed stability while preserving road legality. First customer cars are targeted for 2026.

Alongside it, the Le Mans GTR channels classic endurance racers drawing influence from icons like the Matra-Simca MS660, Porsche 917, and Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3—while retaining subtle GMA cues. Just 24 will be built, and every slot is already spoken for.

Under the skin sits GMA’s 4.0-litre V12 paired with a six-speed manual, but almost every other element is reworked for circuit work. The car wears a comprehensive aero kit with a twin-channel rear diffuser, deep side skirts, and a pronounced front splitter. Cooling is upgraded for track abuse, while lighter, stiffer suspension and wider Michelin tyres boost grip and consistency.

The V12 is solid-mounted using a new technique designed to deliver immediacy and feel without unwelcome vibration. Inside, the cockpit gains revised switches, dials, seat cushioning, and pedal pads. Customers can also tailor the signature three-seat layout to taste.

As Gordon Murray puts it: “Longtail racing cars perfectly combine aerodynamic benefit and aesthetic balance… Our Le Mans GTR timelessly reimagines the longtail racers I’ve admired since I began designing cars.”

The first Le Mans GTR customer cars are due to be completed late next year.

With the S1 LM and Le Mans GTR, GMSV stakes out a bold space for analogue, V12-powered drivers’ cars in a digital era. Expect more special commissions, heritage continuations, and limited runs from the new division, fueling speculation about future projects, perhaps even a modern nod to the Light Car Company Rocket.