Rare Rides: A Totally Rad Consulier GTP From 1992

Do you ever feel there just aren’t enough purpose-built racing cars that can also be driven on the road? Well, Consulier yourself with today’s Rare Ride.

Ugh.

The Consulier marque was created in 1985 by Warren Mosler. Mr. Mosler was a hedge fund manager at the time, watching over $5 billion of other people’s money. Wanting to head in the opposite direction from the easy money, he created a car firm. Consulier Industries was its name, and the GTP was its first vehicle.

Starting production the same year the company was founded, the GTP was an original mid-engine, rear-drive design. The custom chassis underneath was made of a combination of fiberglass and foam, while the shockingly angular body fixed to the chassis was composed of carbon fiber and Kevlar. The GTP was the first vehicle in production to use composites in the body without any metal structural support.

Power was provided via two different Chrysler engines, depending on build date. The earlier versions used the Turbo II 2.2-liter Chrysler engine from sporty K-car based vehicles. This provided the 2,200-pound GTP with 175 horsepower. Later on, the GTP received the updated Turbo III version of the same engine, good for 190 horsepower. It should be noted that the GTP’s power figures are sometimes disputed among Internet Consulier Experts.

Two trim levels were offered: Sport and LX. The Sport version was more stripped-out and intended for track use, while the LX added luxury and convenience features like Alpine audio, power windows, leather seats, and air conditioning.

The GTP proved popular with racing and track day enthusiasts, racing successfully in IMSA for a few years. Actually, the Consulier ended up a bit too competitive, and IMSA took steps to cut its natural advantage. The racing organization first mandated it carry 300 pounds of extra weight, then banned it from IMSA races altogether for 1991.

Consulier would continue producing the GTP in very limited numbers through 1992 or 1993 (disputed). At that point, the company was spun off and renamed Mosler Automotive. Mosler then began production of revised versions of the GTP, carrying names like Intruder and Raptor. Those vehicles featured modified Corvette V8 engines. That lead to a brand new model we’ll see on our next edition of Rare Rides.

Today’s GTP has a totally rad paint scheme, and is the later Turbo III version from 1992. The seller claims it makes over 225 horsepower, and was ordered in pure track specification (though still street legal). With 5,500 miles on the parts bin odometer, the GTP asks $120,000.

[Images: seller]