PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 3, 2007) – Atlanta vintage car dealer and avid car collector Roger Burgess’ winning bid of $330,000, including bidder’s premium, secured the rights to the first publicly available Foose Coupe supercar Saturday at Barrett Jackson’s Palm Beach Event. Bidding was tense and heated, leading the auctioneer – who was wearing a Foose green tie to match the color of the Foose Coupe – to remove his tie and give it to Mr. Burgess after the sale. In a gentlemanly gesture, Mr. Burgess presented the tie to a challenging bidder so he would not walk away completely empty handed.
As part of the incredible experience offered by Unique Performance, Mr. Burgess will join Chip Foose for a design session to customize the interior of the car, choose paint colors and powertrain. Mr. Burgess will stay in luxury accommodations near the Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafter’s automotive facility in Orange County, Calif. and have a Foose Stallion Mustang to drive during his trip.
The Foose Coupe’s elite carbon fiber monocoque cabin is mated to a modular steel space frame and planted to the pavement with a suspension by Hotchkis, Koni coil-over shock absorbers and a 6-piston Baer Brake system. The mid-engined coupe is powered by a Mopar Hemi V8 or 5.4L Supercharged Ford engine, capable of an estimated 550 horsepower and 520 pounds of torque. All Foose Coupes will be constructed by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, Inc. and available through Unique Performance.
“Only 50 people are going to own one of these,” said Chip Foose. “I know I’m going to own one, and I hope a lot of my friends do to. This car is my dream and my passion. I know I’ll always feel a close connection and become friends with the select few who get one.”
Additional standard accessories include air conditioning, power windows, power door locks with remote, illuminated push button start, tilt steering column, billet steering wheel, billet pedals, optional exposed carbon fiber interior trim, leather seats and interior surfaces. The car also features retractable door and rear quarter glass, optional glass roof, hidden exterior door release, LED exterior lighting, pistol grip shifter, side view mirror-mounted turn signals and custom 18-inch (front) and 20-inch (rear) Pirelli tires.
“The public has proven over the past three years that they are hungry for Foose designed performance vehicles.” said Doug Hasty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Unique Performance. “From the early models Foose ’69 Camaro and ’71 Challenger to the 2007 Foose Stallion and now the stunning Foose Coupe, the demand for these cars has attracted the interest of enthusiast and collectors worldwide. With the introduction of this supercar, we now offer a Foose penned vehicle for every taste and budget.”
Purchasing a Foose Coupe ensures membership in an exclusive club, where each car will be signed by Mr. Foose and numbered and documented in the forthcoming Foose Registry. Only 50 of these open wheeled, hot rod-esque cars will be available to the public.