McLaren Speedtail inspires custom-built, one-off guitar

Dean Gordon, a Luthier based in Miami, Florida, has created a one-of-one custom guitar inspired by the McLaren Speedtail 'XP2' prototype.

First introduced in 2018 as the brand's first Hyper-GT, the Speedtail is said to harmonise sleek and seamless beauty with pioneering technologies and extreme performance. The 'XP2' prototype played a key role in the car's validation process, reaching a maximum speed of 402km/h (250mph) more than 30 times on the space shuttle landing runway at the Johnny Bohmer Proving Grounds.

Gordon chose to mirror the virtues of the Speedtail's design by firstly utilising a Virtus guitar model with a headless and sleek style designed to be more ergonomic and lightweight. The body of the custom guitar is also made from old stock lightweight alder wood, while its neck is made with master-grade flamed maple, and its fretboard constructed from luxurious ebony wood, a nod to the Saragon Quartz exterior paint utilised on the 'XP2' prototype.

The use of machined aluminium trim in the cabin of the prototype is also mirrored in the use of aircraft grade aluminium on the lower horn of the guitar, while the leather detailing inside the guitar's wiring cavities match the Oxblood Red upholstery of the 'XP2'. Finally, the guitar gets its pickup covers complete with laser etching to match the Speedtail's engine cover and rear exterior details.