Coming to Las Vegas this November, the WD-40_® Brand and Throtl team up to bring a legend to life at SEMA 2025. Auto fans and enthusiasts from around the world get to glimpse something that shouldn't exist—a completely destroyed 2005 Ford GT, rebuilt from wreckage to show-stopping supercar. A build so ambitious, it rewrites what's possible...and you get to bear witness.

This isn't a restoration. This is a resurrection. And it's happening right now.

The WD-40 Brand and Throtl are partnering on the most significant custom build either has ever attempted—transforming a totaled American icon into a race-ready tribute. This build honors the Ford GT's legendary motorsport heritage while pushing it into the future. The result debuts in just weeks at SEMA 2025, and you're invited to witness history.

• The Car: A wrecked 2005 Ford GT—one of America's most (in)famous supercars—stripped to bare chassis and customized with modern performance upgrades including a Doran GT2 carbon fiber body kit, HRE wheels, and race-proven components
• The Partnership: WD-40 Brand's first custom car build with an influencer partner, combining three years of collaboration with Throtl into the most ambitious project yet
• The Debut: Tuesday, November 4th at 9:30 AM at the WD-40 Brand booth at SEMA 2025 in Las Vegas—live reveal, team walkthrough, and SEMA Live interview
• The Mission: Honor the Ford GT's racing legacy, inspire the next generation of builders, and prove that with the right expertise and products, no challenge is too big
• The Series: Watch the journey unfold in a five-part YouTube documentary on Throtl's channel showing every challenge, breakthrough, and solution—including how WD-40 Brand Products tackle real problems in a ground-up supercar rebuild

"This is a wrecked 2005 Ford GT. One of the most iconic American supercars ever built," Mickey Andrade of Throtl explains in the project's announcement video. "But this one, it's been totaled, abandoned, written off as unrepairable. Somehow it's ours. It's the most expensive, most ambitious, most ridiculous project we've ever taken on."

To give context, here’s a bit of the backstory on the Ford GT – one of the most storied legacies in American motorsport history. Born from Ford's audacious 1960s campaign to dethrone Ferrari at Le Mans—a tale immortalized in the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari (winner of Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards). The original GT40 dominated endurance racing from 1966 to 1968, claiming World Championship titles and cementing its place in racing history. The contemporary Ford GT, produced in limited numbers in 2005 and 2018, stands as a modern homage to that racing icon. With market values hovering around $400,000 due to their limited availability and prestige, taking on a totaled GT isn't just ambitious—it's a high-stakes commitment to preserving American automotive history.

The Ford GT arrived at Throtl's San Diego shop as little more than a rolling shell, with structural damage that would make most professional builders walk away. No factory service manual to guide the rebuild. Just the bones of a legend once capable of 205 mph, and a team of builders crazy enough to believe they could bring it back to life.

"The WD-40 Brand has challenged us to rebuild this Ford GT and debut it at the 2025 SEMA show," says Andrade. "So, this is going to be the official booth car for WD-40 Brand in 2025. We're really excited. This is like the pinnacle for American supercars."

For Throtl co-founder Evan Beckerman, the stakes couldn't be higher. "I think this has the potential to be the best Throtl build of all time. I certainly think it's one of the coolest cars we've ever had in our shop ever. Period. It's easily the most expensive car that we've ever built, especially in the condition that it's in. Hopefully, it's fixable. It'll be pretty interesting."

Then came the timeline that made even veteran builders pause: "This car will be done in 60 days."

Sixty days to take a totaled supercar from bare chassis to SEMA-ready. Sixty days to honor a racing legend while reimagining it for modern performance. Sixty days to prove that when expertise meets determination—and the right products—anything is possible.

The WD-40 Brand and Throtl have been collaborating for three years, building a reputation for authenticity and results. From transforming fans' cars on Throtl's "Dream Build" series to hosting “Cars and Coffee” events in San Diego, the partnership has always been about one thing: showing what's possible when you combine technical know-how with products that actually work.

But this Ford GT build represents something bigger.

"Partnering with Throtl allows us to combine their hands-on expertise with our heritage of repairing and restoring,” said Erin Bala, vice president of U.S. marketing and Americas innovation at WD-40 Company. “Bringing this American classic back to life, from a wrecked shell to a show-stopping supercar debuting at SEMA and participating in races across the U.S., embodies what WD-40 Brand is all about."

For Beckerman and the Throtl team, the project pushes every limit. "This build is a tribute to the fans who have supported us from the beginning. We're documenting every step and bringing them along as we honor the Ford GT's legacy, with a modern race car spin we know they'll love,” says Beckerman. “Partnering with WD-40 Brand has made it possible to push the build even further, giving us an opportunity to show fans how the right tools and products can take a project to the next level."

Ground-up supercar rebuilds don't happen with good intentions alone. They require solutions that work when it matters—loosening seized fasteners that haven't moved in years, protecting metal from corrosion, keeping electrical connections clean, and lubricating components that need to perform under extreme conditions.

Throughout the build, the Throtl team has relied on products designed for professionals working in cannot-fail situations:

• WD-40 Multi-Use Product: Loosening stuck bolts, displacing moisture, lubricating moving parts, and protecting against corrosion (using WD-40 EZ-Reach_® when needing to navigate tight spaces)
• WD-40 Specialist_® Penetrant: For the most stubborn, seized fasteners that need serious persuasion
• WD-40 Specialist Silicone: Protecting rubber seals and providing long-lasting lubrication in high-stress areas
• WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner: Keeping electrical connections clean and corrosion-free
• WD-40 Precision Pen: For detailed work where precision matters

The Throtl team isn't just restoring this Ford GT—they're reimagining it with modern performance upgrades that respect the car's racing heritage while pushing its capabilities even further.

The car features an authentic Doran GT2 carbon fiber body kit—race-proven aerodynamics that transform the GT's already aggressive stance into something straight off the track. Custom 3D-printed headlights bring modern technology to classic design.

Rolling on custom 3-piece HRE 305 Classic Forged Wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R rubber, this GT means business. The Cup 2 R is track-focused rubber that delivers grip when it matters most. Fortune Auto coilovers provide adjustable suspension tuning for everything from street cruising to track domination.

Stopping power comes from a Wilwood big brake kit front and rear—essential for a car capable of triple-digit speeds. Inside, Sparco SPX reclinable seats provide the support serious driving demands, while Speedhut gauges give the driver critical information in a clean, readable format.

A full CSF cooling package ensures the supercharged V8 stays at optimal temperatures under hard use, while a custom Vibrant titanium exhaust system saves weight and delivers the sound that turns heads.

Every component was chosen with purpose. Every upgrade serves the vision of the build: to revitalize the wreckage of a Ford GT while pushing its performance to new heights.

The transformation isn't happening behind closed doors. Throtl is documenting every challenge, breakthrough, and setback in a comprehensive YouTube series that gives fans an inside look at what it takes to resurrect a legend.

Episode 1: We Bought a WRECKED Ford GT - The journey begins with the reality check—seeing the extent of the damage and understanding the scope of the challenge ahead.

Episode 2: Tearing Down Our DESTROYED Ford GT - Before building up, you have to break down. This episode shows the meticulous process of removing damaged components and planning the path forward.

Episode 3: Rebuilding Our DESTROYED Ford GT - With teardown complete, the real work begins. This episode documents the early stages of the rebuild—restoring the chassis and starting to see the vision take shape.

Episodes 4 & 5: Coming Soon - As the build progresses toward its SEMA debut, additional episodes will document the final assembly, testing, and preparation. Subscribe to Throtl's YouTube channel to catch every update.

All roads lead to Vegas. On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, the WD-40 Brand booth at SEMA will host the official unveiling of the Throtl Ford GT build in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Event Schedule - Tuesday, November 4th:

9:00 AM - SEMA doors open. Head straight to the WD-40 Brand booth (#24493). Hang with Throtl and the WD-40 Company Team until the unveling. 

9:30 AM - The Big Reveal. Evan Beckerman will introduce Mickey Andrade for a detailed walkthrough of the build, followed by the sheet pull reveal.

9:50 AM - 10:00 AM - SEMA Live hosts a live interview with Mickey Andrade, diving deep into the build’s details and challenges.

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - The Throtl team will be in the booth to meet fans, answer questions, and talk shop about the build.

Throughout SEMA 2025, the WD-40 Brand booth will offer exclusive giveaways including lanyards and samples of the WD-40 Precision Pen. Stop by, check out the build in person, and talk shop with WD-40 Company employees.

Watch the series: All episodes available on Throtl's YouTube channel, with new episodes dropping as the build nears completion.

Follow the journey: The WD-40 Brand and Throtl will be streaming the reveal live on Facebook and YouTube. Watch the WD-40 Brand Facebook, WD-40 Brand Instagram, Throtl Facebook, and Throtl Instagram channels for live stream links as the event approaches.

Tune in online: Watch the live reveal on Tuesday, November 4th at 9:30 AM PST—links coming soon on WD-40 Brand and Throtl social channels.

The SEMA debut is just the beginning. After the reveal, this Ford GT isn't heading to a climate-controlled garage. It's built to be driven—and driven hard. Plans include participating in races across the United States, putting every upgrade and every hour of work to the test in real-world conditions.

Whether you're a Throtl fan, a Ford GT enthusiast, a professional builder, or someone who appreciates what it takes to resurrect a legend, this project has something for you.

• SEMA Show Press Release
• Ford Muscle Coverage
• Vehicle Service Pros Article
• The Shop Magazine
• SEMA eNews