At least its not a "NO"

[MAGS1]

I certainly understand the marketing aspect of using “influencers”, however, I question the sustainability of it. Look at most channels, they only feature a certain car for a few weeks up to a few months and then it’s dropped for the next thing because views have plateaued. Is that long enough for Ford? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t think any of us can answer that one.

Remember too that some of these YouTubers (I’ll use StangChode as an example), make a lot of content modifying cars. In the case of Chode, virtually all of his content is modifying Mustangs of various trims. You’re not doing that with a GTD. So what’s someone like him going to do with it? Blow it up on a track like he’s been known to do before? Don’t think Ford/Multimatic wants that plastered all over YouTube.

But again, getting these cars into the hands of folks like Tom and Charlie that will actually drive them is the better long term marketing plan IMO. They will be out in the public space for a lot longer than the YouTubers will showcase them. And in a lot of scenarios, they are actually being used as they were built to be used. Sounds like a winner to me, Ford & Multimatic.

Sponsored

 

[mavisky]

FORD didn't build any of those. Nor are they building the GTD .

That's obviously semantics. Obviously Multimatic built them for Ford under contract, but sure, let's ignore my entire post for that one statement.

 

[mavisky]

I certainly understand the marketing aspect of using “influencers”, however, I question the sustainability of it. Look at most channels, they only feature a certain car for a few weeks up to a few months and then it’s dropped for the next thing because views have plateaued. Is that long enough for Ford? Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t think any of us can answer that one.

I am sure that Ford factors this in. Many of the GT owning social media influencers who got them at launch still have them to this day

Remember too that some of these YouTubers (I’ll use StangChode as an example), make a lot of content modifying cars. In the case of Chode, virtually all of his content is modifying Mustangs of various trims. You’re not doing that with a GTD. So what’s someone like him going to do with it? Blow it up on a track like he’s been known to do before? Don’t think Ford/Multimatic wants that plastered all over YouTube.

And in that instance Ford may not allocate one to them. Shmee has not only taken his GT to multiple continents, but has actually modified his as well allowing him to make additional content beyond just owning it and driving it. That being said many of his modifications have been directly with the OEM manufacturers and h ave been basic bolt-ons that don't affect the suspension or engine programming. His european delivery GT is actually in America right now for the second time.

But again, getting these cars into the hands of folks like Tom and Charlie that will actually drive them is the better long term marketing plan IMO. They will be out in the public space for a lot longer than the YouTubers will showcase them. And in a lot of scenarios, they are actually being used as they were built to be used. Sounds like a winner to me, Ford & Multimatic.

Is it though? Shmee has posted videos for over 6 years with 150-500k in views per video. One of his recent Youtube shorts from a few months back has over 600,000 views so he's still getting massive visibility out of it 6 years on. His video of his GT racing his McLaren Senna has almost 500,000 views, 570,000 views for him hitting 200mph on the autobahn in his GT, 1M views for him taking it to a car show in LA, 900,000 views for him drag racing his 675 LT in it, 250,000 views for each of his Nurburgring videos. I keep highlighting Tim as he's probably the example of what Ford envisions every influencer allocation will do with the car, but I'd say their making enough marketing visibility dollars off of him alone to make up for those that didn't quite live up to the bargain.

While I'm all for Tom and Charlie getting the option to buy a GTD, they're never going to touch a fraction of the visibility that an active social media influencer would reach. Shmee has 600,000 views on GTD videos for a car he hasn't even received and only just recently announced he was going to even purchase. You're never going to get more than a couple hundred people at a track day to watch Tom or Charlie drive the cars. Maybe a few thousand at a car show if they take it there.

At the end of the day though I think too much emphasis has been placed on "enthusiasts getting screwed out of allocations by influencers". Again, with 1,350 Ford GT's being built vs 7,000 allocations, 3/4 of the people were always going to get screwed no matter what. I firmly believe that of those 1,350 there can't be more than 10% of the cars built (and probably less than 5%) that went to influencers who weren't legitimate Ford fans.


https://www.youtube.com/@Shmee150/search?query=GT

 

[MAGS1]

I am sure that Ford factors this in. Many of the GT owning social media influencers who got them at launch still have them to this day



And in that instance Ford may not allocate one to them. Shmee has not only taken his GT to multiple continents, but has actually modified his as well allowing him to make additional content beyond just owning it and driving it. That being said many of his modifications have been directly with the OEM manufacturers and h ave been basic bolt-ons that don't affect the suspension or engine programming. His european delivery GT is actually in America right now for the second time.



Is it though? Shmee has posted videos for over 6 years with 150-500k in views per video. One of his recent Youtube shorts from a few months back has over 600,000 views so he's still getting massive visibility out of it 6 years on. His video of his GT racing his McLaren Senna has almost 500,000 views, 570,000 views for him hitting 200mph on the autobahn in his GT, 1M views for him taking it to a car show in LA, 900,000 views for him drag racing his 675 LT in it, 250,000 views for each of his Nurburgring videos. I keep highlighting Tim as he's probably the example of what Ford envisions every influencer allocation will do with the car, but I'd say their making enough marketing visibility dollars off of him alone to make up for those that didn't quite live up to the bargain.

While I'm all for Tom and Charlie getting the option to buy a GTD, they're never going to touch a fraction of the visibility that an active social media influencer would reach. Shmee has 600,000 views on GTD videos for a car he hasn't even received and only just recently announced he was going to even purchase. You're never going to get more than a couple hundred people at a track day to watch Tom or Charlie drive the cars. Maybe a few thousand at a car show if they take it there.

At the end of the day though I think too much emphasis has been placed on "enthusiasts getting screwed out of allocations by influencers". Again, with 1,350 Ford GT's being built vs 7,000 allocations, 3/4 of the people were always going to get screwed no matter what. I firmly believe that of those 1,350 there can't be more than 10% of the cars built (and probably less than 5%) that went to influencers who weren't legitimate Ford fans.


https://www.youtube.com/@Shmee150/search?query=GT

Fair enough. I would say Schmee is the exception not the rule though. Although I’m not a big fan of his, he’s one that I would say deserves an allocation. And he will undoubtedly drive it and showcase it and I do applaud him for that. My comments were more towards the other 99% of influencers, that if we’re being honest, don’t even know how to produce good (or original) content. They all do the same thing and after a few weeks they’re done. They might get 500k views, they might get 5k views. Like you said, Ford probably has factored stuff like that in. Not their first rodeo that’s for sure.

I guess my real gripe with the influencers getting these things, even if it’s only 5-10%, is the idea of an influencer in general. It’s got to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. People trying to be famous for being famous. There are some that actually promote good products or good services or are legit enthus, but for the most part they’re all the same. They just want to be famous and will do whatever they have to in order to achieve that status.

As you said, there will be plenty of people left out in the allocation process, it’s the nature of building a limited production car. I personally just don’t like the idea of someone that thinks they’re famous getting one over someone that will truly appreciate the car for what it is. I understand it, but I don’t have to like it.

Sorry for the rambling and getting a little off track, but the whole influencer thing really gets me going

 

[MAGS1]

Could also be like David Lee and get an allocation for every Ferrari that rolls out…

 

[WildHorse]

That's obviously semantics. Obviously Multimatic built them for Ford under contract, but sure, let's ignore my entire post for that one statement.

By no means ignored your post. Just correcting part of it. Also it may not be obvious to everyone on who is actually building it.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

Can’t disagree with alot of that. I’ll never have the views that’s for sure. Not knocking them but I’ll never do that. I’m sure most on here have very marketable skills on many levels which keeps their professional lives busy. What I’d consider the real world, some may not agree with that, and that’s ok. I can’t speak for others but I don‘t give those on youtube much credibility at all. Exceptions would be the likes of Pobst and other true professionals. I don’t remotely think clicks and views actually turns in to sales. I’d be real curious to see what data they have to support that either way. I’m not counting on getting an allocation, I’m good either way though. No hard feelings from me, it’s their widget and their choice. What is real world though is individuals and business owners like myself that do purchase a large number of vehicles for personal and professional use and them switching brands so to speak. I’m not naive to think in the grand scheme that its some big loss, but it does become measureable on some level.

I am sure that Ford factors this in. Many of the GT owning social media influencers who got them at launch still have them to this day



And in that instance Ford may not allocate one to them. Shmee has not only taken his GT to multiple continents, but has actually modified his as well allowing him to make additional content beyond just owning it and driving it. That being said many of his modifications have been directly with the OEM manufacturers and h ave been basic bolt-ons that don't affect the suspension or engine programming. His european delivery GT is actually in America right now for the second time.






Is it though? Shmee has posted videos for over 6 years with 150-500k in views per video. One of his recent Youtube shorts from a few months back has over 600,000 views so he's still getting massive visibility out of it 6 years on. His video of his GT racing his McLaren Senna has almost 500,000 views, 570,000 views for him hitting 200mph on the autobahn in his GT, 1M views for him taking it to a car show in LA, 900,000 views for him drag racing his 675 LT in it, 250,000 views for each of his Nurburgring videos. I keep highlighting Tim as he's probably the example of what Ford envisions every influencer allocation will do with the car, but I'd say their making enough marketing visibility dollars off of him alone to make up for those that didn't quite live up to the bargain.

While I'm all for Tom and Charlie getting the option to buy a GTD, they're never going to touch a fraction of the visibility that an active social media influencer would reach. Shmee has 600,000 views on GTD videos for a car he hasn't even received and only just recently announced he was going to even purchase. You're never going to get more than a couple hundred people at a track day to watch Tom or Charlie drive the cars. Maybe a few thousand at a car show if they take it there.

At the end of the day though I think too much emphasis has been placed on "enthusiasts getting screwed out of allocations by influencers". Again, with 1,350 Ford GT's being built vs 7,000 allocations, 3/4 of the people were always going to get screwed no matter what. I firmly believe that of those 1,350 there can't be more than 10% of the cars built (and probably less than 5%) that went to influencers who weren't legitimate Ford fans.


https://www.youtube.com/@Shmee150/search?query=GT

 

[Inthehighdesert]

Italian trash.

Could also be like David Lee and get an allocation for every Ferrari that rolls out…

 

[m3incorp]

Thanks Tom. My fingers are crossed that you will still receive an allocation.

Generally speaking, the events I drive are open to giving rides as long as you are an instructor. In the club that I instruct, I can give rides. So, yes. Apparently early allocations were awarded and I wasn't one of them. I think it had something to do with the titanium poker chip event they had in Vegas.

 

[Cobra99]

By no means ignored your post. Just correcting part of it. Also it may not be obvious to everyone on who is actually building it.

So Multimatic makes the engines correct?

 

[WildHorse]

So Multimatic makes the engines correct?

No, FORD supplies them

 

[WildHorse]

Italian trash.

His F40 collection is killer !

 

[Inthehighdesert]

I was completely kidding. Ferrari makes/has made some beautiful cars.

His F40 collection is killer !

 

[The Demon]

I was completely kidding. Ferrari makes/has made some beautiful cars.

And the exhaust, let’s not forget the exhaust.

 

[Cobra99]

No, FORD supplies them

FORD didn't build any of those. Nor are they building the GTD .

So Ford builds the engine? so your statement is only 'partially incorrect '.

Sponsored