BITS & PIECES . . .
. . . takes a light-hearted look at a sometimes crazy world of motoring and other forms of transport, nationally, internationally, and here in North East Victoria
Words/photos: Bill Buys
BILL Buys, one of Australia's longest-serving motoring writers, has been at his craft for more than six decades. Although motoring has always been in his DNA, he was also night crime reporter, foreign page editor an later chief reporter of the Rand Daily Mail. He has been shot at twice, attacked by a rhinoceros, and had several chilling experiences in aircraft. His experience includes stints in traffic law enforcement, motor racing and rallying, and writing for a variety of local and international publications. He has covered countless events, ranging from world motor shows and Formula 1 Grands prix, to Targa tarmac and round-the-houses meetings. A motoring tragic, he has owned more than 90 cars. Somewhat of a nostalgic, he has a special interest in classic cars.
GORDON Murray’s supercar company is headed for bigger business - thanks to a surprise nine-figure investment.
The ‘mystery Moroccan’ who bought Murray’s McLaren-inspired S1 LM at Monterey recently for a whopping AU$31.2m, plus the remaining four which are yet to be built, has announced a cash injection of US$120m (AU$181.5m) in Murray’s company for ‘a variety of strategic growth opportunities.’
The big investment is from the Halo Car Group, run by Tarik Ouass and JR Rahn, who have now joined the board of directors of Murray’s GMA company and Professor Murray will remain as chairman and chief designer.
Turns out that the ‘mystery Moroccan’ is Tarik Ouass, who is not from Morocco, as he originally said, but Gibraltar.
He apparently now lives in Canada and is that country’s cannabis king, with shares worth AU$486m in MedReleaf Corporation, according to Bloomberg.
The 39-year-old is the main shareholder in MedReleaf, which manufactures and distributes medical cannabis; it produces and sells dry cannabis, oils and capsules.
The company says it delivers premium products to the global medical market and for the adult-use recreational consumer.
Canada legalised marijuana in 2018.
Back to the supercars:
"Gordon Murray Automotive has always been a very exclusive family, reflected both in our team and in the customers who support us,” Murray said.
“I am confident that I have found the right partners who value our seven principles and will support my legacy moving forward.
‘Tarik Ouass was the very first customer to order a T.50 and has acquired every motorcar we have ever created.
"I am excited for the next chapter with Tarik and his investment partner JR Rahn joining me on the board to support the detailed product roadmap I have set for the company through to 2039,"
Until now, the pair behind Halo Cars Group has primarily invested in Silicon Valley tech companies.
The new company ‘brings a shared passion for the Gordon Murray brand and a commitment to supporting its continued focus on engineering art and lightweight philosophy’.
"This is not an investment in scale, but in further scarcity,” Ouass and Rahn said.
“Our investment mandate is the complete opposite of a conventional growth investment in automotive.
“We believe that further limiting allocations of an already very exclusive production is what allows Gordon Murray’s bespoke craftsmanship and engineering artistry to endure for generations."
However, it’s been about four years since GMA’s T.33 was first revealed, and customers will be anxious to get their supercars.
If the delays have been cashflow related, the Halo Cars Group money will help move things along.
So, it seems those Special Vehicles projects, the even more limited and more expensive dream machines from Gordon Murray, will go from strength to strength.
Expect to see more in 2026.