2008 Ferrari Vandenbrink 599 GTO
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Speaks French in Russian
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From: What is G?
2008 Ferrari Vandenbrink 599 GTO
Missing the days when Ferrari actually made cars that looked good. 
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/n...-gto-released/
With three of the planned five copies already spoken for, Michiel van den Brink's GTO homage is going fast. And it's not just because of the Enzo-derived powerplant under its elegant bonnet. We just talked about this limited run of vehicles last week, but a new image surfaced that we thought we'd share. While still not an actual photo, when it comes to GTO-inspired art, we'll take anything we can get. No word yet on whether or not anybody popped for the full carbon fiber body instead of the handcrafted aluminum, but with a car designed to emulate an automotive icon like the GTO, aluminum seems somehow more appropriate. Designed by Vandenbrink Design, the cars are being built on the 599 GTB Fiorano platform by Hietbrink Coachbuilding in the Netherlands. Purists always scoff at vehicles that aren't officially sanctioned by the factory, but we'll side with Top Gear on this and admit that it's one of the most beautiful designs we've ever seen. As long as the workmanship is as good as the design, it's a winner to us, though we suspect the five lucky buyers don't need our validation or anything. The only important thing is that THEY like it, and we're pretty sure they will.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/04/n...-gto-released/
Loves Snickerdoodles!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 19,740
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From: San Diego, California
The design isn't bad, especially it being an homage car and not really being a totally fresh design. I think it'd look better if those three vents in front of the hood weren't there.
If ya' ask me, I think it Looks better in one solid color
Actually the 599 GTB was built to replace the Maranello and I actually think it's a great looking car. The only current production Ferrari which I don't like would have to be the Scaglietti.
If ya' ask me, I think it Looks better in one solid color
Actually the 599 GTB was built to replace the Maranello and I actually think it's a great looking car. The only current production Ferrari which I don't like would have to be the Scaglietti.
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
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From: Houston, Republic of Texas
Hood scoops echo those of the GTO, while the profile resembles that and several other classic Ferarris of the era, including the old California Coupe. I appreciate the homage to bygone classics, but this awkward, misshapen beast is a cartoon of the original, not worthy of the marque. Ferrari should sue Vandenbrink for defamation. For comparison, here's the original - the 1962 250 GTO:
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for the side profile....
Out of Warranty
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,925
Likes: 13
From: Houston, Republic of Texas
The '62 GTO was based on the already successful Berlinetta coupe. It benefitted by a good deal of wind tunnel analysis, and the hand of Scaglietti - a Ferrari employee in those days, and was one of the rare examples of the marque not handed off to an outside coachbuilder. The GTO was based on a light tube-frame chassis and the light but powerful 280-hp 3 liter V12 engine of the Testa Rossa, there were precious few of these cars built.
GTO came from (pardon the poor Italian) Gran Turismo Omologato, and it was built specifically for racing. There were several "versions" of the car, built as a "homologation special" a series of 100 "production" cars built to satisfy the requirements of the FIA for GT-class racing. Because there was some windage built into the rule, only 36 or 38 of this particular all-out racing configuration were built, and they revolutionized the GT class.
Extremely lightweight, there was no "interior" to speak of. No carpet, no speedometer, no side glass (sliding plexiglas panels saved precious weight). Even the passenger seat was merely a shell. On its first outing at the '62 Sebring, the GTO, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien placed second behind the Testa Rossa of Bonnier and Scarfotti. The GTO would go on to win the Manufacturer's Championship in 1962, 1963, and 1964, continuing the Ferrari domination of the sport. It has been accurately called the "first supercar".
If the general shape looks familiar, it was claimed to be the inspiration for the Datsun 240Z - and its lines may be seen in dozens of sports cars since, including the TVR, Jaguar XK8, the Aston Martin Vanquish, and the Dodge Cobra Coupe.
GTO came from (pardon the poor Italian) Gran Turismo Omologato, and it was built specifically for racing. There were several "versions" of the car, built as a "homologation special" a series of 100 "production" cars built to satisfy the requirements of the FIA for GT-class racing. Because there was some windage built into the rule, only 36 or 38 of this particular all-out racing configuration were built, and they revolutionized the GT class.
Extremely lightweight, there was no "interior" to speak of. No carpet, no speedometer, no side glass (sliding plexiglas panels saved precious weight). Even the passenger seat was merely a shell. On its first outing at the '62 Sebring, the GTO, driven by Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien placed second behind the Testa Rossa of Bonnier and Scarfotti. The GTO would go on to win the Manufacturer's Championship in 1962, 1963, and 1964, continuing the Ferrari domination of the sport. It has been accurately called the "first supercar".
If the general shape looks familiar, it was claimed to be the inspiration for the Datsun 240Z - and its lines may be seen in dozens of sports cars since, including the TVR, Jaguar XK8, the Aston Martin Vanquish, and the Dodge Cobra Coupe.
Last edited by Lil4X; Jun 5, 2007 at 12:36 PM.