Crafting Automotive Elegance: The Artistry of Vandenbrink Design GTO
In a nod to the illustrious past of automotive craftsmanship, Vandenbrink Design, in 2006, revealed their masterpiece - the GTO, a tribute to the iconic 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. The creative force behind this endeavor was Michiel van den Brink, who, alongside business partner Robert Koumans, founded the Vandenbrink Design company in the Netherlands.
The debut of the GTO garnered worldwide acclaim for its design, originally conceptualized in 2006. The artistic impressions exceeded all expectations, with TopGear declaring it "Ocular Nirvana: arguably the best-looking car in the world." The overwhelming response not only set the bar high but also inspired Vandenbrink to embrace the challenge of bringing the design to life for production.
The handcrafted coachwork, a tribute to classic traditions in aluminum, was entrusted to Dutch artisan Alwin Hietbrink. Renowned globally for his exceptional aluminum craftsmanship in restoring and rebuilding classic Italian sportscars, Hietbrink's expertise lent authenticity to the GTO's design.
For the optional interior and upholstery redesign, the skilled hands of Dutch craftsman Henk van Lith were sought. Van Lith's worldwide reputation for crafting high-quality Italian interiors made him the ideal choice for this prestigious project.
Technically grounded on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano platform, the GTO offered two versions in collaboration with race engineering expert EDO Competition: the 599 GTO (5999 cc / 650 hp / 630 Nm) and the high-performance 630 GTO (6300 cc / 750 hp / 680 Nm). This unique approach represented a synthesis of automotive art, craftsmanship, and state-of-the-art platform and performance engineering.
The exclusivity of the GTO was emphasized by the decision to produce only five units for customers, ensuring an unparalleled level of exclusivity. Customer interest was robust, with initial coachworks being swiftly reserved. The production commenced in 2008, with delivery to the first owner scheduled for 2009. The price for a fully-equipped 630 GTO was set at 993,000 euros (excluding the base 599 GTB Fiorano and taxes). Yet, there has been no formal declaration regarding the existence of any crafted specimens
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