Vandenbrink unveils Ferrari 599 GT Convertible design
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Dutch designer Michiel van den Brink doesn't seem to be deterred by adversity. First he set out to pen a modern interpretation of one of the most iconic homologated racing GTs of all time, the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Then he actually decided to build his design, basing it on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, arguably the most dynamically sublime supercar ever to grace tarmac. When the Fiorano's 600-hp Enzo sourced V12 wasn't good enough, he teamed up with tuning house Edo Competition to turn it up to 11 by boring it out to 6.3 liters. The result? 750 horsepower. When Maranello declined to grant him its blessing, he started taking orders anyway from customers seemingly undeterred by the $1.3 million asking price... over the cost of the donor car.
Now that conjecture has begun circulating cyberspace that Ferrari is considering building a small run of convertibles based on the Fiorano, van den Brink has thrown his hat into the ring by unveiling his own design, dubbed the "GT Convertible". A far more convincing and seducing design than the photochops we've seen so far, van den Brink says he'll build it complete with a folding carbon-fiber hard-top for any interested customer.
That's some unfettered ambition, considering we've yet to see an actual copy of the Vandenbrink GTO built, yet despite an undisclosed but undoubtedly high cost for the sublime chop-job, Michiel might start taking orders before you know it.
More details are included in the press release after the jump, where van den Brink alludes to future designs to be based on the Audi R8, Spyker C8 Spyder and Corvette Z06. Oh yes, the future bears promise.
[Source: Vandenbrink Design]
Press Release
Vandenbrink Design Special Order: Vandenbrink "GT Convertible"
Vandenbrink Design presents the Vandenbrink "GT Convertible" design.
The progressively styled GT Convertible had its first viewing for a selected audience during the Cercle Deluxe 2007 fair in Vienna. Like the 599/630 GTO the GT Convertible will also be based on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, featuring a lightweight carbon fibre folding hardtop. The car will be built only on special customer request.
After the successful introduction of the 599/630 GTO the unveiling of the GT Convertible design clearly marks the Vandenbrink specialty mission: on demand design and manufacturing of unique "off-menu" automobile coachworks, based on class-leading platforms such as the Ferrari 599, Audi R8, Spyker C8 Spyder and Corvette Z06. All Vandenbrink's custom designed one-off sportscars will be tailored to your personal taste and preferences.
Vandenbrink Design:
Vandenbrink Design BV is an automotive design company, located in The Netherlands. It is a privately owned company, headed by its founding fathers Michiel B. van den Brink and ir Robert C.A. Koumans. The company focus is on special design and coachbuilding for highly exclusive sportscars.
More information can be found on www.vandenbrinkdesign.com
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3seriesisking 12:47PM (12/19/2007)
I wish I was rich
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Jason Bird 12:49PM (12/19/2007)
1.5 Million...sign me up! Are you kidding me? I could have 20 killer convertibles in my garage for the price of this. Or better yet six F430 Spyders, more if I bought them used.
I hope that I never get so rich that I become that stupid.
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Ligor 2:22PM (12/19/2007)
wow you must be really really poor.
can't you even grasp the concept, that to people that can afford a 1.5mill car it doesn't amtter if you could buy 25 convertible corvettes
to people with 1+billion in cash this is like chump change.
well, you have 100k (if) and still buy a $25k+ car, it's like you spent 25% or more on your car, while with 1bill, the 1.5million price tag is only 1.5% of what you have.
If you can't think rich, you'll never be rich (although i don't belive this much myself)
Jason Bird 2:49PM (12/19/2007)
And you're bad at math, too. 1.5 Million of 1 Billion, is 0.15%. You won't get rich doing that kind of math...or wasting money on useless cars.
Ask any Enzo owner how much he likes driving his car on the street. You can't drive them. If I want to spend 1.5 million on art I can't drive, I can think of far nicer things than a Ferrari with no roof, and no Ferrari badge.
Give me a different colored F430 for every day of the week.
That said, I would buy one of their Bentley Shooting Breaks [sic].
Andrew 1:00PM (12/19/2007)
Not my thing.
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Spankee 1:29PM (12/19/2007)
Am I the only one who thought it was a tuned Corvette at first glance?
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geo.stewart 1:35PM (12/19/2007)
from the profile shot, my first thought was how easy would it be to do a conversion kit for a vette. I saw the picture and didnt read the article and my first thought was that was what it was.
Luis 1:35PM (12/19/2007)
Over a million for something you wouldn't even be able to drive anywhere...can you say door ding?! What a waste...
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HeyHuub 3:54PM (12/19/2007)
Why wouldn't you be able to drive it anywhere?
Luis 5:23PM (12/19/2007)
@Heyhuub: Let me put it this way: guy in his Ferrari...and here comes some dufus in (insert you choice of car here) cuts you off and leaves your bumper near the closest sidewalk...1.5million car vs. 15000 car...who's going to feel it more? I'm just saying, I don't care how rich you are, unless you drive around at 3am when there isn't traffic at all...you get the rest. I have a buddy that has a 200,000 Benz that he rarely drives bacause he's afraid of dings and bumps; what's the point?
mike 1:46PM (12/19/2007)
I agree, what a waste!
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HeyHuub 3:58PM (12/19/2007)
It's gonna perform like mad since Edo is working that part, plus it's gonna be one of the most exclusive cars you can buy, so i don't see why people wouldn't want to buy this.
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jcar302 6:02PM (12/19/2007)
Wow, 1.5 million for a corvette convertible, what a bargain.
I dunno, to me it's ok if people mistake my 55k corvette for a million dollar car, but when they mistake my million dollar car for a corvette, that's depressing.
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Mi key 7:22PM (12/19/2007)
I have to agree with earlier poster it would make more sense to base his 1.5mil GTO creation on a tuned C6 platform. Especially with Ferrari not approving of his project. I guess if he can find a sucker. It's all good.
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wormyguy 7:22PM (12/19/2007)
Does it come complete with the 911 Turbo wheels?
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iamhoff 7:44PM (12/19/2007)
If you got the $$...
Gorgeous looking ride. Pointless beyond being able to say that you can buy a super rare car for $1.5 million, but effing beautiful.
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Colleptic 10:54PM (12/25/2007)
It is good to know that even Ferrari is taking note of the newer Corvettes! The 599 looks like a vette...it is so close I thought it was one at first.