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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
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