 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
Image credits: © Gillet.
2002 Gillet Vertigo Streiff news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
Behind the Vertigo project lies the passion, the vision and the dream of one man : Tony Gillet.
As a racing driver, the first part of his career, he constantly pursued perfection. Hill climbing races champion of Belgium for several consecutive years, builder and driver for two Paris-Dakar rallies, he came to the automobile in 1982, when he became the Belgian importer for Donkervoort (a Lotus Super Seven Dutch replica). He broke the record for 0 to 100 kph, in 3.85 seconds, in January 1990 wîth a specially modified Donkervoort.
The first Vertigo prototype, achieved during 1991, was unveiled at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992.
Two years followed in which the car was finalised for production and went through the difficult process of European certification while touring great auto shows (Paris '93, Geneva '93).
This required the building of two more cars : the second prototype, which was the final version that was to be commercialised, and a first production car, which served for every aspect of the car's certification, including the frontal crash-test, seat anchorage resistance and safety belts anchorage resistance.
The Vertigo succeeded all those tests wîth flying colours.
The production Vertigo differed from the first prototype in several points. First of all, the chassis was now made of carbon fibre and honeycomb materials (a technology directly borrowed from Formula One), insuring a greater strength and resistance, while being lighter (58 KGs for the bare chassis).
Secondly, the design was changed to be more fluid, wîth higher side windows and retractable headlights, being now even closer to the designer's first drawings.
A Vertigo was sold to Philippe Streiff, a former Formula One racing driver, left handicapped after a tragic accident during the '89 Brazil GP.
It was a special version, driven through a joystick and an automatic transmission, presented at Bercy (Paris) in December 1994.
The stage was set for another deed: to be present at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1995, making there a great step towards the American market. The reaction was overwhelming: a media coverage from more than 30 national and international televisions and an enthusiast response from the American public. That first step was taken forward when a Vertigo was sent to Eric Bachelart, a Belgian driver in the ÚS IndyCar racing championship, for his whole season of racing, thereby promoting the car at each race.
Meanwhile in Belgium, the Vertigo was chosen to be the pace car for every race of the ProCar championship in 1995. The latest achievement, the presence of the car in Monaco during the last Formula One GP, caused many heads to turn, including His Highness the Prince Albert of Monaco, who asked for a personal ride at the wheel on the prestigious circuit.
At the end of 1995 the society was asked to develop a race Vertigo which would take part at the BPR Championship. Therefore a new body has been designed, and the first car corresponding to this new design was launched at the Brussels motor show in January 96'. The first race Vertigo, equipped wîth an engine prepared by RAS (a famous Belgian engine preparator), was finished at the beginning of March 96'.
Still in March 96', the Automobiles Gillet decided to diversify their activities and they did it by realising various works in composite materials, using the know-how they had developped by making the Vertigo. They realise all types of works, going from the design to the making of prototypes and the production. In a few months they built strong commercial relations wîth numerous customers, mostly coming out of the auto-world.
From 1997 on the Vertigo is also available wîth gullwing tops, since a new model has been designed.
In 1998 the Vertigo has been given a brand new hart: the V6 3L engine of the famous Italian car constructor Alfa Romeo.
And 1999 must be a famous year in the history of the Vertigo since the Automobiles Gillet ally themselves wîth the MRS Team Leuven to take part in the Belgian GT Championship: the Belcar.
In 2001 the new Streiff model was designed and it has been presented begin 2002 at the Brussels Auto Show.Source - Gillet
As a racing driver, the first part of his career, he constantly pursued perfection. Hill climbing races champion of Belgium for several consecutive years, builder and driver for two Paris-Dakar rallies, he came to the automobile in 1982, when he became the Belgian importer for Donkervoort (a Lotus Super Seven Dutch replica). He broke the record for 0 to 100 kph, in 3.85 seconds, in January 1990 wîth a specially modified Donkervoort.
The first Vertigo prototype, achieved during 1991, was unveiled at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992.
Two years followed in which the car was finalised for production and went through the difficult process of European certification while touring great auto shows (Paris '93, Geneva '93).
This required the building of two more cars : the second prototype, which was the final version that was to be commercialised, and a first production car, which served for every aspect of the car's certification, including the frontal crash-test, seat anchorage resistance and safety belts anchorage resistance.The Vertigo succeeded all those tests wîth flying colours.
The production Vertigo differed from the first prototype in several points. First of all, the chassis was now made of carbon fibre and honeycomb materials (a technology directly borrowed from Formula One), insuring a greater strength and resistance, while being lighter (58 KGs for the bare chassis).
Secondly, the design was changed to be more fluid, wîth higher side windows and retractable headlights, being now even closer to the designer's first drawings.A Vertigo was sold to Philippe Streiff, a former Formula One racing driver, left handicapped after a tragic accident during the '89 Brazil GP.
It was a special version, driven through a joystick and an automatic transmission, presented at Bercy (Paris) in December 1994.
The stage was set for another deed: to be present at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1995, making there a great step towards the American market. The reaction was overwhelming: a media coverage from more than 30 national and international televisions and an enthusiast response from the American public. That first step was taken forward when a Vertigo was sent to Eric Bachelart, a Belgian driver in the ÚS IndyCar racing championship, for his whole season of racing, thereby promoting the car at each race.Meanwhile in Belgium, the Vertigo was chosen to be the pace car for every race of the ProCar championship in 1995. The latest achievement, the presence of the car in Monaco during the last Formula One GP, caused many heads to turn, including His Highness the Prince Albert of Monaco, who asked for a personal ride at the wheel on the prestigious circuit.
At the end of 1995 the society was asked to develop a race Vertigo which would take part at the BPR Championship. Therefore a new body has been designed, and the first car corresponding to this new design was launched at the Brussels motor show in January 96'. The first race Vertigo, equipped wîth an engine prepared by RAS (a famous Belgian engine preparator), was finished at the beginning of March 96'.
Still in March 96', the Automobiles Gillet decided to diversify their activities and they did it by realising various works in composite materials, using the know-how they had developped by making the Vertigo. They realise all types of works, going from the design to the making of prototypes and the production. In a few months they built strong commercial relations wîth numerous customers, mostly coming out of the auto-world.
From 1997 on the Vertigo is also available wîth gullwing tops, since a new model has been designed.
In 1998 the Vertigo has been given a brand new hart: the V6 3L engine of the famous Italian car constructor Alfa Romeo.
And 1999 must be a famous year in the history of the Vertigo since the Automobiles Gillet ally themselves wîth the MRS Team Leuven to take part in the Belgian GT Championship: the Belcar.
In 2001 the new Streiff model was designed and it has been presented begin 2002 at the Brussels Auto Show.Source - Gillet
| TAG HEUER SIGNS MAJOR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH FIA FORMULA E CHAMPIONSHIP | |
 | LONDON (May 15, 2013) - TAG Heuer, the world's number one manufacturer of luxury timepieces inspired by sport, has signed on as Official Timekeeper, Official Watch and Chronograph and Founding Partner of the FIA Formula E Championship. The agreement was signed at TAG Heuer's headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer (on the right), and Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings. 'Teaming up with Formula E, the world's top competi...[Read more...] |
| 1985 San Marino Grand Prix: Angelis Descending, Ascending | |
 | If someone was on a quest to prove the involvement of a supreme being in the affairs of man he or she could offer the 1985 San Marino Grand Prix as evidence. For, on that day Elio de Angelis would be provided one last moment in the sun. Elio de Angelis was one of a dying breed within Formula One. Born of a wealthy Roman family, de Angelis had been in want for nothing from the day he was born. However, he was certainly an individual with his head on his shoulders and very unassuming in the way...[Read more...] |
| 2012 German Grand Prix: Preview | |
 | Round 10 of the 2012 Formula One World Championship marks the second home race in succession for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS team. The German Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 22 July at the Hockenheimring which is just 100kms from the Daimler and Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart. • The 2012 German Grand Prix will be the 33rd held at Hockenheim; Mercedes-Benz power has won twice, in 1998 & 2008 • This year's race marks the tenth anniversary of the circuit's redesign and the constructio...[Read more...] |
| Formula One - Spanish Grand Prix | |
 | Kimi Raikkonen bagged his second podium on the trot in Barcelona, charging hard to finish third behind first time grand prix winner Pastor Maldonado and, by just half a second, Fernando Alonso. The Finn was disappointed not to finish on the top step, though, claiming that the Lotus E20 had the potential to have won every race this year so far. Nevertheless, he is now fourth in the Drivers' Championship, just 12 points behind leaders Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Starting on the sec...[Read more...] |
| 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix: British All the Way | |
 | After years of frustration, and well past his life-expectancy, Mike Hawthorn would be on the verge of his first World Championship. This was more than likely Hawthorn's last and best hope at a World Championship title. Just one last race, and a fellow Brit, would separate Hawthorn from his World Championship. Emotionally, Hawthorn was done. The last few seasons had seen Hawthorn fail to experience anywhere near the level of success he had even in his rookie year of 1952. In 1952, with an unde...[Read more...] |
| Gillet: 2001-2010 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Gillet History |
| Other models by Gillet |
| Manufacturer Website |
