The 599 GTO is a very depressing car to look at

I had to comment because when I read your post I was impressed at how you seemed to express some of my feelings as well. I seem to keep picking up every magazine on the newstand that covers the 599GTO. Amazing car!

 

Oh, I'm depressed....I'm really, really depressed, too--at least until Novemenber

 

What about a 599 to 599 GTO conversion?

I can see a new project forming already... Already 599's will be hitting sub £100k within a year or so. (current start at around £120k).

Ferrari only dropped 100kg's out of the 599 GTO and added a bit more power, IMHO with a car this heavy they easily could have shed a lot more weight, possibly over 250kg's. The BBS FI wheels are available too as are the seats and anyone could get the interior redone in alcantara.

Compare the work done on the original 575 racers where they where successfully able to reduce the kerb weight down to 1150kg's and you'll appreciate some of the bulk still left in the car. Ofcourse with all that extra power and chassis electronics its easy to hide some of the 599's girth but still I think its a car weighting for a proper weight reduction project...

 

+1 on all the magazines!

 

"only dropped 100kg out...and added a bit more power"....Absolutely wrong.

Suggest you read the info on the GTO more carefully--and to get a quick/minor briefing watch the EVO road video. Ferrari made significant changes to chassis intergrety, aero, body panels/glass, electronics, tranny, dampers/suspension parts, brake systems, engine internals and engine mgt, wheel/tires, interior and more.

As many have said--Ferrari and others--its closer to a 599xx than it is a 599 GTB.

Simply buying a GTB, adding hp through a bolt on, BBS wheels, and stripping out a few pounds of sound deadening ain't gonna cut it...


And, if you actually want to be able to drive it on the roads...forget it.

 

I agree, to the OP +10000 The GTO is a fantastic Ferrari. I, too, get every magazine on it I'm a geek like that. It's pure sex.

 

Amen ... and I got laid again last night. I find myself driving it more and more in race mode. Downshifting 3rd to 2nd in race is ... best eargasm one can get

 

That won't even get you near a GTO. Either get a GTO or get a GTB (and leave it the way it is). There is noting wrong with the GTB or with the HGTE. Both are fantastic GT's. GTO is different animal. Trying to convert a GTB or HGTE to a GTO ... there is so much more to the GTO than just shedding some weight and putting different wheels on.

 

I feel the same way. I feel this is one of the first exotic cars that I would actually buy if I had the money because it captivates me like no other has. Unfortunately I may never have a chance to own one.

 

You mean replica?

 

A 599 'stradale' or something might be a more fun thing to do...

599 GTO front bumper and sideskirts, 599XX rear bumper, GTO boot and bonnet. Carbon doors and inserts.
599 GTO style exhaust, but made from titanium and exiting at the 599xx exhaust exit, inconel exhaust manifold. Gas flow the head and remap.
Remove most of the sound deadening, lightweight perspex windows, stock front.
Alcantara interior, spot welding for structural integrity.
Magnesium wheels (perhaps NEEZ wheels, they have some nice models and nothing flash) or of course the BBS model if you want to copy the GTO with those michelin tires which are semi slicks when you go for it.

May not be a real GTO, but a damn sight lighter. Probably not to the taste of many ferrari owners but it's your car isn't it .

 

Everyone these days just laps up the marketing.. Jzzz... Enzo would really be distraught. A 599 GTO, isn't some technical showcase of what the company could do, its simply a fast overweight (abeit exceptionally good and fast) road car with a few computers helping to keep it on the road. Whatever people think I still consider the 599 GTO (as great as it is) as simply a marketing led modified 599 with only a small amount of weight shed and a little bit more power. End of. That doesn't mean its bad, its just not the best Ferrari could do. It is absolutely not what engineers could do if let of the leash (and yes they where let of the lead for the F40...)

When race teams really tried they took an original Ferrari 575 with its lardy 1730kg kerb weight and stripped it down to 1150kg's kerb weight it ended up being a Ferrari 575 GTC. Thats my defintion of a GTO. I.e. the original intention, i.e. a car stripped to its bare essentials designed first and foremost to go racing. Omologation. GTO. The 599 should have been MUCH lighter.

Simply throwing the badge around with vague references to the XX (which wasnt ever a intended to race competitively anyway other than being a rich gentlemans play thing....) is a little suspect. Yes, I read the Evo article, viewed the videos. its got ccm's instead of top of the line steel brakes as just one example...

599GTO, pah, I'd *much* rather have this...
http://www.racecarsdirect.com/listing/31881/Ferrari_575_GTC__F133M_GT_Chassis_2210.html

 

I'd go much more extreme, aim to shed at least 500kg's and do a full ti exhaust and full carbon bumpers, skirts, proper fixed carbon race bucket seats.

 

So how much weight did they drop then? 500kg? No, they ONLY dropped 100kg's (less than 6% weight reduction) and mainly did optimization on traction in the electronics dept and some aero. I.e. basically the latest (as used on the Scud) E-Diff, F-Trac, and all that other software applied to the 599 with a minor drop in weight (in comparison to its original weight).

Your blinded by marketing if you think dropping 100kg is a lot on a car originally weighting 1.7 tonnes. Spend some time with the race engineers and you'll see 500kg's is possible and it makes a staggering difference that not even great electronics can outwit. While 100kg's *is* while worthwhile isn't going to cut it in comparison to a proper weight reduction programme.

Lets look at the Power To Weight figures for a moment...

360hp, 1400kgs, 257.1 bhp per tonne (Ferrari 360 Modena)
425hp, 1350kgs, 296.3 bhp per tonne (Ferrari Challenge Stradale)
611hp, 1708kgs, 357.7 bhp per tonne (Ferrari 599 GTB)
515hp, 1374kgs, 374.8 bhp per tonne (Ferrari 430 Scuderia)
670hp, 1608kgs, 416.7 bhp per tonne (Ferrari 599 GTO)
660hp, 1365kgs, 483.5 bhp per tonne (Ferrari Enzo)
600hp, 1175kgs, 510.6 bhp per tonne (Ferrari 575 GTC)

The fact the GTO is hitting Enzo performance is due to the electronics helping out with traction, stability and latest in aero upgrades.

 

Now we're talking!

I think the first 350-400 KG's should be easily doable. Lowering the CoG by fitting a carbon roof (a la BMW M3 CSL) would also be on my (fantasy) to do list.

I think getting the 599 down to a 1350 kg (wet) should be doable whilst still keeping the car streetable (as in not cutting your arms on the doors etc, I'd have wet carbon door panels on the carbon doors and alcantara where most of the leather used to be, lightweight simple stereo (the one in the Mclaren F1 only weighed 7 KG)).

 

Like your perspective. regards

 

360trev is right! Ferrari gone from putting the number plate on race cars and selling them to customers into producing cars designed for woman’s, were you can cruise around with your eyes shout and say it’s a soft merc. F-cars don’t have to have buttons witch wake up the car and tell you “now I’m a Ferrari!”. When you step in to the car right before you touch the throttle you have to know you are in a car like no other.

Ferrari left that way. It’s like being the only maker to produce ninja swords but you move to create kitchen knifes, witch everybody does. Sure, not so cutting edged and not so pricy but they do.

But we all know why this happen.

 

A 360 Modena has 395-400hp, depending on where you read the quoted HP.

 

1250 kg, 670 hp, should be in fact the right figures for a 599 GTO, if you remember that an f40 lm/gte was offering 1050 kg for 760 hp more than 15 years ago, so it is not a silly target (remember also the millichili project)