The Gillet Vertigo is Weird
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- When we think of the countries famous for making cars, the list is actually quite long, many countries have been home to successful automotive companies. But when you try think of countries famous for making performance cars however, that list begins to shrink. Those that immediately come to mind might be Italy, Germany, Sweden etc. I’d bet Belgium makes it onto neither list for anyone...
This is a re-upload of a video originally posted to this channel in February of 2023.
While new automobilistic videos contain an extensive "sources" document linked in the description, this video was produced more than a year ago and so unfortunately I don't have a complete list of sources.
Written & Edited by: Fred Knight
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If this feels familiar, its not deja vu. This is a (slightly modified) re-upload of a video from a little over a year ago that was taken down. I hope you enjoy nonetheless!
why was it taken down?
We appreciate the vids keep em up ❤
A re-upload… fine I’ll watch it again anyway because it’s good content
What happened that resulted in a takedown? I’d assume it wasn’t Gillet themselves because the video made them look pretty good😆
@davidslogoarchive5116 it was taken down after a copyright takedown request
The Gillet Vertigo the car that always shows in the Gran Turismo World Championship and is always in last place.
Yes despite it has 890bhp and has thunderous acceleration in GT4 to 6 but has poor top speed like Toyota 7, and poor handling overall.😂
Interesting. According to a 10 year old German ZDFinfo TV documentary clip on their official youtube channel, they made 30 cars in 20 years.
30 cars in 20 years??
Ive said it a thousand times....
This is up there with the best automotive channels on UA-cam.
Much thanks Mr Automobilistic!
Mr Automobilistic is a natural presenter!
@@polbeccaand also one of the all time bests.
If I'm reading this correctly G2 was an invitational class within the GT World Championship and quite specifically ... non-scoring. So to have the title without being able to score any points seems like an outstanding achievement! Scandalous that not more is known about what must be the most amazing feat in racing ever!
Gillet Vertigo 1997 is equally as famous as 1999 Lister Storm LMGT2 & Lister Storm Newcastle Utd.
This was one of favorite cars in GTR2. Racing a slower class in a multi-class race was always exciting.
Especially against S7.R and Audi R8 LMP1 2005.
And also again in FM4.
Great video as always, just to point out, the Vertigo wasn't just on playstation's GT game, it was also part of the car line up in another racing title made by Simbin called GTR2 on the PC. In that game it had no competitors as you've said, it was kind of in it's own class.
I always wanted more information on this car after discovering it in the Gran Torismo video game. No one ever wrote anything about it in any of the car magazines. I absolutely love the look of it. I think it's beautiful. Thank you.
The look of the 1997 & 2004 Vertigo Race Cars are as amazing as Emma Verde & Karin Asaka's Peugeot 908 HDi FAP LMP1.
I have pictures of this car at an auto Show in the 90s while it held the 0-60 world record. Edit; from Motortrend 1996 "Heralding from a country known for its waffles, Automobiles Gillet made its mark in the international arena when it claimed the title of the world's fastest-accelerating production car, with a blistering 3.14-second 0-60-mph blast in its 360-horsepower Vertigo."
Pole!
Thanks for talking about this Gran Turismo legend!
On GT4 to 6, Vertigo 04 can be bought with $1.000.000 cash.
Belgium used to be a very big place for automobile construction bac in the early 20 century. The most well known used to be Imperia, Excelsior and Minerva for example. This was due to Belgium being at the very edge of Engineering back in those days.
Unfortunately, this has passed.
As a Belgian i very much appreciate you covering this car.
This car in profile looks like a 90s reinterpretation of the Bill Thomas Cheetah and I love that about it
Cheetah is so underrated. What an absolutely MAD car. Hope to see one in person someday.
As a belgian i love the vertigo and i think the newest generation actualy looks pretty good,and yes u can order one for €140.000
We did have a brand called Minerva which is now defunct since..'56, a competitor in the luxury segment. And more recently, the short lived Imperia brand which went bankrupt after...2 years. As for the Vertigo, I was at the 2003 24 hours of Spa and let's just say that it finished the race. Because that's all it did. It was stone dead last and barely running. Even the little Lotus Elise in G3 category beat it. The G2 class had a few competitors at that time, namely the first C5-R on this side of the pond, a few MT900's, 996's and a funky Seat Toledo silhouette car. The category was absolutely smashed by Zakspeed's Viper GTS-R though. All in all it's not a remarkable car from my country, but I'm still glad it exists.
I've seen quite a few Vertigos and Vertigo based cars. Seen a red and a black Vertigo 5, an early race car which seemingly has 0 info on its existence, the 2018 Pikes Peak car which until 5 minutes ago I thought was from around 2005 like their GT cars, a full exposed carbon gen 1 or 2 car, the yellow GT race car and to top it off 2 Mostro Zagatos. Granted most of these were at the Brussels motor show in 2018 and 2019 except the exposed carbon one which I saw at smaller show in January 2020 and the GT car which I saw at Interclassics last November, it's always interesting to see one because nobody seems to know what they are
Is the Vertigo capable on racing at Pikes Peak??
@@AlanFormula12022 it finished 6th in class back in 2018 but never raced after that as far as I can find. The car was sold back in 2021 but I don't think the new owner has ever actually driven it
Even if I'm Belgian and I know the Gillet Vertigo, I learned a few things about it.
But I know that Gillet has created a new car (10 years aog) in association with the sport car team VDS named Gillet-VDS GT 001 and a track model named Gillet-VDS GT 001-R.
I’m glad you will reupload stuff and correct things / add things to the video. Always will rewatch haha
Thanks for the reupload, love it second time round just as much if not better!!!
0:25 i feel called out, idk why tho
This wax the first time I hear something beeped out from this channel, having watched every single video
Real ones know this car from SimBin's GTR
I'm a Belgian and remember these cars at the 24h of zolder and Spa, aswell as in the Belcar (Belgian GT championship back in the day). And the car was always at the back with either mechanical issues or they were just slow. Thats also why they were in G2 class, because they were far off the pace of the GT class.
Loved racing this in race 07
Wait a minute. Is this guy wearing rose tinted glasses? Is this why he goes on about old cars and racing series?
Thanks for an other interesting video. I live 20min away from the factory, if you ever want to do a follow up to this video, let me know, I'll go ask them for more informations and clarifications.
Un jemeppois? xD
Reupload or not, your videos are always enjoyable to watch!
I distinctly remembering dominating all in GT4 with this car. This car with the spiciest turbo kit was THE secret sauce!
You should do the next one about the Marcos LM600, kinda similar to Gilles Vertigo.
Odd to look at, but the early model reminds me a bit of the Chrysler Prowler, which I really liked and is modeled after American cars of the 50's, so I have a bit of a soft spot for that design. The air intake does give it a bit of a weird look, though, but if Bugatti can get away with it, anyone can. Plus, the later 00's models make the whole body look more unique and sporty. As much as it's nice to have in GT3 and 4 in its GT scheme, I really like how it looks stock even more. Also thank you for the history lesson meanwhile!
I remember reading a magazine article in either car and driver or motor trend on this car and it's insane acceleration, and haven't heard a peep from it since. Thank you for waking up that ancient memory.
I would have loved to hear more about the spec and performance of the car.
I discovered the gillet virtigo after watching my brother play GTR2 (not gran turismo but the other GT racing computer game) back in the day
Thank you for making this video !!!
For some reason, it makes me think of a modern interpretation of a Caterham
I think that’s what he is saying @ 6:50 - a ‘Donkervoort-esque vehicle’ based on the Lotus Seven (as is the Caterham)
Please do more absolutely obscure cars
Such a mainstay of my race vehicles in Gran Turismo 3 back in the day.
Edit: I hope this comes as dlc to GT7, it's a longshot but i can dream.
It looks like if a Zenvo and an Ariel Atom had a child
Your welcome !! Belgium viewer.. like you said I saw it race in those years. They did enter spa. But never finished. I think only raced 2 cars
Panoz another hidden gem
Thank you for this video! Good to revisit this story! If Neil Breen designed a supercar, this would be it!
3:20 the rear looks somewhat like the Porsche 928 from this angle.
I think everyone here would agree: learning about obscure racing cars is so damn entertaining
Belgium also makes Van Hool buses as well
I know that alot of really og car guys know the Gillet, but i feel like it still doest get the recognition it trulym deserves.
This is my brothers favorite car! For real he loves them from Gran Turismo series although hasnt had one in real life obviously
I remember that I beat some races in GT5 in this car. Great content as always. Thanks
I personally love the strange angular lines. First time I saw it on gran turismo I fell in love
Yeah it is ! I have always wondered about this car , thank you for breaking ground on this topic.
How on earth do these people make money with such limited production? Maybe this is the hobby is some billionaire?
Playing Gran Turismo 3, and remembering how it was always 6th place, obscure as being a Belgian car, and was (I guess) one of the slow race cars, it helps to know its real racing accomplishments.
That car you had in Gran turismo 4. Lots of HP. Not a lot of other things. I knew 900hp TVR's were real. Is 900 hp version of this thing real?
OG GRAN TURISMO players: 🗿
Beauty really is a relative thing ... I love the bodywork on the vertigo personally ... I have a weak spot for outlandish design,s
Like the marcos mantis ... Lister storm etc
First video i watched an subbed 👍👌
Also from belgium btw
This car like many brands use the same Colin Chapman concept like donkervoort, catherham, wesfield, panoz...thanks for content
this car was very well known in exotic car web circles in the 90s. Not sure if GT made it famous because I certainly knew about it before then. There was a special series built for Philip Streiff which had unique controls for his disability from racing.
Always love to get some Vertigo, even if it’s not the first time! 🤩
Great video👍
Know this from SimBins GTR 2 video game. Love odd or ugly looking cars.
The answer you seek (like everything Belgian) is called "Tax Evasion" anywhere else..
Go have a chat with Vanina Ickx and her father for the back story.
have you done a video on ginetta?
I guess this episode was the most mysterious and uncertain of all so far
I think this is something I like in this car, its just pure underground shit
Great content. You deserve a much higher “like” count.
Belgian had a booming car industry in the 1920s! Most famous is probably Minerva with their stunning luxury cars.
Little side note: It's true that there were around 720,000 vehicles produced in Belgium in 2008 (435,000 cars, 245,000 light trucks, and 40,000 trucks). But a lot of factories have closed in Belgium lately: Renault Vilvoorde in 1997, Opel Antwerp in 2010, Ford Genk in 2014, and most recently Van Hool (buses). The only ones left are Audi in Brussels, Toyota in Brussels, and a large Volvo plant in Ghent. :-(
Thank you for speaking about this !
In a nutshell: The Gillet Vertigo is the automotive incarnation of Spinal Tap.
First met this car in SimBin's GT-R and GT-R 2, played GT3 and GT4 until much later.
soo someone on the Gran Turismo team just hot rodded this thing with a 900hp v10 for shits n giggles? if so what a legend lol. i loved this car in the GT games.
The Gillet always seemed to come last in the Gran Turismo races I saw it in lol
Getting Gran Turismo 4 vibes.
Funny thing: a Boyfriend of the godmother of my brother had a Vertigo and it was an awesome car to see (we were 12 at the time so yeah Sportscars where you sit low on the ground go brrrr) Don't know anything else about it tho. just remember being impressed
I first knew this car through GTR 2: FIA GT Racing Simulator, I picked it for a quick race simply because that non-existent rear section makes it look hilarious 😂
On Gran Turismo 3, the 1997 Gillet Vertigo only has half of the bhp from GT4 to 6.
The GT3 version of the Vertigo (1997 Gillet Vertigo) only has half of the bhp from the GT4 to 6 version of the Vertigo (417 vs 889 on GT4 to 6, but had awful handling unless it uses Racing Soft tyres).
0:50 my mk4 Golf was built in Belgium! Brussels VW plant I believe.
I only ever learned about this car because of Gran Turismo PSP and Gran Turismo 4 lol. I thought it was cool, but also strange because its so obscure.
I love how this car looks. It reminds me of Ridge racer.
actually, the Vertigo made an apparent in Ridge race type 4 under the fictional model Licone from fictional brand french brand Age. I think that is the only car in the game recieved little to no alteration on their real life counterpart. I remeber seeing the Vertigo the first time in GT3 was dump founded that:" wait, this thing is real?! Well, what do you know?" 😂
Huh I thought the TZ3 had the Viper engine in it
Turns out that was the Stradale
This car looks like a resto-mod of the Cro-Sal Cheetah. Super short rear deck and long nose with flowing fenders is a strange look to me.
hi there, belgian here.
my stupid ass went “Omg, the shaving company made a car?!?” and then i remembered that its Gillette…
I think it's a stunning looking car!
I feel like this car is an interesting one because on one hand it's popular thanks to Gran Turismo, and yet at the same time it's mysterious due to the fact that the information of the car is sparse.
After 3:38 I clearly saw the F1 GTR model screaming in V12 pain.
Lotus 7 link was my guess at first glance, just from the nose
Wasnt the tz3 based on a dodge viper?
GT3 is the only reason i have even heard about this automotive oddity.
I remember this because i first saw it in GT 3 Apex amd looked for vids
Can you please talk about the sucessful times of Lotus in Formula 1? is for me the greatest brand in motorsport with porsche
Great work as always! Obscure car. with little redeeming efforts via racing. Too bad. The answer is most always money.
The more you know I guess...
It seems like I know about a new car everyday.
Hey AM, worth contacting Gillet I think? They may give u some answers or maybe even an interview?
Bro can i have the glasses 😂
I actually kinda like the looks of a few of the variants of the Vertigo. For example, the Vertigo Streiff looks pretty good in my opinion. They are definitely weird and unusual, but I like how different they are.
Although, I do think most of the variants look pretty ugly.
Edit because I realized I had one of the variants wrong and it was actually ugly.
The best a man can get.
i pronounce Gillet the same as i pronounce my shaving razor brand thingy, and i have made up my mind, i'll keep pronouncing it like that !
I agree the Gillet Vertigo does not look great. It seems to me as a "modern" reinterpretation of the Lotus Seven. I think I remember of a Dutch constructor (Donkervoort I think) who was producing Lotus Sevens under license up to the early 2000's at least - maybe a kink of the low countries for the Lotus Seven? I don't know! Thanks for the video anyway! :)
wow top gear, all they would have had to do was call up McLaren or even get ahold of someone that has one to find the chassis body plate
Hi, kindly do video of how Porsche beat the mclaren f1 gtr and how mercedes clk beat Porsche