Gillet
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGillet is a Belgian specialist automobile manufacturer known for the lightweight, hand-built Vertigo sports coupé.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Gillet is a Belgian specialist automobile manufacturer established in 1992 by Tony Gillet, a former racing driver and automotive entrepreneur. The company is centered on the Vertigo, an unusually light, low-volume sports coupé developed as a bespoke and largely hand-built performance car. Rather than competing with mass-market manufacturers, Gillet occupies the niche between an artisanal coachbuilder and a small supercar producer, emphasizing low weight, composite construction, customization and motorsport-derived engineering. Tony Gillet brought substantial competition experience to the project. He won the Belgian hill-climb championship in 1979 and 1980, competed in two Dakar Rallies and became the Belgian importer for Dutch manufacturer Donkervoort in 1982. In January 1990, he attracted attention by setting a production-car acceleration record of 0–100 km/h in a specially modified Donkervoort, recording 3.85 seconds. This experience informed the creation of the Vertigo, whose development prioritized acceleration, agility and a high power-to-weight ratio. The first Vertigo prototype was completed in 1991 and publicly shown at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992. The vehicle was subsequently refined for production and displayed at the Paris and Geneva motor shows in 1993. Its structure used carbon-fibre and honeycomb materials associated with Formula One engineering. According to the reference account, this construction reduced chassis weight by 58 kilograms while increasing stiffness. The production design also adopted more fluid bodywork, higher side windows and retractable headlights compared with the earliest prototype. The first-generation Vertigo used a Ford Cosworth 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in its initial configuration, while later road versions moved toward more powerful Alfa Romeo V6 powertrains. Gillet developed the Vertigo Streiff as a limited model associated with former Formula One driver Philippe Streiff, and later introduced the Vertigo .5, incorporating elements from the company's racing programme. The Vertigo .5 Spirit used a 4.2-litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 and featured extensive chassis, brake and suspension revisions. Gillet offered customers a high degree of specification and customization, consistent with the car's bespoke positioning. Motorsport has remained an important part of the brand's identity. The racing Vertigo Streiff competed in the Belcar Belgian GT Championship and the FIA GT Championship from 1998, principally in the G2 class for non-homologated cars. The race car evolved from a 3.6-litre Alfa Romeo V6 to a larger 3,990 cc version in 2006. A nationally homologated GT3 version appeared briefly in the 2007 Belcar season. In the 2008 FIA GT season, Renaud Kuppens drove a Vertigo .5 powered by a Maserati 4.2-litre V8 tuned to Group N specifications. Gillet Vertigos also entered the Spa 24 Hours, with recorded finishes in 2002, 2003 and 2004, although later entries did not finish. Beyond its own road and race cars, Gillet has participated in specialist engineering and composite-manufacturing work. Zagato introduced the Maserati Mostro in 2015, a vehicle based on the Vertigo .5 chassis, and Gillet constructed a rolling chassis for the project in 2019. In 2017, the company collaborated with Transnubel to produce composite cubes intended for the Belgian nuclear industry. Gillet also announced a racing Vertigo with linen-fibre bodywork for a planned 2018 Pikes Peak appearance with Vanina Ickx. Publicly associated owners of Vertigos have included Prince Albert of Monaco and French singer and actor Johnny Hallyday. The available reference material does not establish the company's current production scale, ownership, financial condition or continuing market status.
History
Gillet's origins are closely tied to the career of Tony Gillet. Before establishing the company, Gillet was active in motorsport and won the Belgian hill-climb championship in 1979 and 1980. He also competed in two Dakar Rallies. In 1982, he became the Belgian importer of Donkervoort, a Dutch manufacturer whose cars were influenced by the Lotus Seven formula. This commercial and technical experience gave him a foundation for developing a performance vehicle under his own name. In January 1990, Gillet set a recorded 0–100 km/h production-car acceleration mark of 3.85 seconds in a specially modified Donkervoort. He subsequently began work on the Vertigo, completing the first prototype in 1991. The prototype was displayed at the 71st Brussels Auto Show in January 1992, the year associated with the founding of Gillet as an automobile manufacturer. During the following two years, the vehicle was finalized for production and appeared at the Paris and Geneva motor shows in 1993. A second prototype and the first production car were built during this process, with the production example used for certification tests including frontal crash testing and seat and seat-belt anchorage tests. The production Vertigo differed materially from the earliest prototype. Its chassis used carbon fibre and honeycomb materials derived from Formula One construction methods. This approach was intended to combine high stiffness with very low mass and reportedly reduced chassis weight by 58 kilograms. The body was redesigned with smoother lines, higher side windows and retractable headlights, bringing it closer to the original design studies. The first Vertigo configuration used a Ford Cosworth 2.0-litre inline-four engine. Later evolutions adopted a 3.0-litre Alfa Romeo V6, providing a substantial increase in performance. The lightweight construction and aerodynamic, compact design became central to the model's identity. Gillet extended the Vertigo concept into motorsport. From 1998, the Vertigo racing car competed in the Belcar Belgian GT Championship and the FIA GT Championship in the G2 class for non-homologated cars. The competition model became known as the Vertigo Streiff, after former Formula One driver Philippe Streiff. A road-going Streiff edition was produced in a limited run of 25 cars. It used a carbon-fibre body and an Alfa Romeo 3.6-litre V6 producing a stated 360 bhp. The example purchased by Streiff was adapted with joystick controls and an automatic transmission following his serious 1989 testing accident. The race car's Alfa Romeo V6 was enlarged to 3,990 cc in 2006. Gillet also developed a GT3 version with national homologation, which raced briefly during the 2007 Belcar season. At the 2008 FIA GT season, Renaud Kuppens drove a Vertigo .5 fitted with a Maserati 4.2-litre V8 tuned to Group N specifications. The racing programme included entries in the Spa 24 Hours. The car finished 26th in both 2002 and 2003 and 13th in 2004; entries from 2005 through 2008 were recorded as non-finishes. The next significant road-car development was the Vertigo .5, introduced at Brussels in January 2008 and later marketed as the Vertigo .5 Spirit. The redesigned car replaced the Alfa Romeo V6 with a 4.2-litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 and received revised suspension, dampers, springs, brakes and wheels. Its architecture retained the brand's lightweight, compact and highly personalized character. Gillet presented the car as a bespoke product rather than a volume automobile, with customers able to request extensive customization. Gillet's engineering activities later expanded beyond its own branded road cars. Zagato presented the Maserati Mostro in 2015 on a Vertigo .5-based chassis. In 2017, Prince Albert II of Monaco visited the Gillet factory, while the company also collaborated with Transnubel on composite cubes intended for the Belgian nuclear industry. In 2018, Gillet worked on a racing Vertigo with linen bodywork for a proposed Pikes Peak programme involving Vanina Ickx. In 2019, it constructed a rolling chassis for the Zagato Maserati Mostro, identified in the reference material as the first of a planned series of five. The available sources provide no reliable current information on production volume, ownership, financial performance or whether regular automobile production remains active.
- 2019
First reported Zagato Maserati Mostro rolling chassis completed
[1]Gillet constructed a rolling chassis for the Zagato Maserati Mostro project, described as the first in a planned series of five.
- 2018
Linen-bodywork racing Vertigo project
[1]Gillet worked on a racing Vertigo using linen-fibre bodywork for a proposed Pikes Peak entry.
- 2017
Prince Albert II visits the factory
[1]Albert II, Prince of Monaco, visited Gillet's factory. The company also undertook composite production work for Transnubel.
- 2015
Zagato Maserati Mostro uses a Vertigo-derived chassis
[1]Zagato presented the Maserati Mostro, based on the Vertigo .5 chassis.
- 2008
Vertigo .5 presented
[1]The Vertigo .5 debuted in Brussels with technology influenced by the company's 2007 FIA GT race car.
- 2006
Racing-engine displacement increased
[1]The competition Vertigo's Alfa Romeo V6 was enlarged to 3,990 cc.
- 2002
Vertigo Streiff introduced
[1]Gillet developed the Vertigo Streiff, a limited road and racing model associated with Philippe Streiff.
- 1998
Vertigo enters international GT competition
[1]The racing Vertigo began competing in the Belcar championship and FIA GT Championship.
- 1994
Vertigo records a rapid acceleration time
[1]The Vertigo was credited with a 0–100 km/h time of 3.266 seconds in a production-car record account.
- 1993
Vertigo appears at Paris and Geneva motor shows
[1]Gillet displayed the Vertigo at major European motor shows while preparing the car for production.
Products and positioning
A Belgian artisanal sports-car marque positioned around ultra-lightweight carbon-composite construction, bespoke specification, limited production and racing technology.
Sports coupé · 1991
Vertigo / Vertigo Mk 1
The original Vertigo was Gillet's lightweight, hand-built sports coupé. Its development began with a 1991 prototype and the car was shown publicly in 1992. The production design used carbon-fibre and honeycomb construction, a compact body and a strong emphasis on low mass. Early power came from a Ford Cosworth 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, while later versions used an Alfa Romeo 3.0-litre V6. The model established Gillet's identity as an artisanal Belgian performance-car manufacturer.
Limited sports car and racing car · 2002
Vertigo Streiff
The Vertigo Streiff was developed from Gillet's racing programme and named for former Formula One driver Philippe Streiff. The road version was reportedly limited to 25 examples. It combined a carbon-fibre body with an Alfa Romeo 3.6-litre V6 producing a stated 360 bhp. Streiff's own car was adapted with joystick controls and an automatic transmission. The related competition car raced in Belcar and FIA GT events and later received a larger 3,990 cc engine.
Bespoke sports coupé · 2008
Vertigo .5 Spirit
The Vertigo .5 Spirit was a comprehensive evolution of the Vertigo. It replaced the earlier Alfa Romeo V6 with a 4.2-litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 and incorporated revised double-wishbone suspension, dampers, springs and braking hardware. The car retained a lightweight carbon-composite-oriented structure and was offered with extensive customer customization. Its specification and limited-production character placed it in the specialist supercar and coachbuilt sports-car segment.
Motorsport vehicle · 1998
Vertigo racing cars
Gillet's competition Vertigos were developed for Belgian and international GT racing. They competed in Belcar and the FIA GT Championship, including the G2 class for non-homologated cars. Later work included a nationally homologated GT3 version, a Maserati V8-powered Vertigo .5 and a proposed Pikes Peak car featuring linen-fibre bodywork. The programme served as both a sporting activity and a technical source for later road-car developments.
Brand decisions
2017
Expand composite-manufacturing activityStrategyBackground
Gillet's expertise in lightweight composite materials had applications beyond sports-car production.
Action taken
The company collaborated with Transnubel to produce composite cubes intended for the Belgian nuclear industry.
Aftermath
The project demonstrated an industrial application for Gillet's composite-manufacturing capabilities, although the available source does not provide further commercial details.
2015
Supply a Vertigo-derived platform for the Zagato Maserati MostroM&ABackground
Zagato developed a limited sports-car project requiring a suitable high-performance chassis architecture.
Action taken
A car based on the Vertigo .5 chassis was created for the Zagato Maserati Mostro project.
Aftermath
The collaboration extended the use of Gillet's engineering platform beyond its own branded cars.
2008
Introduce the Vertigo .5 generationGeneration changeBackground
Gillet needed to update its specialist sports car while retaining the lightweight, bespoke character established by the original Vertigo and incorporating lessons from competition.
Action taken
The company presented the Vertigo .5 at Brussels, adding race-derived features and subsequently developing the Vertigo .5 Spirit for sale.
Aftermath
The .5 became the basis for later road-car and external projects, including the Zagato Maserati Mostro.
2008
Adopt a Ferrari/Maserati V8 for the Vertigo .5 SpiritStrategyBackground
The Vertigo .5 required a more powerful and modern powertrain than the earlier Alfa Romeo V6 configuration.
Action taken
Gillet used a 4.2-litre Ferrari/Maserati V8 and revised the car's suspension, brakes, wheels and other chassis systems.
Aftermath
The updated model strengthened the brand's positioning as a bespoke, high-performance and low-volume sports-car maker.
Sources1 sources
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