Gran Turismo Omologato: The Ferrari 599 GTO, by Hot Wheels Elite

The original GTO, the Ferrari 250 GTO, is widely regarded as the most beautiful car of all time. The second GTO, the 288 GTO, is a legend in its own right and the grandfather of Ferrari's hypercar lineage that has spawned machines such as the F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari. I'm sure those names ring a bell.

The acronym, which stands for Gran Turismo Omologato, is therefore not to be used lightly. So when Ferrari souped up their already formidable 599 GTB Fiorano and threw on the GTO namesake, critics questioned whether this modern take of the classic stallion was deserving of the title. And in short, yes. Yes it was.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Ferrari 599 GTO, as done by Hot Wheels Elite in 1/18 scale.

This high-performance and limited-production version of the 599, essentially the 599XX in street clothes, was at the time the fastest Ferrari to lap their Fiorano test track. And how fitting it was, as the car with which it's based on was named after the track itself. The 599 GTO is a modern classic and has seen its value more than double since its release.

There remains a divided opinion on the design of the 599 GTB, but the GTO is what some say the GTB should've been in the first place. A more aggressive exterior packed with more power and carrying less weight. I think the Ferrari 599, any variant, is one of the most gorgeous cars ever made, defying norms that a Ferrari needs to be bold and loud in its design.

This model is produced by Hot Wheels and falls under the Hot Wheels Elite branding, which means it has a high level of detail. That's an understatement to be completely honest, and I did not expect that at all. The detail here would put almost all models in this price range to shame, and it would certainly give a premier brand like AUTOart a run for its money.

Most of the Ferrari models produced by Hot Wheels ironically end up with wheels that are either too small or too large; this one hits the sweet spot. The interior is nothing short of amazing. When collectors say the 599 GTO is one of their best, now I can fully understand why.