Esprit 43 is happy to annouce a brand new kit series , the Gto R  series. The Esprit 43 Gto R range will cover the rarest versions of the the world's most enegmatic racing car the 250 Gto. Each white metal kit will be limited to maximum 150pcs Worldwide. More details on the first kits will appear here soon and the kits will be available from the  exclusive Esprit 43 retailers: www.abcminiatures.com for France and Europe www.miniwerks.com for the USA and Canada www.raccoon-auto.com for Asia and Australia The brand new masters are realised by Mike Craig of Mont Ventoux Montage.

Gto R Kit 1 - Chassis 3223 GT 1966 Daytona 24 hrs So why this 250 Gto ? Chassis 3223 Gt was the first Gto built which went on to have a successful racing career. Back in 1966 ,Chassis 3223 GT claimed the class victory in the 3 litre category at the Daytona 24 hour race which turned out to be the last great international victory for the 250 Gto. The car has recently undergone a superb restoration by Motion Products under the watchful eye of current owner Joseph M. Barone earning it another victory 45 years later at Pebble Beach 2011, taking the '50th Anniversary of the Ferrari Gto class' and the 'Most elegant sportscar' awards. In a fitting tribute to the man who had all those years ago made history, the car was driven at the 2011 Pebble Beach event by the 1966 Daytona class winner Larry Perkins. Interesting details of this car include asymetric driving lamps designed to cope with the lack of lighting on the Daytona back straight banking.Painted lateral front & rear air vents , front and rear jacking bars and frontal orange Porsche parking lights (more on that later). AVAILABLE JANUARY 31st 2012 - LIMITED EDITION  150pcs WORLDWIDE

Gto R Kit 2 - Chassis 3223 GT The ‘Al Hodges affair ‘& Mosport 1963 So why these 250 Gtos ? As mentioned above Chassis 3223 Gt was the first Gto built which went on to have a successful racing career. In 1963, Chassis 3223 GT was bought & raced by Bob Grossman at the Canadian GP at Mosport where it finished 14th  overall. The look that makes this car unique is the taping over of all the front lights and the addition of enormous front bonnet scoops.  Chassis 3223 GT was then sold to Larry Perkins and then went on to race in the 1964 Daytona 2000km race which provoked the ‘Al Hodges affair’.Perkins was searching for a race sponsor for the 1964 Daytona race and did a deal with local Pontiac dealer Al Hodges.The car was left on display in the Pontiac showroom before the race and encouraged the sale of 3 Pontiac GTOs. The dealer’s name was painted on the car for the race and when it showed up at the track caused an angry reaction from Luigi Chinetti who told Perkins Ferraris did not carry that kind of advertising!A short conversation between Perkins and NASCAR founder Bill France resulted in his response “I own this track, this is my race and Al Hodges is a friend of mine. My opinion is you can do whatever you want with your car”. Perkins raced and Chinetti banned supplying him parts for the duration of his ownership. This meant that after some front end damage the front parking lights were replaced with Porsche parts.  KIT CONTAINS DECALS FOR EITHER VERSION AVAILABLE JANUARY 31st 2012 - LIMITED EDITION 150pcs WORLDWIDE