GTO Engineering. World class Ferrari experts in restoration, event support, servicing and much more. Italian luxury at its best.
Ferrari Experts
In 2013 I visited their workshop outside Reading for an amazing day and to see the launch of GTO London which was using old parts of Ferrari’s to create bespoke fashion accessories.
Now in 2024 its time to update the story.
GTO Engineering was founded in 1983 by Mark Lyon as an independent classic Ferrari specialist.
The business blossomed and cars rolled in. In 1996 he was joined by his friend and colleague Kevin Jones and they also began making their own parts.
In the early 2000s it became a true family affair as both Mark and Kevin’s sons joined the business, including Lee Jones.
They also bought Tony Merrick’s workshop near Twyford, Berkshire, an area the company still calls home today.
In 2011 James Crossland joined and together they rode the wave fulfilling Mark’s ambitions. GTO grew into the world’s largest classic Ferrari specialist, with international operations in Twyford, UK; Atlanta, Georgia; Los Angeles, California, and of course; Maranello, Italy.
Mark sadly passed away far too young in 2022. Being the sole owner and with his family having left to pursue other business interests, the company needed a new owner so turned to legendry Ferrari dealer John Collins of Talacrest. Under his ownership the company was scaled back to a more manageable UK-only operation.
In 2023, 40 years after its founding, GTO returned to its roots and into the ownership of Kevin, Lee and James. With many of the original team back in place, world-class Ferrari expertise and a solid plan for the future.
They say “we’re committed to our clients and our work, restoring, servicing, racing, touring, supplying parts and having fun with the world’s rarest, most beautiful and most valuable cars: Enzo-era Ferraris.”
Ferraris are built as racing cars so if you are looking for a toy, go elsewhere, these are for men.
Style, glamour, sex, beauty, passion, speed….
Do I have your attention, thought so…
The Glory of Driving a Ferrari
If you sit on a sunny day in an Italian piazza and look around and listen, not just visually but emotionally you see beauty, not practicality.
The very best of Italy, La Dolce Vita….amore…
Well that is our lesson for the day ladies and gentleman.
It is a subject that I feel passionately about. I grew up on James Bond, I was lucky to have a very glamorous mother and go on lovely holidays as both my parents loved the sea. All these things have been recounted in fantastic films, with beautiful ladies from Sophia Loren to Gina Lollobrigida.
‘GTO London’ was the baby of Victoria Lyon, Mark’s daughter. Hand-crafted wallets, cufflinks and key fobs.
I have one that I have now used for over 10 years and from an original GTO.
Gentlemans Style
Gentlemans Butler has introduced you to beautiful brands from Italy such as Fedeli, Zilli and Marinella. The link between our two great countries is a long story, the quiet refinement of the English with the pure style from Italy.
So, when we found out that a historic English racing company, who restore and look after some of the most valuable Ferraris in the world had launched a range of fashion accessories, wallets, flasks, cufflinks, all made from original Ferrari components then you have something special.
One very foggy day four intrepid journalists met at Paddington….no it’s not another Graham Greene spy movie …..and took the train a short distance out of London into the beautiful Berkshire countryside. Met by Ben Lyon the MD of GTO London who is the son of GTO Engineering owner Mark Lyon, we drove through the lanes till we reached a picturesque English farm, surrounded by horses, yes that’s where the great and good land their helicopter…
It’s what the English do so well, it’s very James Bond and it’s beautifully eccentric in a quiet way,,, that is until you get inside one of these beauties….
At the time I said “I am a relatively chilled fortysomething English male but seeing my face as I sat in one of these beautiful Ferrari GT 250’s with a racing engineer who had just returned from an Italian 24 hr endurance race and my face just said weeeee yes yes yes” Now 10 years on my feelings are the same.
My grandfather was a test driver and mechanic, so I had been brought up on the great iconic names of motor racing, now it’s time to add one more name! The funny thing is they fool you, you think well yes, it’s beautiful but…. and then when they have finished toying with you, like a cat’s toy with their prey or a beautiful lady smile at her suitors (no comparison, honestly!) you just feel speed, danger, beauty and it is amazing.
GTO London were much more than accessories they are part of history; they have stories to tell. When you dress and put on your brogues, your suite, your beautifully styled shirt, crisp and refined you add your cufflinks not as an afterthought but as a statement.
Likewise, when you sit in your meeting to discuss the niceties of finance and you need that extra touch to close that deal, reach out an open your GTO wallet, bespoke, original and made from only exclusive Ferrari leather….pull out your card, place it on the table and sip your espresso. There were two in the race, now there is just one, that’s you and you have just won.
Cufflinks inspired by the dramatic wheels of the 1920s Bluebird Land Speed Record car. One of the cufflinks takes its design from the traditional R6 pattern Dunlop racing tyre in both sterling silver (£290) and bronze-looking RFM (£667). Key fobs bearing the unique tread of 1950s Le Mans-winning Dunlop tyres.
Themed gift sets, such as the wallet, cufflinks and pen featuring styling cues from the legendary Ferrari 250 GTO, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. The authenticity of each design in the GTO London range is approved by expert engineers before being brought to life using materials such as sterling silver, fine gemstones, Italian calf skin and Real Ferrari Metal.
This photo was taken at Concours on Savile Row 2024
How much are your wallets?
Paul