Neretti GT: Mexico’s Forgotten Exotic Sports Car

Obscure Brilliance - While a visit to a motor show in Belgium might typically introduce you to a rare Apal Coupé, imagine the surprise of stumbling upon two sleek and unusual sports cars bearing the name “Neretti.” At first glance, the name might sound like it belongs to an exotic Italian marque, but a quick mental flip of the letters reveals its true origin: D’Ieteren, the Belgian automotive company behind this curious creation. What you’re really looking at is a rare gem from Mexico—the Neretti GT, a bold experiment in sporty style and engineering that still captures the imagination of car enthusiasts.

The second-generation Neretti GT, built in the 1970s, showcased a more refined design than its predecessor and debuted as a sharply styled sports car at the 1971 Auto Expo in Mexico City. (Picture from: John Llyod in Flickr)

The Neretti GT came first in 1964, a lone prototype designed with a lightweight fiberglass body atop a VW Beetle chassis. The brainchild of Roland D’Ieteren, this car was intended for production in Mexico. Unfortunately, that dream was never fully realized, and the 1st iteration Neretti GT remained a one-off, parked in the shadowy corners of automotive history—until much later, when it found its place in the Musée D'Ieteren in Belgium.

The first Neretti GT sports car prototype, built in 1964 by Roland D’Ieteren, was a one-off creation with a lightweight fiberglass body on a VW Beetle chassis. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

But the story didn’t end there. In the early 1970s, the Neretti GT was reborn—its second iteration emerged as a more mature, sharply styled sports car that turned heads at the 1971 Auto Expo in Mexico City. Its design was bold, modern, and carried a distinctly Latin flair, with angular lines and a wedge-shaped nose that echoed European performance cues. Built on the reliable foundation of a VW Beetle and often powered by a VW Type III engine, the 2nd iteration Neretti GT was light, agile, and surprisingly spirited. 

The first Neretti GT sportscar prototype sat on display at the D’Ieteren Museum in Brussels, Belgium. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

The car in the image exudes that unique 70s-era charm: low-slung and wide, finished in vibrant yellow with black accents. The bold hood vents hint at aggression, while the flush-mounted headlights add a dash of futurism. Its dual windshield wipers and curving fenders reflect a commitment to sporty utility without overcomplicating the design. The wide stance and raked windshield only heighten the car’s exotic appeal. The nameplate “Neretti” rests modestly on the front bumper, a reminder of its underdog roots and grand ambitions.

The second-iteration Neretti GT sports car, displayed at the D’Ieteren Museum in Brussels, Belgium, features bold hood vents that hint at aggression, while its flush-mounted headlights add a dash of futurism. (Picture from: AllCarIndex)

Between 1970 and 1971, only about 15 units of the second Neretti GT were built in Mexico City, making it one of the rarest and most intriguing sports cars ever produced in the country. Though the project didn’t take off commercially, it stirred excitement in the local automotive community. It was even featured in Motor Trend magazine, which dubbed it a “Mexican supercar”—a striking badge of honor for a homegrown experiment. 

The Neretti GT was even featured in Motor Trend magazine, which called it a 'Mexican supercar'—a bold title for a daring homegrown creation. (Picture from: John Llyod in Flickr)

And it didn’t just stop at auto shows and magazines. The Neretti GT found a second life on the silver screen, appearing in the 1972 film Santo en Anónimo Mortal, driven by none other than the legendary Mexican wrestler-turned-actor, El Santo. Its brief but memorable film role only added to the Neretti’s mystique, blending pop culture with mechanical ambition.

The Neretti GT made a brief appearance on the silver screen in the 1972 film Santo en Anónimo Mortal, driven by the legendary Mexican wrestler-turned-actor El Santo. (Picture from: Imcdb.org)

Today, both the first and second iterations of the Neretti GT are quietly displayed at the Musée D'Ieteren in Brussels, Belgium—far from their spiritual birthplace in Mexico. Their story goes beyond cars; it's about vision, ambition across continents, and the determination to create something bold and unconventional. The Neretti GT may never have dominated the mainstream stage, but it left a lasting mark in the world of experimental sports cars—especially those crafted far from the traditional automotive powerhouses. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ZWISCHENGAS | ALLCARINDEX | IMCDB.ORG | VOLKSWAGEN CLASSIC IN FACEBOOK | JOHN LLYOD IN FLICKR ]

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