News report originally published in Road & Track Exotic Cars Quarterly, spring 1991; republished by the author
Ginetta, the tiny British firm that has been cottaging away at building cars since the late Fifties, is reviving a couple of its greatest hits as well. The company’s forte has been a variety of cars, virtually all of which have been sports/competition models, identified by model series number with the prefix G. Though largely unknown in the U.S., Ginetta has a dedicated following in Britain as well as a respectable record in club racing. The two favorites being reprised are the Ginetta G4 and the G 12.
The G4, introduced in 1961, was a small front-engine sports car with tube chassis and a fiberglass body reminiscent of Jaguar and Lotus. A variety of engines were fitted but most were four-cylinder Ford derivatives. Pretty but elemental, many were raced. More than 500 were made. The shapely G12 came along in 1966 and is alleged to be the first British mid-engine GT car, though the touring couldn’t be too grand in the wee little coupe with a 997-cc Cosworth SCA engine and Hewland transaxle. The racing was, however, the G12 more common at British race meets than its production total of only 50+ would indicate.
The new G4 and G12 are outfitted with leather seats and Wilton carpets, the G4 coming with a 135-bhp Ford-based 1700-cc inline-4 with twin Weber 40 DCOE carburetors, the G12 getting a 1600-cc twincam dry-sump Lotus inline-4 making about 150 bhp. Ginetta claims 0-60 mph in 5.6 sec for the G4 and 5.3 sec for the G 12. Minilite 13 x 6-inch alloy wheels are used on both cars, with 165/70 rubber on the G4 and 185/60 front, 205/60 rear for the G 12.
Production will be limited and many are bound for Japan. Martin Pfaff, Ginetta’s managing director, says of the 30 or so G4’s to be built in the first year, 20 will go to Japan, as well 15 of the approximately 20 G12’s. Barouche (Motor Sport) Ltd, London, has been appointed distributor of the G4 and G 12 for the rest of the world. The G4 is $34,600, G12 $55,000.
Speaking of Ginetta, the firm recently announced the G 33, which looks like a G4 with pop-up headlights but is larger and carries a 200-Rover (nee Buick) 3.9-liter V-8 under its fiberglass bonnet. Ginetta is gearing up to produce 120 G33s per year, selling at $34,900+.
The G33 joins the G32, a mid-engine two-seat coupe that has been around since 1986. Built around Ford drive components (either 1.6- or 1.9-liter inline-4s), the G32 looks like it might have come from the last generation of Toyotas. A convertible version has been added recently. Pfaff expects production to reach 230 annually, which will necessitate another production line. The 1.9-liter G32 list for $23,150, but U.S. buyers need never mind. No Ginetta’s will be imported to the U. S., says Pfaff, citing EPA and DOT regulations. Alas, government is protecting us from diversity again.
Addendum: Read more about the Ginetta G4 in a story by the author in AutoWeek.
One might expect a cottage industry carmaker to not survive, although Ginetta Cars might find fault with that “cottage” description, and certainly Ginetta Cars made today are fully modern and up-to-date. They’re available in the U.S. through its distributor, Ginetta North America, but the cars sold here–GT, Junior, Prototype and Exotic–are strictly for racing. Certain models could be drven on the road, but NHTSA and EPA rules keep that from happening. And although Ginetta North America’s website won’t tell you, you can put the Ginetta G56 GTR legally on the road in Britain. Looks like fun.
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