Background
Ginetta Cars Limited was founded in 1958 by the Walklett brothers, with the aim of producing a range of kitcars, (G2 and G3) to give the man in the street a cost effective method of going racing.
The 1961 Racing Car Show saw the launch of the G4 which featured a glass fibre open body and Ford 105E running gear. In 1963 a G4 Coupe was introduced alongside the GT and in testing reached 120 mph with a 1500 cc engine.
1964 saw the launch of the G10 and G11 featuring Ford V8 and MGB engines respectively, as well as a G12 mid-engine competition car. 1967 saw Ginetta launch its first “turnkey” car the G15, powered by a Hillman Imp engine, which was joined in 1970 by the larger G21 with either a 1725 cc Sunbeam Rapier or 3 litre Ford V6 engine. The 1980s saw Ginetta return to the kit car market with the ford based G27, G26 and G31. Whilst the 1990’s saw the launch of a range of a mid-engine G32 (coupe and convertible) with a choice of 1.6 and 1.9 litre engines, and the G33 roadster with a 3.9 litre V8.
Following the retirement of the Walklett brothers in 1989, the company was sold but failed in sept 92. Martin Phaff, one of the owners, with international backing, managed to save and restructure the Company (Jan ’93). In 1996 saw a one-make race Championship initially for G27’s and then in 2002 for the new G20 model which became the UK’s largest one class single make Championship. A coupe version formed the basis of a junior series launched for 2005 aimed at 14-17yr olds, using a 1.4 ltr Ford Zetec engine.
In December 2005 Lawrence Tomlinson bought the Company, this offered Ginetta the chance to expand and explore new markets and activities. The race Championships expanded into Europe and the Company achieved the long-held dream of the Walklett Brothers to enter cars at Le Mans.
This Car
In 2006 Martin Phaff, who remained with the Company, developed a G20 coupe rally car to launch a junior one make rally series within the BTRDA 1400cc Championship. The car’s debut was in the hands of Neil Weaver on the Kall Kiwk Rally part of the R.A.C Rally in November and whilst the car proved highly competitive a broken ball joint ensured a relatively early exit.2007 was a year of development by Marcel Freling ahead of the launch of the Avo Ginetta Rally Cup. The team saw highs and lows, taking 1st in class on the North Humberside Forest and the Red Dragon rallies. Tony Jardine subsequently used the car on the Sunseeker Rally. Ginetta focussed its attention on racing and so the one make rally Championship was shelved.
When Martin Phaff left Ginetta in 2008 he purchased the G20 GTRS rally car from the Company competing in a number of events until the car was sold on and eventually bought by the current owner and his son.
Technical
Engine: 1400cc Ford Zetec, 16v DOHC. Naturally Aspirated, Fuel Injection.
Power: 165 BHP