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1972 Ginetta G15 MKIV news, pictures, and information

 
This G15 is the only one on the road in North America, and as such, causes quite a stir in motoring circles when people suddenly realize that this is not a Lotus Elan! She has been road legal since September 2003 and is regularly used, having competed in last years 'Fun Run' at Waterford Hills Road Racing Circuit and also as a pace car for the F500's. And most recently a tip to Mid-Ohio sports car course for the 'British Car Showdown' event and a trip to Kalamazoo for 'Mad Dogs & Englishmen', where she achieved 2nd place in class.

The G15 has an amazing racing pedigree in the UK, and was so successful in ProdSports that the organizing bodies forced it to race in increasingly higher capacity classes where it still chalked up impressive wins. Eventually in 1981 some further rule changes were made and the G15 was left with no class to compete in, a move seen by many in the motorsports industry at the time, as effectively, a complete ban. The little car had become a complete embarrassment!

The most famous G15 race was in 1981 at Donnington, when pressed for time, they combined the last two races of the day....the 850 motorsports club and the Ferrari owners club challenge. Alison Davis managed to put her car on the front row of the grid, three more G15's were also competing. The outcome? The amazing little Ginettas stole the limelight, taking four of the first six places, including second and third!
The Ginetta Cars Company was created in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers, Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Douglas. The Company was located in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England and their first offering was the G2 which was a kit car based on a tubular frame chassis, aluminum body and comprised of Ford components. The G2 was followed by the G3 in 1959 and replaced by the G4 in 1961. The G2 and G3 were designed for competition whereas the G4 was intended as a road-going vehicle. The G4 was given a fiber-glass GT bodystyle and a Ford 105E engine. The suspension and other components benefited from modern improvements. Production continued until 1969 with around 500 examples being constructed.

The G10 and G11 were produced during the early 1960's and powered from V8 engines courtesy of Ford and MGB. The next Ginetta vehicle was the G12 which brought with it a rather experimental configuration with the driver sitting in front of the motor. It was a fairly uncommon setup though a proven way of achieving excellent balance and weight distribution.

The G15 was introduced in 1967 and remained in production until 1974 with over 800 examples being produced. The vehicle had seating for two and clothed in a fiber glass body bonded to a tube chassis. The G21 was introduced in 1970 and brought with it larger engines.

By the early 1970s the demand for the Ginetta vehicles had increased and the decision was made to relocate to new factories. A suitable location was found in Sudbury, Suffolk.

During the 1980's the company reverted back to kit cars with their G26, G27, and G31. The G32 was a mid-engined car built completely by Ginetta. It was offered with a variety of four-cylinder engines in either coupe or convertible configuration. The G33 was similar to the G32 but outfitted with a potent eight-cylinder engine.

In 1989 the Walkletts sold the company; the new owners continued the production of the G20 and G33.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2009
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G12
G15
G4

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