1963 Ginetta G4

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 produced kit cars using primarily Ford components. By the early 1960s, the Ginetta company established a good name for itself. The Ginetta G3 was their first full-fendered vehicle and by 1960 the Walklett brothers launched what would become one of their most enduring and successful models – the Ginetta G4.

By 1960, the Ginetta Cars Company would launch one of their most enduring and successful models – the Ginetta G4. The fourth model from the Ginetta Car Company, the G4, was a slight deviation from their prior products and was intended for both the road and track. It featured a multi-tubular space frame chassis construction with double wishbones, coil springs, and dampers in the front. A Ford live axle with upper trailing arms, coil springs and dampers made up the rear suspension. Drum brakes that measured eight inches, located in the front and back, kept the vehicle in the driver's control. The engine was a Ford 105E unit that produced nearly 40 horsepower, which could carry the car to speeds of about 100 mph. The engine did not produce much power, but much like the rest of the vehicle employed lightweight construction. It is known that although the G4 was shown to the public at the 1961 racing car show, very few cars were built before the start of 1963.

Over the proceeding eight years, many improvements were made to the G4, including various engine options being offered, a coupe version becoming available, a BMC rear axle which replaced the Ford live axle, disc brakes which greatly improved the car's performance and much more. By this time, the Ginetta G4 was proving a front-runner at the national level, with multiple class wins against cars of great significance. One account by John Burton is noted: “We had quite a lot of success with the G4 but I suppose some of the most memorable races were at Castle Combe where we used to have great battles with Ron Fry’s Ferrari 250LM; real David and Goliath tussles. The crowds used to enjoy seeing our little red car going up against the mightily powerful Ferrari and, although we never beat him, we got quite close!’’.

This particular example offered today at Klasiko, chassis 4/0128 is a very special car by Ginetta standards. Built at Witham in March 1963, the car was the first to be shipped into the USA by Ginetta dealer Jack Walsh of Haverhill, Massachusetts. This car is not only a desirable ‘Round Tube’ car, it is also one of just 4 ‘Short Tail’/‘Fin Tail’ series 1 bodied G4’s reportedly manufactured and features the very rare vertical front spring damper units with stronger lower wishbones. 

After its delivery to the US, Walsh kept the car for a short time. Included within the history file is a photograph of Walsh in what can only be 4/0128 taken from the Boston Sunday Globe in May 1964. The car, noted as being fitted with a Ford 109E Cosworth 1500cc engine with 120hp was raced in SCCA Class F modified.

After his tenure, the car was sold on to Richard Puertas. Puertas would raced it until 1968, before it was retired to his garage. This is where it remained until it was discovered in 2005 with just under 7000 miles on the odometer at the time. The car was purchased and shipped back to the UK in 2009. Over the following years, the new owner commenced the restoration, but decided to sell to the current owner in December 2015 as a project for completion. 

In its current ownership, the car has now undergone an extensive six-year rebuild with Iain Daniels to the tune of some £26,000, with the chassis work, various other items and consultation by Dare themselves. The 1500 pre-crossflow engine was rebuilt by Craig Beck. Worth noting is that the car has been uprated to CSCC specification since, but the spares to convert the car back to HSCC specification are included including spare diff, magnesium wheels etc. Also worth noting is that the car could obtain FIA papers with a 1L engine fitted. 

Included with the vehicle alongside a collection of spares is a history file containing invoices and receipts for the rebuild in current ownership, various letters and documentation relating to the provenance of the car, with period photographs, investigations etc. Also included are letters from the Ginetta Owners’ club, import and customs documentation, correspondence with the previous owner and the current UK V5C document which displays 0 former keepers.