Ginetta G4 & G12 - A brief history

Ginetta Cars Ltd was a unique, British specialist car manufacturer that survived the upheavals of 30 years producing a vast array of limited production sports, racing and road cars - some with such aesthetic qualities that they are comparable to any other sports cars, mass produced or otherwise.

An important contributing factor to their survival is that the business was well and truly a 'family affair', since its inception, run by Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Douglas Walklett - four brothers each with great expertise in their respective fields of sales, design, styling and production.

The first car destined to become the G1 was a pre-war Wolseley Hornet vastly modified for use in motor club events, this met an untimely and disastrous end when it crashed in the driveway of the brothers' house! Their eager enthusiasm led them to build another car, but this time as a saleable proposition, designated G2 this all aluminium-bodied two seater was produced between 1958-1960.

With GRP (glass fibre-reinforced-plastic) being used abundantly at this time for many specials the Walkletts designed the GRP-bodied G3. This car sold in small numbers, but in 1961 the G4 was introduced putting the company into a strong position. This car gained Ginetta the reputation of having built an outstanding dual-purpose road and racing car that to date has been campaigned successfully world-wide, with awards galore.

By the time G4 production ceased in 1969, various cars including the G8 Formula 3 racing car, the GlO an exotic powerful 4.7 litre coupe the G11 similar in looks to the GlO but MGB engined had been produced in small numbers, however the mid-engined G12 was made in relatively higher numbers.

An out-and-out racing car, this car was dominant on race circuits winning many races outright in special GT races between 1966-1968. The requirement for a fast, economical, inexpensive sports car: a difficult objective had been identified and utilising the experience gained from racing cars was put into the next development the G15, with the 875cc Imp sport engine hung cradle-fashion, at the rear and with its timeless styling, excellent chassis, performance with economy, incredible roadholding and to date continuing success in motorsport the G15 ranks as one of the most popular of specialist cars.

But this is the past, what of the future?

Ginetta Cars Ltd was sold to a Sheffield business consortium during November 1989. Subsequent to this, two of the Walklett brothers, Ivor and Trevers together with Trevers' son Mark established their own private company, namely Dare (UK) Ltd. (Dare, denoting the title, Design And Research Engineering).

This new company embarked upon re-manufacturing the historic models of both the Ginetta G4 and G12 for which Brooke Kensington Ltd are the sole UK distributors.

The experience and expertise, gained over nearly forty years will ensure that the Ginetta name lives on for many years to come.