Any Gordon Keeble Owners Out There?

Any Gordon Keeble Owners Out There?

Author
Discussion

Mellow Yellow

Original Poster:

885 posts

261 months

Monday 30th January 2012
quotequote all
Come on, I know there are at least three of you registered.

I'm currently lokking for a GK and was hoping to get some advice. The club have been incredibly helpful but I feel I'm taking up rather a lot of one persons time with my questions, so hoping to get some help here.

Woudl be interested to know whetehr it's possible to get hold of replacement glass, body panels and if anyone has fitted front and/or rear seat belts.

Electron

605 posts

218 months

Monday 30th January 2012
quotequote all

Sorry can't answer your questions but there is a Gordon Keeble in Milestones in Basingstoke !!

Second semi useless fact .. Milestones was built to house the Thornecroft collection .... it has a whole Victorian street with a working pub ...


Parabola

1,848 posts

196 months

Wednesday 15th February 2012
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Keep us updated if you do buy one. Absolutely love these cars.
smile

Kitchski

6,514 posts

230 months

Monday 27th February 2012
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The Haynes museum in Yeovil also has one (or did last time I visited)

Derbyman

1 posts

145 months

Thursday 1st March 2012
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I am currently in the process of restoring a GK. In answer to your questions:

1. I am not sure if the club has any spare windscreens, but there are companies that can recreate windscreens if necessary.

2. Body panels - the bodies are fibre glass so you don't get spare panels. There is a fibre glass specialist in the MIdlands who has now done a number of GKs so they know what they are doing.

3. Seat belts, not totally sure on this but I think all GK's came fitted with front seat belts, the back end of the production run must have had front seat belts as they were mandated by law. I am going to fit rear seat belts to mine. I am still working on the chassis but from what I see there is nothing stopping the fitment of rear seat belts with suitable anchorage points added to the chassis.

Good luck with your hunt

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Derbyman said:
I am currently in the process of restoring a GK. In answer to your questions:

1. I am not sure if the club has any spare windscreens, but there are companies that can recreate windscreens if necessary.

2. Body panels - the bodies are fibre glass so you don't get spare panels. There is a fibre glass specialist in the MIdlands who has now done a number of GKs so they know what they are doing.

3. Seat belts, not totally sure on this but I think all GK's came fitted with front seat belts, the back end of the production run must have had front seat belts as they were mandated by law. I am going to fit rear seat belts to mine. I am still working on the chassis but from what I see there is nothing stopping the fitment of rear seat belts with suitable anchorage points added to the chassis.

Good luck with your hunt
I'd like to find one needing a bit of work, I see car number 1 advertsied for big money in Classic and Sportscar and car 76 elsewhere on the web, not so much but still quite expensive.

This thread could be as useful as the FV thread in the PH classic section, AFAIK, no other forum thread on GK's on the web, except a small bit on Classic and Sportscars forum.

Mellow Yellow

Original Poster:

885 posts

261 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the tips Huntsman, had a look at 76 on Saturday, seemed mechanically sound but requires a lot of aesthetic work. I can't find Chassis No 1 on Classic and Sportscar Site, I take it , it's in the magazine, which issue?.....and how much?

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
Mellow Yellow said:
Thanks for the tips Huntsman, had a look at 76 on Saturday, seemed mechanically sound but requires a lot of aesthetic work. I can't find Chassis No 1 on Classic and Sportscar Site, I take it , it's in the magazine, which issue?.....and how much?
Its in the current C and SC, the big chunky one with the gold cover, I can't remember the dealer, a work mate now has the magazine, seem to recall it being left page, bottom left. 50k. Ouch.

I know of another that was dismantled for a repaint and not gone back together, my number is with the chap but no movement yet, I'm keeping quiet about its whereabouts too!

If you're serious it might be worth talking to the club, I bought my GK cufflinks from the secretary chap, sure he'd help.

oneof99

63 posts

146 months

Friday 16th March 2012
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Hi, I have just found this thread, and in case others are wondering about availability for Gordon-Keebles I am posting this answer / information.
1) The club can, and does supply, all items of bodyglass.
2) The demand for panels is minute. (As Derbyman says, the nature of GRP is you should repair rather than replace a panel.) The last wing required for a G-K was over 20 years ago! But the club does have back-up, if they are required in the future.
3) The cars were all equipped with Britax Inertia seat belts to the front seats from new.
There are ample chassis tubes around the rear seat / rear shelf area to provide bespoke mountings. Quick Fit Safety Belts (Stanmore) have reconditioned my original belts and their website suggests they have successfully provided rear belts to similar vehicles (eg Bristol 409) in the past.

Good hunting.

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Friday 16th March 2012
quotequote all
oneof99 said:
Hi, I have just found this thread, and in case others are wondering about availability for Gordon-Keebles I am posting this answer / information.
1) The club can, and does supply, all items of bodyglass.
2) The demand for panels is minute. (As Derbyman says, the nature of GRP is you should repair rather than replace a panel.) The last wing required for a G-K was over 20 years ago! But the club does have back-up, if they are required in the future.
3) The cars were all equipped with Britax Inertia seat belts to the front seats from new.
There are ample chassis tubes around the rear seat / rear shelf area to provide bespoke mountings. Quick Fit Safety Belts (Stanmore) have reconditioned my original belts and their website suggests they have successfully provided rear belts to similar vehicles (eg Bristol 409) in the past.

Good hunting.
Excellent first post, I guess from your user name you have a GK1. There's at least one other person on here with one.


Mellow Yellow

Original Poster:

885 posts

261 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys, if you check my profile you'll see I've just become the proud owner of Chassis 76. Lots to do but just enjoying driving it for the moment.

Parabola

1,848 posts

196 months

Tuesday 3rd April 2012
quotequote all
Fantastic. Amazing colour too.
Any chance of a thread in 'Reader's Rides'? Would love to hear about running a GK.

You probably have it already, but this is a great book about the car and company.
Well out of print now, but pops up for sale on Amazon occasionally.


smile

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
As far as I know there are at least 3 GK owners on Pistonheads, V10Mike, Mellow Yellow and me, I've just bought one.

I had my name on this car for over a year and I finally got the call, we've agreed a deal, should be paying for it Friday, collection won't be until the summer when my new man shed is built.

Needs a bit of work....


Parabola

1,848 posts

196 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Mellow Yellow said:
Thanks for the advice guys, if you check my profile you'll see I've just become the proud owner of Chassis 76. Lots to do but just enjoying driving it for the moment.
How are you getting on with the car? Any photos?

smile

Mellow Yellow

Original Poster:

885 posts

261 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
It's going well but no photos other than the one on my profile, I'm keeping the garage blog updated too. I've now done around 330 miles since purchase, not bad considering the car had only done 75 since 2004, when I first viewed it. Only real issue is it's leaking transimission fluid, not badly but having it looked at to see if I can keep my hopes of taking it to the Le Mans classic alive.

All in all I'm very pleased with my purchase smile

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
quotequote all
Mellow Yellow said:
All in all I'm very pleased with my purchase smile
Hello James

I've just read through your blog, I didn't know there was a range of key fobs and stuff with the Tortoise, I'll have to order a key ring.

I popped up to the storage place to see mine on Friday, all nice and snuggly and dry.


B7trr

123 posts

143 months

Saturday 19th May 2012
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[quote=Huntsman]As far as I know there are at least 3 GK owners on Pistonheads, V10Mike, Mellow Yellow and me, I've just bought one.

I had my name on this car for over a year and I finally got the call, we've agreed a deal, should be paying for it Friday, collection won't be until the summer when my new man shed is built.

Needs a bit of work....

and another one! I became custodian of CH81 a few weeks ago, Mellow Yellow just beat me to CH76, still grinning!!

B7trr

123 posts

143 months

Saturday 19th May 2012
quotequote all
Hello Huntsman,V10Mike & Mellow Yellow

Recently purchased CH81, red 1964 GK1, Mellow Yellow, you may like to know its another auto!

superb car, absolutly love it!

I'll post a pic soon

B7trr


Mellow Yellow

Original Poster:

885 posts

261 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
I think that brings the total to 7 of us on here altogether, There's keeble-kid, soaringace and oneof99 too. Good to see another in the South East.

I did view 81 just before I bought 76, IMHO there wasn't much between them, 81 was better mechanically and tidier, 76 had the better chassis. At the time 76 had been on the market almost a month and there was a deal to be done if I could move quickly, 81 hadn't even been advertised. I'm hoping to take 76 to Le Mans for the classic in July but it's looking like I may have to take the reserve now, had I gone for 81 I suspect this wouldn't be the case! My auto box is leaking oil from every orifice, I was planning on converting to a manual at some time, given this it makes no sense to throw money at the auto box.

I couldn't agree more with your profile comment, I've never come accross anything that attracts petrolheads faster than the GK. The other week a chap pulled into the space next to me at B&Q, jumped out and told me he wasn't even going there, just saw the car and followed me to find out what it was!

Anyone planning on taking their GK to the Rule Britannia Goodwood Breakfast club in a fortnight?

Huntsman

8,026 posts

249 months

Monday 21st May 2012
quotequote all
B7trr said:
Hello Huntsman,V10Mike & Mellow Yellow

Recently purchased CH81, red 1964 GK1, Mellow Yellow, you may like to know its another auto!

superb car, absolutly love it!

I'll post a pic soon

B7trr
Excellent, well done. There's a growing band of us.


Mellow Yellow said:
I think that brings the total to 7 of us on here altogether, There's keeble-kid, soaringace and oneof99 too. Good to see another in the South East.

My auto box is leaking oil from every orifice, I was planning on converting to a manual at some time, given this it makes no sense to throw money at the auto box.
Take it to Le Mans with a big can of ATF!