Ginetta G20: Spotted
Bored of Caterham? Ginetta's bare-knuckle roadster is an even more unorthodox way to see the countryside
The endless desire to reinvent itself did not depart when the Walketts retired, and under new management Ginetta started building the G20 - which featured a derivative of the G27's all-round wishbone chassis underneath and more than a hint of fibreglass G4 shapeliness on top. The car was kept elementally simple: the two-piece body was intended to be easy to fix (i.e. replaced) and wasn't needlessly cluttered with a roof or proper windscreen. Or even doors, for that matter. No, Ginetta wanted you to bound in like a Spitfire pilot (or certainly with the equivalent amount of luggage, at any rate) and fire off to the horizon.
The firing part was handled by a 1.8-litre Ford Zetec engine (although the subject of today's Spotted apparently runs a 2.0-litre lump) mated to a very manual five-speed gearbox. In stock format the four-pot only developed around 125hp, but the G20 around it weighed just 660kg or so; making it spirited enough to easily outperform the contemporary Mazda MX-5 - or even an entry-level Porsche Boxster.
Of course you probably wouldn't be quite as comfortable: Ginetta having pulled no punches with the G20's spartan brief (much like today, the model's pedigree as a track car being considered of much greater importance than its appeal as a road car). Inside there are bucket seats, a handbrake, a smattering of dials located well away from your eyeline and only the most essential (i.e. required by law) switchgear. There's no ABS or power-assisted steering either, needless to say - or much of anything else to get between you and a very tactile sensation of driving.
15 years ago a turnkey G20 would've cost you around £13K, making the £16K asking price for this 2004 model mildly speculative. That said, there's no questioning its rarity - especially in factory-built roadgoing condition. The car in question has reportedly only covered 5,000 miles with three owners, and started life as a brand demonstrator. One for the 'minimalist enthusiast' says its advertiser (which is undeniably true) and also, as the modern iteration of Ginetta sprints characteristically for the future, an easy-on-the-eye example of what the previous 60 years have produced.
SPECIFICATION - GINETTA G20
Engine: 1,796cc 4-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 142@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 119@N/A rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2004
Recorded mileage: 5,850 miles
Price new: £13,999
Yours for: £15,995
[Spec for 1.8-litre version]
See the original advert here.
It became this
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/driven-...
What would be nice is a lovely little Dare G4.
First, the wheels are like boat anchors - we put 16" Team Dynamics on ours which look better and are significantly lighter.
We also flat-floored it, which makes a huge difference to high speed stability (the bonnet acts like a parachute and lifts the front end), whilst we did that we opened a hole behind the radiator to let the air from under the bonnet escape, the factory holes aren't big enough.
Then we dropped an ST170 engine in which, with a mild tune and exhaust gave us 185bhp (standard is I think 130).
With the above mods it was a very quick car, certainly the better of an R300 in competition - close to an R400 but in total it cost us £10k to buy and build.
Pic in my profile.
Since we sold it I've been looking for a road car to do something similar with.
But not at £15k......
You might want to do a quick fact check - google or wikipedia can help you avoid looking like you have done precisely no research or fact checking.
ETA ...or indeed just take a look at that lovely "mid-engined" G33 pictured above.
You might want to do a quick fact check - google or wikipedia can help you avoid looking like you have done precisely no research or fact checking.
ETA ...or indeed just take a look at that lovely "mid-engined" G33 pictured above.
Also good for a quick game of "spot the 1980s Ford parts".
The G15 used a Hillman Imp engine not a Climax. There were a few G15s exported to American that used VW Beetle engines.
Also, last time I looked Spitfires has doors. They fold down - a bit like a Lotus XI.
The Hillman Imp engine was a Coventry Climax unit with a few changes to the head by Rootes.
Here's a couple of pics of mine...
With another G20 during a trackday at Castle Combe..
Here's a couple of pics of mine...
With another G20 during a trackday at Castle Combe..
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