Ginetta G20: Spotted
Bored of Caterham? Ginetta's bare-knuckle roadster is an even more unorthodox way to see the countryside
![](https://ph-classic-prod-images.s3.amazonaws.com/nimg/37288/Ginetta_G20_006.jpg)
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.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/H3SxHskF.jpg)
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.
![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Here's a couple of pics of mine...
With another G20 during a trackday at Castle Combe..
![](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/36759701411_3da1362665_z.jpg)
![](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4290/35007283083_8ba6ac46b4_z.jpg)
![biggrin](/inc/images/biggrin.gif)
Here's a couple of pics of mine...
With another G20 during a trackday at Castle Combe..
![](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4373/36759701411_3da1362665_z.jpg)
![](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4290/35007283083_8ba6ac46b4_z.jpg)
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