Friday 1st August 2014

Shed Of The Week: Ginetta G31

Well if SOTW is all about a bit of risk then this Ginetta is perfect!

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We all like characters, those salt of the earth types who have lived life well and who have many a yarn to spin.

This will be 'various shades' of white then

Shed met a character in the Ferret & Firkin the other day. Turns out that this chap used to play semi-professional football for Barnet. His claim to fame was leaving the club six months before a testimonial match in which George Best played. By the looks of him he's been drowning his sorrows ever since, but he told a nice story and he even had a mangy old crisp-eating dog to complete the atmos.

When applied to cars, however, the word 'character' is not always so welcome. It can be a synonym for 'disaster'. At first sight, this scabby-looking Ginetta G31 might have you reaching for the sick bag, but look closer, prithee. You might be on to a winner here.

Reliable 2.0-litre Sierra SOHC motor and simple Ford bits: check. Rustproof fibreglass body: check. Galvanised chassis: check. Light weight: check. RWD: check. Decent performance: check. Extremely low chance of ever seeing another one: check. Dedicated owner who seems to have carried out every roadworthiness check: check.

A bit more interested now, maybe? How about some history? Ginetta was set up in Suffolk by the four Walklett brothers in 1958. The 2-plus-2 G31 was one of the last Walklett Ginettas, a group of enthusiasts led by Martin Phaff taking over the company in 1989 and seeing in such undeniably attractive motors as the G27 and G33. Since 2005 Ginetta has been run by Lawrence Tomlinson from a Leeds base. The company is gradually building credibility through a varied and quite exciting marque racing programme.

One way to mitigate leaking habit

For more of the backstory on this particular car, have a look at this thread which details PHer Darkspeed's purchase of the car almost exactly six years ago. It also reveals that the car originally ran a Cosworth turbo. As you can see, Darkspeed has had a few water ingress problems since then, but there's something endearing about his solution of simply removing most of the stuff that gets wet, i.e. carpets.

Back in '08, Darkspeed reckoned there were only a couple of dozen G31s left running. That may be the critical mass number for this car, if the remaining owners are determined enough to keep the faith. One thing's for (almost) sure (barring any unbuilt kits that may still be out there): the number isn't going to increase, which along with the apparent health of the parent company can't be anything but good news for resale values.

Of course, that sort of rarity can also be a curse, especially if you plan on attending classic car shows (to which you will be guaranteed entry, if there's a Ginetta or a kit car stand). You'll need to have infinite patience with the stream of nutters who'll come up asking you about your unusual Capri (no it isn't), whether it's a Nissan 200 and therefore suitable for drifting (no), or telling you that their Dad had one (no they didn't). You can either swot up on Ginetta lore and face the music, or do what other grumpy classic car owners tend to do, i.e. abandon the car to its lonely fate in the field with some faded Practical Classic articles on the parcel shelf alongside the pink satin cushions, reeking picnic hamper and obligatory 'amusing' stuffed toy (why do they do that?).

Hang on, something's familiar here

Shed wouldn't be exhibiting the Ginetta. He would be eyeing it up as a rolling resto job to squirrel away for the future, a technique he uses with some success (or so he thinks) on the garishly-labelled Moldovan wines that he picks up from his local Spar every Tuesday.

Window and door seals have traditionally been a weak point on kit cars, and the Ginetta is by no means exempt in this regard: the back screen is from a Cortina, the rear side windows from a Sierra XR4i. But beyond such pettifogging details, there is a certain elegance in the G31's bodywork. Some might say that it has a faint whiff of the Lotus Eclats about it.

Nobody's saying this is a concours example of the genre, especially the vendor, who turns out a nice line in self-deprecating copy and who would probably be a very decent chap to do business with. But as a pretty stylish four-seat coupe from a niche manufacturer you could do a lot worse. And one advantage of a car like this is that you can always pathetically rely on support from the old lags in the owner's club.

Simple engine should be trouble free

What else can we write down under the Pros column? Well, you're promised a new MOT, and classic car insurance at knockdown rates will be a given. Seems to us that the 'for' column is a lot longer than the 'against' one, and that's as good a way of deciding on a Shed as any.

The ad says this is an '80s wedge in the Marmite sense. Shed says it's a lot cheaper than a TVR wedge and - dare it be said - potentially rather more reliable. Somebody pass him the blastproof tin hat.

Anyway, here is that ad. Fans of laser-sharp shut lines or invisible hinges need not apply.

Need to make some room for further projects so my trusty Ginetta G31 need to go to pastures new.

The short wheelbase cousin of the G26 the G31 uses the same Cortina MK3/4/5 underpinings but is slightly more appealing 2+2 body shape Fiesta Mk1 doors and Ford XR4i rear quarter lights, Factory option twin Cossy bonnet vents.
Body is all Glassfibre (apart from the doors)and the chassis is galvanised so with the Ford mechanicals these things have the potential to last for ever. The only thing that kills them is damp to the interior.

Finished in various shades of Ford Diamond white

The engine is a 205 (unleaded) Pinto with FR32 / Ashley full system and modified DGAV 32/36 (30 mm chokes) K&N
Twin fan Cossy rad up the front so no cooling problems
Type 9 five speed
Cortina Atlas axle (open diff) Poly bushed
Bias brake set up to vented discs and princess 4 pots
Adjustable dampers all round.
6.5 x 14 KN Diamonds all round with near new 205/60/14 Firestones.
Tow bar
Richfield recliners
Sunroof - white!
Only 70 ever built and although rare is not quite the same as desirable but it does get plenty of attention and have some good lines from certain angles - an 80's wedge in the true Marmite sense.

It leaks a bit so I have removed the carpet - water in water out - and the stripped out rally look suits it. New door seals and seal the screen should sort matters if carpet is your thing.

Last MOT advisory was for play in front wheel bearings so they have been replaced and a couple of years ago all of the front ball joints were done.

Google Ginetta G31 - the white V reg one will be it. :)

Paintwork is poor and it needs a respray.

Weighs in at about a 1000KG and has maybe 120BHP on a good day - goes and handles far better than a Cortina/Capri and has plenty of room for performance improvement - cruises in 5th without drama and easily copes with modern traffic conditions but steering is not for the limp wristed. No PAS and a big offset means its heavy at parking pace but nicely weighted when on the move with plenty of feedback. It used to run a Cosworth Turbo and later a turbo on this Pinto and re fitting a turbo would be the way forward for some more go.

Will have new MOT
SORN
In Wem, North Shropshire

[Adrian E]

Friend of mine had one of these (in white as well!) a good few years back - remember that it had a mechanical arrangement for lifting the headlights which looked a bit like an old umbrella style handbrake lever to operate! Required quite a heave to pull them up as well lol

Can't see it in the pics for this one, so maybe they're electric? Think it was an option.

[Adrian E]

Blackpuddin said:

lovely that, an affordable alternative to an Elan

well, when I say 'affordable'…
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ginetta-G15-1967-Coventr...

That's worth having - lovely little thing and how I hope Ginettas are remembered!

Looks in decent condition too - nice road trip with trailer for someone wonder what the history is?