Ginetta should arguably be included in the same breath as Lotus, Caterham and Ariel when it comes to all-time great lightweight British sports car makers. It may not boast the production numbers or radical approach to weight saving as its rivals, but Ginetta’s affordable approach to motorsport and its ability to take on competitors with better value and often bigger power has made it a prominent figure in racing.
These days, the company is best known for the deliciously chaotic Ginetta Junior championship, which has served as the car racing springboard for many world-class drivers such as BMW GT ace Dan Harper, F1 Academy hotshot Abbi Pulling and even recent Grand Prix winner Lando Norris. So prominent is the G40 used in the Junior series that it’s easy to forget that Ginetta does now and again mess around with bigger engines than the Ford and Mazda motors used in its most popular model. The GT4-spec G56 uses a 6.2-litre V8 with 500hp, and let’s not forget the company dipped its toes into the LMP1 scene with a trick 2.4-litre twin-turbo V6. It wasn’t very competitive, mind - but it just goes to show how diverse this little sports car maker really is.
Just look at this magnificent G33 that’s currently up for auction. Arriving at the start of the 1990s, the G33 paired the company’s signature lightweight chassis with the 3.9-litre naturally aspirated Rover V8. Granted, a peak power figure of 200hp doesn’t sound monstrous these days, but with a fibre-glass body, steel chassis and no roof to weigh it down, the G33 tips the the scales at just 874kg. That’s incredibly light for a car packing eight cylinders, and gave the G33 a power-to-weight ratio on par with a Series 2 Lotus Exige.
The chassis was properly sorted, too. All four corners had double wishbones, and buddied up with the five-speed manual gearbox was a limited-slip differential. Then there were the brakes, pinched from the Ford Sierra Cosworth but without any assistance, so will therefore require healthy leg muscles. Reviews are hard to come by (Ginetta was considerably smaller 30 years ago), but a responsive chassis and playful rear end all scored highly, just as they do on the company’s latest cars.
It’ll come as no great surprise to learn that Ginetta didn’t build many G33s, with the owner’s club suggesting only 96 in total were made. Being a '92 car, this delightful deep blue G33 is one of the early examples in all its Rover V8 glory (smaller engines joined the lineup later on). It’s had two owners over the last 32 years, with its current custodian purchasing the car back in '98. It’s had a bit of work carried out in recent years, including rebuilds on the diff and front brakes, but the seller claims no major engine, mechanical or bodywork issues have occurred during their time with the car. Not that there’s much to go wrong, anyway.
And just look at it: how many small-volume British sports cars from the early '90s appear this good? The paint seems to be in fantastic nick, while the interior has stood the test of time well. It's a lovely little thing that’ll surely turn a few heads at this year’s PH Annual Service, although you'll need to have your finger on the trigger when the auction ends next Tuesday. Just so you know how much to set aside, the guide price is between £16,000 to £17,000. The perfect way to make summer 2024 memorable, no?
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