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Thread: Gilbern GT

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
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    Rozenburg, Holland
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    Gilbern GT

    Gilbern GT

    Probably in an effort to start business in the most unlikely place on earth Giles Smith and Bernhard Friese opened a car factory in Llantwit-Pontypridd in Wales. The products from their factory were called Gilbern (after both their first names) and cars could be had either as a kit or completely built.

    The first model was simply called GT and was a two door coupe with a small rear seat. The fiberglass body was built on a space frame and all the technical parts were scored from various other British manufacturers, with the front axle coming from the Austin A35, the rear axle came also from BMC and the engines ranged from the 948 cc Morris Minor engine till the 1798 MGB engine.

    Production started in 1959 and in total 277 cars/kits left the factory. In 1967 the car was succeeded by the Genie, powered by a Ford V6.

    Shown is an MGB powered GT that participated in the Zolder Historic Grand Prix in 2004.
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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    nr Edinburgh, Whisky-soaked Scotland
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    Not an "unlikely" place, just his home town where he was a BUTCHER

    He built it with help from a nother local who worked in fibreglass company intending just to make the one car. The "local" was Friese an ex-POW German.

    It was when by chance Peter Cottrell a known local race driver saw and tested the car that he convinced them they had a winner and should go into production.

    In 1961 a site for production was purchased with a loan of £700 from Giless father, it had formerly been the location of the Red Ash Colliery but had not operated since 1921.

    During 1961-62 cars were built at the rate of about 1 a month with about 5 people in total working at the factory, both Giles and Bernard being heavily involved in the actual building of the cars.

    Approx 1,005 Gilberns were made, of which over 500 are still on the road.
    "A woman without curves is like a road without bends, you might get to your destination quicker but the ride is boring as hell'

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