Ginetta Cars is a British specialist builder of hand-built road and race vehicles. Founded in 1958 by the four Walklett brothers (Bob, Ivor, Trevers, and Douglas) in Suffolk, the brand earned a formidable reputation in club racing for its lightweight, highly agile sports cars.
Early icons like the glass-fibre Ginetta G4 and the mid-engined G12 successfully challenged larger, more powerful rivals on circuits across the UK. In 1988, driven by a government regional development grant, the company moved to Scunthorpe. Ginetta took over a larger factory to mass-produce the G32, transitioning from low-volume kit cars to a fully type-approved production line. The venture collapsed in 1994 (although there was a modest Anglo-Swedish continuation).
Ginetta’s survival and racing revival was under managing director Martin Phaff. Operating out of a small factory in Sheffield, the company moved away from complex factory-built road cars to focus strictly on affordable, high-volume one-make race championships.
Ginetta G4
Highly successful, lightweight sports car, built with a tubular spaceframe chassis and glass fibre bodywork, and usually Ford 105E engines. It was sold as a kit and dominated club racing, establishing the brand’s competition pedigree.
Years
1961-68
Engine
997/1498cc S4 OHV Ford
Body Style
Sports coupé
Production
c. 390
Power: Weight
Dimensions
Ginetta G15
Two-seat coupé which again paired a tubular steel chassis with glass fibre bodywork, but now with rear-mounted Hillman Imp Sport engine. Very light, exceptional handling; became the brand’s best-selling model.
Years
1967-74
Engine
875cc S4 OC Rootes
Body Style
Sports coupé
Production
796
Power: Weight
500 kg
Dimensions
Ginetta G21
Larger, more upmarket 2+2 grand tourer now with a steel backbone chassis for greater torsional rigidity. The fuel crisis limited demand for the Ford V6 option, but the twin-Weber Holbay H120 Rapier engine was an option – the “S”.
Years
1971-78
Engine
1725/2994cc S4/S6 OHV Rootes/Ford
Body Style
Sports coupé
Production
c. 150
Power: Weight
Dimensions
Ginetta G26 (G28, G30, G31)
Wedge-styled 2+2 coupé to modernise the range, and production methods – now in Scunthorpe. Galvanised tubular backbone steel chassis. Doors, windscreen and engine from Cortina Mk IV. G28 SWB V6 coupé; G30 V6 saloon; G31 Sierra S4.
Years
1984-92 (1986-92)
Engine
1593/1993cc S4; 2792cc V6 OHV Ford
Body Style
Sports coupé (rarely saloon)
Production
300 (+60)
Power: Weight
Dimensions
Ginetta G27
Evolved from the G4, this “kit car” retained a classic tubular spaceframe chassis clothed in a revised glass fibre body. It typically utilised Ford Cortina running gear, offering enthusiasts an affordable, agile British track day option.
Years
1985-2005
Engine
S4 Ford/GM; V8 Rover
Body Style
Sportscar
Production
>200
Power: Weight
Dimensions
Ginetta G32
Mid-engined, fully type-approved rather than sold as a kit. Used Ford Escort and Fiesta parts, it offered agile handling, with plenty of power, particularly from the GTi Peugeot engine.
Years
1989-92
Engine
1597cc S4 OHV Ford; 1905cc S4 OHC Peugeot
Body Style
Sports coupé; convertible
Production
97 + 16 convertible
Power: Weight
Dimensions
Ginetta G33 (G34)
The G33 was a ferocious open-top roadster – a 3.9-litre Rover V8 in a lightweight spaceframe. Series 2 was LWB with Ford engines. The G34 was an Anglo-Swedish successor, with a 2.0-litre turbo Volvo engine.
Years
1990-94 (1996-98)
Engine
3946cc V8 OHV Rover (some S4)
Body Style
Sportscar
Production
c. 100 (
Power: Weight
Dimensions