Ginetta G4

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Ginetta G4
GinettaG4.jpg
Overview
Manufacturer Ginetta Cars
Model code G4
Production1959-1968 and 1981-1989
Designer Ivor Walklett
Body and chassis
Body style Coupe
Layout Front Engine, RWD
Doors2-door
Chassis Tubular Chassis
Powertrain
Engine see table
Transmission 4 and 5-speed Manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,045 millimetres (80.5 in)
Length3,533 millimetres (139.1 in)
Width1,422 millimetres (56.0 in)
Height1,067 millimetres (42.0 in)
Kerb weight 385–580 kilograms (849–1,279 lb) [1]
Chronology
Predecessor Ginetta G3
Successor Ginetta G5

The Ginetta G3 and G4 is a series of sports cars, designed, developed, and built by British manufacturer Ginetta, between 1959 and 1968 and again between 1981 and 1984. [2] [3] The G3 was introduced with a glass fibre body in 1959 to be followed by the very similar G4 in 1961. [4] The G4 used the new Ford 105E engine and had a glass fibre GT-style body along with the suspension updated to coil springs at the front with a Ford live axle at the rear. Whereas the earlier G2 and G3 had been designed for racing, the G4 was usable as an everyday car but still was very competitive in motorsport with numerous successes.

Contents

Design

The car was available with 3 different bodies, a 2-door coupé, a 2-door convertible and a 2-door barquette reserved for competition. The front brakes are discs while the rear brakes are drums. The turning circle is 9.1 m (30 ft). [5] [6] [7] In 1963, a coupé variant was introduced alongside the open-top variant and a BMC axle replaced the Ford unit at the rear. [8] In road tests, the car attains a top speed of 190 km/h (120 mph) with a 1,500 cc engine. [9] The series III version of 1966 added pop-up headlights. Production stopped in 1968 but was revived in 1981 with the Series IV which was 2 in (51 mm) wider and 3 in (76 mm) longer than the III. Over 500 units were made up to 1969 with a variety of Ford engines.

Engines

The car is fitted with a 1,340 cc (82 cu in) four-cylinder in-line engine, developing 91 hp (68 kW), placed in the front longitudinal position which allows it to reach the maximum speed of 193 km/h (120 mph) and to perform the 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds. [10]

A variety of other engines have also been fitted to G4s, ranging from the 997cc Ford 105E unit to the Lotus-Ford Twin Cam, and are also homologated for certain racing classes for the G4. [11]

G4 Series IV

Ginetta G4 Series IV Ginetta G4 - Flickr - exfordy (1).jpg
Ginetta G4 Series IV

The G4 was re-introduced in 1981 as the G4 Series IV, with a new chassis. [12] It was produced through to 1984 with approximately 35 examples built. [12] The Series IV was powered by a 1,599 cc Ford four-cylinder engine. [13]

DARE Ginetta G4

After selling Ginetta, brothers Trevor and Ivor Walklett formed a new company called Design And Research Engineering (DARE) with the intent of building Ginetta's old designs – for which there were considerable demand, particularly in Japan. [14] DARE resumed manufacture of the G4 and some other models in the 1990s.

DARE Ginetta G4 2004 Ginetta G4.jpg
DARE Ginetta G4

References

  1. ↑ "Craig Chima's 1964 Ginetta G4 Series Two Race Car". www.britishracecar.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  2. ↑ "1963 Ginetta G4 technical and mechanical specifications". conceptcarz.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
  3. ↑ "Ginetta G4" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  4. ↑ For road test see Motor Sport, September 1962, Pages 690, 693.
  5. ↑ "Drive with Dave » Ginetta G4". November 19, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ "1964 Ginetta G4 Series 2 full range specs". www.automobile-catalog.com.
  7. ↑ "Detailed specs review of 1964 Ginetta G4 Series 2 1.5-Litre (close ratio) model for Europe". www.automobile-catalog.com.
  8. ↑ Motor Sport, May 1963, Pages 345-346.
  9. ↑ Motor Sport, April 1964, Pages 260-261.
  10. ↑ "The Ginetta G4 - The Beautiful Little Giant Killer". Silodrome. April 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Ginetta G4 SVRA" (PDF). SVRA.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 Peter Higston, The Enthusiasts' Guide to Buying a Classic British Sports Car, 2007, page 60
  13. ↑ Blunsden, John (1982), The Observer's Book of Automobiles (25th ed.), London, UK: Frederick Warne, p. 92, ISBN   0723216274
  14. ↑ Tatra87 (2023-01-04). "1995 DARE Ginetta G12 – Who DAREs Wins". Curbside Classic. Archived from the original on 2024-06-17.
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