Description
Finished in blue complimented with contrasting period black interior. Recently restored following many years in storage a rare car, one of only 197 made Looking very much like an Alfa or Maserati by an Italian Carrozzeria. In which case, it would be worth so much more . As its not Italian , it was made in Wales, The Gilbern is almost forgotten nowadays and if you were to remove the Red Dragon badges who would know what you were driving . powered by Ford s 3. 0 V6 producing 140bhp with four speed manual transmission and optional overdrive. The light glass fibre body was bonded and riveted to a semi spaceframe square tube steel chassis. The suspension was a combination of Gilbern and MG parts, using coil springs up front and a live rear axle. Only 197 examples were built, including an estate version and two convertibles, before it was replaced by the Invader in 1969. This particular Genie is the 28th made and, according to correspondence from the Gilbern Owner's Club, it was first registered in Leeds on 1st November 1967 , It was unknown to the Club until the summer of 2010 when it was discovered languishing in the bowels of an old textile mill in Leeds, the last known owner being a Wilf Sawdon of the same city. It took many hours to extract the car which had been buried behind mounds of junk deep inside the mill for several decades. The car was then gradually restored by a club member, invoices showing that it received various new parts including a replacement Ford 3. 0 V6 Essex engine Mani flow exhaust manifold Weber carb air filter fuel pump full brake system overhaul with new front brake calipers, discs and pads plus rear brake shoes and wheel cylinders; front wheel bearings windscreen washer pump and a new set of tyres. It has clearly been fitted with other new parts for which there are no invoices, such as a sport exhaust system which sounds very urgent , a V5C which records it as a Historic Vehicle manufactured in 1967 so it is free to tax and MOT exempt. The odometer shows 41, 710 miles which may be correct given the background of the car, but who knows . running nicely with good 60psi oil pressure. A very interesting that is both rare and joy to drive., |
