Ginetta G4
{{Short description|Sports Car}}{{Infobox car
| name = Ginetta G4
| image = 1968 Ginetta G4 1.6 Front.jpg
| manufacturer = Ginetta Cars
| model_code = G4
| production = 1959-1969
1981-1989
| body_style = 2-door coupé
2-door roadster
2-door barchetta
| designer = Ivor Walklett
| chassis = Tubular chassis
| layout = Front engine, rear-wheel drive
| engine = see table
| transmission = 4/5-speed manual
| wheelbase = {{cvt|2045|mm|in|1}}
| length = {{cvt|3533|mm|in|1}}
| width = {{cvt|1422|mm|in|1}}
| height = {{cvt|1067|mm|in|1}}
| sp = uk
| predecessor = Ginetta G3
| successor = Ginetta G27
| doors =
| caption = 1968 Ginetta G4
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/s19719/ginetta-g4.aspx|title=1963 Ginetta G4 technical and mechanical specifications|website=conceptcarz.com|access-date=2022-06-18|archive-date=2022-06-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618200548/https://www.conceptcarz.com/s19719/ginetta-g4.aspx|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ginetta_G4-1216-1.pdf|title=Ginetta G4|access-date=18 June 2022|archive-date=18 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618200548/https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ginetta_G4-1216-1.pdf|url-status=live}} The G3 was introduced with a glass fibre body in 1959 to be followed by the very similar G4 in 1961.For road test see Motor Sport, September 1962, Pages 690, 693. 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.
The G4 was so successful in kit car racing that it was banned in the mid-1980s, prompting Ginetta to develop its replacement, the very similar G27.
Design
The car was available with three 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 {{cvt|9.1|m|ft}}.{{Cite web|url=https://drivewithdave.com/ginetta-g4/|title=Drive with Dave » Ginetta G4|date=November 19, 2018|access-date=June 18, 2022|archive-date=May 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509014245/https://drivewithdave.com/ginetta-g4/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/ginetta/g4_series_1-3/g4_series_2/1964.html|title=1964 Ginetta G4 Series 2 full range specs|website=www.automobile-catalog.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1964/1019585/ginetta_g4_series_2_1_5-litre_close_ratio.html|title=Detailed specs review of 1964 Ginetta G4 Series 2 1.5-Litre (close ratio) model for Europe|website=www.automobile-catalog.com}}
In 1963, a coupé variant was introduced alongside the open-top variant and a BMC axle replaced the Ford unit at the rear.Motor Sport, May 1963, Pages 345-346. In road tests, the car attains a top speed of {{cvt|120|mph|order=flip}} with a 1,500 cc engine.Motor Sport, April 1964, Pages 260-261. Also introduced in 1963 was the Series II, which was redesigned with a longer tail rather than the original, truncated design. The front suspension was also revised.{{cite web | url = https://www.ginetta.org/index.php/history/model-index/1960-s/g4s2 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20241218231454/https://www.ginetta.org/index.php/history/model-index/1960-s/g4s2 | archivedate = 2024-12-18 | title = G4 S2 | work = Ginetta Owners' Club }} Late in this run, in 1966, the chassis was replaced by a new, stronger, square-tubed spaceframe and it now used the front suspension from the Triumph Herald. The windscreen was also more steeply raked, while the front bumper design was revised. The series III version of 1966 added lay-down headlights to meet new code requirements. Production stopped in 1969 but was revived in 1981 with the Series IV which was {{cvt|2|in|mm}} wider and {{cvt|3|in|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 {{cvt|1340|cc|cuin}} four-cylinder in-line engine, developing {{cvt|91|hp|kW}}, placed in the front longitudinal position which allows it to reach the maximum speed of {{cvt|193|km/h|mph}} and to perform the 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.{{Cite web|url=https://silodrome.com/ginetta-g4/|title=The Ginetta G4 - The Beautiful Little Giant Killer|date=April 13, 2020|website=Silodrome|access-date=June 18, 2022|archive-date=October 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027233623/https://silodrome.com/ginetta-g4/|url-status=live}} Typical engine options started with the 997 cc "105E" Ford Kent engine, ranging up to the Cortina's 1.5-litre variant.
A variety of other engines have also been fitted to G4s, ranging up to the Lotus-Ford Twin Cam, and have also been homologated for certain racing classes for the G4.{{Cite web |title=Ginetta G4 SVRA |url=https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ginetta_G4-1216-1.pdf | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20231201053555/https://svra.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ginetta_G4-1216-1.pdf | archivedate = 2023-12-01 | url-status=live |access-date=26 January 2025 |website=SVRA.com}}
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{{anchor|G4 Series IV|Series IV|Series V}} 1981 revival
File:Ginetta G4 - Flickr - exfordy (1).jpg
The G4 was re-introduced in 1981 as the G4 Series IV, with a new chassis.Peter Higston, The Enthusiasts' Guide to Buying a Classic British Sports Car, 2007, page 60 It was produced through to 1984 with approximately 35 examples built. The Series IV was powered by a 1,599 cc Ford four-cylinder engine.{{citation | first = John | last = Blunsden | title = The Observer's Book of Automobiles | edition = 25th | date = 1982 | page = 92 | publisher = Frederick Warne | location = London, UK | isbn = 0723216274 }}
The final development was the Series V, which replaced the live axle with a trailing arm, independent rear suspension.{{cite magazine | url = https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1995/70/multiple-gforce/ | magazine = Motor Sport | title = Multiple G-Force | volume = LXXI | number = 7 | first = Mike | last = Lawrence | date = July 1995 | page = 752 }} Ginetta stuck to Ford for sourcing the final drive, but only two examples were built (one of which was a modified Series IV).
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DARE Ginetta G4
File:2004 Ginetta G4.jpgAfter 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1995-dare-ginetta-g12-who-dares-wins/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240617195447/https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1995-dare-ginetta-g12-who-dares-wins/ | archive-date = 2024-06-17 | title = 1995 DARE Ginetta G12 – Who DAREs Wins | author = ((Tatra87)) | work = Curbside Classic | date = 2023-01-04 }} DARE resumed manufacture of the G4 and some other models in the 1990s.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Ginetta G4}}
{{Ginetta Cars|state=collapsed}}
Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Category:Cars introduced in 1959
Category:Cars introduced in 1981
Category:Cars discontinued in 1968