Spire GTR Track Car

Highlights

• Road-legal track car
• 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder Kawasaki engine
• GFRP shell over tubular steel chassis
• Proven Ford Sierra running gear
• Just one former owner

Overview

We wouldn’t blame you if, upon perusing the pictures of this fine machine, your first words were “what the hell is that?” Mainly because that’s exactly what we said. As it turns out, this is actually something rather rare and a bit special.

Spire Sports Cars are a Derbyshire-based builder of race cars. We’re not talking Citroën Saxos with a bolt-on turbo here, no we’re talking about bespoke “prototype” racers, built to suit multiple motorsport classes. And they’re a bit good too. Their current offering, the GT-3, will keep a factory BTCC racer on its toes and has won multiple class and overall championships, won 40 consecutive races and obliterated track records all over the place. As we said: “a bit special”.

But this isn’t the GT-3, this is the GTR, which is the road-legal kit car expression of Spire’s ethos. And what a machine it is. First, it’s rare, apparently with fewer than 100 sold since its inception in 2005. Secondly, it’s hilariously focussed. Yes, it is road legal and has a valid MOT. But unless you’re a VERY committed petrol-huffer, then this is very much a track car that you can take for the occasional B-road blast when the skies are blue and the tarmac is warm.

Based on Sierra running gear mated to a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder Kawasaki motorbike engine and wrapped in a super-light tubular steel and GFRP body, it provides the kind of high-revving, frenetic power delivery and whip-crack reactions you’d expect of something that looks like a mini Can-Am racer.

And the best bit? You can actually drive it around central London without paying a penny in ULEZ charge.

Just imagine the looks on the faces of the cyclists. Marvellous.

History and documentation

• Registered 1 July 2016
• One former owner
• Present owner since July 2019
• Kit car, based on Ford Sierra running gear mated to a Kawasaki motorbike engine
• V5 present and correct in owner’s name
• Serviced and maintained at the vendor’s professional garage
• No odometer
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 16 Oct 2025
• HPI clear (checked February 2025)
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Two lightweight racing bucket seats
• Blue Luke racing harnesses
• Fire extinguisher mounted in the centre of the floor
• Digital display, as well as all necessary cut-off and isolation switches for track driving
• Integrated roll-over cage
• While there is a (very small) plexi-glass windscreen, the use of a helmet would very much be required
• Everything is in usable condition, with the usual wear and tear you’d expect from a track car
• The vendor tells us that all the controls and switchgear operate just as they should, with no faults or issues to note

Exterior

• White finished GFRP bodyshell over a tubular steel chassis
• There are a few minor cracks and chips in the bodyshell, but overall it appears to be in very good order
• The paintwork is in reasonably good order, with the usual track-car patination adding a dose of genuine motorsport character
• The rear clamshell features quick-release aero-style latches for easy access to the engine bay
• Wide adjustable rear wing and fixed dive-planes to the front
• It sits on a set of black 15-ich Rally Design ‘RMD’ multi-spoke alloys, which are shod in a matched set of Toyo Proxes (195/50 all round) that appear to have good tread depth and no sidewall damage we could discern
• A spare set of black five-spoke alloy wheels, wearing Avon semi-slick tyres, are also provided

Mechanical

• Mid-mounted 1,199cc, 4-cylinder Kawasaki engine
• Individual throttle bodies
• Rear-wheel drive
• Proven and reliable Ford Sierra running gear
• Paddleshift transmission
• Disc brakes all round, with Wilwood performance calipers
• A spare engine is also available by negotiation
• We are assured that the car starts, goes and stops just as it should, with no mechanical issues

Summary

It’s not often that we write about a car and feel like we need a good lie down. But this thing gets our adrenaline pumping just looking at it. Not to mention the fact that it sounds incredible – like a grizzly bear trapped in a small room filled with a thousand angry hornets.

If you’ve always hankered after something to attack a few track days with, then this is the perfect vehicle for you. You can drive it there too, which is quite amazing when you consider how focussed and purpose built this is. We’d imagine it’s quite capable of embarrassing exotica costing tens of thousands of pounds more.

With a relatively simple yet highly effective powertrain, lightweight body and mini Can-Am styling, there’s much to recommend this rare, fascinating, ever-so-slightly bonkers machine.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Kingston Upon Hull.