What is Ginetta?

[Jellinek]

This is a question that was going around in my head the other day which I couldn't put to bed.

For most marques, there is a fairly clear idea of what they represent, Ferrari = Performance; Aston Martin strives for Ferrari Performance with Rolls Royce quality and luxury; Lamborghini = Performance and outrageous styling, VW reliability etc etc.

But what is Ginetta? I guess this is directed at pre-LNT enthusiasts, but i would be interested to hear views on the image of the Garforth cars too.

[blueg33]

Lightweight, good handling, motorsport pedigree - The informed mans Lotus

IMO this applies to LNT times as much as pre LNT

[quantum_man]

blueg33 said:

Lightweight, good handling, motorsport pedigree - The informed mans Lotus

IMO this applies to LNT times as much as pre LNT

Exactly

[geeeman]

+ styling to rival the italians...

[dandarez]

Nice car, what is it?
A Ginetta.
Is it Italian?

I lost count of how many times I encountered that question.

[lmasarati]

dandarez said:

Nice car, what is it?
A Ginetta.
Is it Italian?
I lost count of how many times I encountered that question.

Yes it impressed me also when I was travelling in UK with mine...
A lot of people approached me with the same question, and was tricky to explain why an italian guy was driving a english car with an italian (or better, sounding LIKE italian) name...
Then the same kind of people in Italy is asking me why my italian car has the steering wheel on the wrong side (or right as you use to say )

Edited by lmasarati on Monday 25th June 08:13

[peterhackner]

There are exactly the same Questions in Germany. I always tell the guys the story that the builder of the car were great fans of Gina Lollobrigida so they call the car Ginetta. I don´t know is this story true. I heard it sometimes

[lmasarati]

Ahahah, this could explain the bumps on the bonnet of the G4.

[Tonsko]

I'd never really seen one before the BTCC day at Oulton the other day. I was kind of aware they existed, but not what they were. They looked lovely, and also sounded good being thraped around Cascades. I liked them.

[Jellinek]

blueg33 said:

Lightweight, good handling, motorsport pedigree - The informed mans Lotus

IMO this applies to LNT times as much as pre LNT

I kept thinking along the same lines, but found myself wondering "what else?" Since 90%+ of motoring fans would answer Lotus if asked "name a car maker synonymous with lightweight, good handling sports cars", they must have found themselves head-to-head with Lotus in the Chapman era. A pretty daunting opponent!!!

When you say "informed man's Lotus", I be interested to know what the informed man would value over an equivalent Lotus. Was it that the Ginetta dellivered the same type of car for much less money (historically a Jag value) or something else?

[blueg33]

Jellinek said:

I kept thinking along the same lines, but found myself wondering "what else?" Since 90%+ of motoring fans would answer Lotus if asked "name a car maker synonymous with lightweight, good handling sports cars", they must have found themselves head-to-head with Lotus in the Chapman era. A pretty daunting opponent!!!

When you say "informed man's Lotus", I be interested to know what the informed man would value over an equivalent Lotus. Was it that the Ginetta dellivered the same type of car for much less money (historically a Jag value) or something else?

Lots of history, they competed head to head but some politics got in the way rather than poor performance by Ginetta cars.

In reality they were very similar to lotus in concept but much better looking

[dandarez]

Even better looking than Ferrari.

Edited by dandarez on Tuesday 26th June 23:22

[dandarez]

And who'd want an Elise over this?

[mikeg15]

Sorry lads, there is nothing special about a Ginetta except that they are quick , affordable and only need average hands to modify/restore/tune & eff around with them. They are to Lotus as Triumph bikes are to BMWs. They are a no schitt car

[blueg33]

Special is subjective. Quick for many people makes them special enough

[dandarez]

Chapman begged to differ then.

At the 61 Racing Car Show after looking at the new G4, something caused him to reduce the price of his Seven halfway through the show.

Wonder if it was because he realised there was something 'special' about this newcomer?

[dandarez]

blueg33 said:

Special is subjective.

Of course.

'Quick' alone is not enough to label Ginetta.

To be special it has to have other attributes. Like looks and fun.
A Seven is quick and fun but it looks antiquated. It doesn't turn heads.

But then we could argue till the cows come home, everything can be/is subjective.
The problem as this thread shows is people still don't know about Ginetta.

But then with my daily driver people don't realise that of the MINI range one is a hell of hoot!

The JCW is quick, (looks? probably not as it has a hate and anti-brigade) ...
but it certainly gets the 'looks' when something supposedly 'quicker' gets a shock!
In fact, it's probably the only car I've had has as much fun in as a Ginetta.
So much so (sorry Ginetta) I've ordered another!

But it's all subjective, let's leave it there.

[lmasarati]

dandarez said:

So much so (sorry Ginetta) I've ordered another!

doh! :-)

[eccles]

geeeman said:

+ styling to rival the italians...

"cough" G26 "cough"

[Darkspeed]

Comment still stands. The style of the G26 rivalled the offerings of the Italians in the 80's. I think the G26 holds up visually against an Alfetta / Guilietta SUD sprint or Beta's 131's 127's etc. of the same vintage. Its no 60's icon but it was a very successful car for the company.

eccles said:

geeeman said:

+ styling to rival the italians...

"cough" G26 "cough"