Gilbern GT 1800 (1963)
Discussion
Hello
Last last year over lockdown ( October 2020) I purchased a car Iv hankered for for over 25 years.
Having missed out on a couple on the last few years that came up for sale, wrong timing, cash not available or just way too nice!
You dont much choice on these, only approx 202 made from 1959-66. My brief was a restro project, later the better, ( nicer trim) and preferably with a local reg number. ( I live in Cardiff, just a stone throw away from the factory site)
Well my car was found, bought over a two sentence comment on a thread on Facebook. No pictures etc, bought over the phone some 270 miles away in Essex. Having been unable to leave Wales I took a gamble, the clinch was its number plate was a local one!
A good friend who lived only 20 miles from the car current location collected and stored it for a while till it finally came back “ home” to Wales in March this year.
The car was just a rolling shell, with engine, box still fitted, but had no interior, glass, dash, lighting, bumpers etc etc.
Since it arrived, Iv assessed it, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected, the car has not been on the road since around 1990. Sadly the car was stripped, but been sold a number of times since, the missing parts long gone.
Iv now got all new lightning, loom, rear seats, front seats possibly, door cards, front windscreen.
Chassis is rotten in places, it’s booked to go to a Gilbern Specialist next March to have that done, I’m working in a council lock up garage some two miles away, so no electricity etc, it’s out of my remit to cut the body off to do.
Front suspension now been fully rebuilt, and fitted with super flex rubbers for longliverly, it’s temporary refitted to move about. Brake lines are all remade, heater box stripped rebuilt, as was steering rack and column shaft, ( had to cut and remake shaft as had mole grips rusted solid to the splines! Hopefully I’ll add pictures asi go along, winter now arrived so any more work has come to a stop
Also set up a Gilbern GT enthusiasts group on Facebook for extra content
Last last year over lockdown ( October 2020) I purchased a car Iv hankered for for over 25 years.
Having missed out on a couple on the last few years that came up for sale, wrong timing, cash not available or just way too nice!
You dont much choice on these, only approx 202 made from 1959-66. My brief was a restro project, later the better, ( nicer trim) and preferably with a local reg number. ( I live in Cardiff, just a stone throw away from the factory site)
Well my car was found, bought over a two sentence comment on a thread on Facebook. No pictures etc, bought over the phone some 270 miles away in Essex. Having been unable to leave Wales I took a gamble, the clinch was its number plate was a local one!
A good friend who lived only 20 miles from the car current location collected and stored it for a while till it finally came back “ home” to Wales in March this year.
The car was just a rolling shell, with engine, box still fitted, but had no interior, glass, dash, lighting, bumpers etc etc.
Since it arrived, Iv assessed it, it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I expected, the car has not been on the road since around 1990. Sadly the car was stripped, but been sold a number of times since, the missing parts long gone.
Iv now got all new lightning, loom, rear seats, front seats possibly, door cards, front windscreen.
Chassis is rotten in places, it’s booked to go to a Gilbern Specialist next March to have that done, I’m working in a council lock up garage some two miles away, so no electricity etc, it’s out of my remit to cut the body off to do.
Front suspension now been fully rebuilt, and fitted with super flex rubbers for longliverly, it’s temporary refitted to move about. Brake lines are all remade, heater box stripped rebuilt, as was steering rack and column shaft, ( had to cut and remake shaft as had mole grips rusted solid to the splines! Hopefully I’ll add pictures asi go along, winter now arrived so any more work has come to a stop
Also set up a Gilbern GT enthusiasts group on Facebook for extra content
Edited by flying dragon on Sunday 7th November 10:25
Edited by flying dragon on Sunday 7th November 17:01
Gassing Station | Classic Fibreglass | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff