1968 Ginetta

This 1968 Ginetta started life as the first of seven G16 models built to compete in the FIA European 2-liter GT Championship and was sold new to Art Allen, the Ginetta distributor in Southern California. The car was raced in SCCA events until 1970 and then parked until being purchased by racer Trevor Needham in 1987, who brought it to England. A subsequent rebuild and installation of a Lester Owen 2.0-liter BMW M10 inline-four was followed by competition in the International Supersports Cup series across Europe from 1992 to 1997. The car was purchased by the seller and returned to the US in 1999, and a new tubular chassis patterned on the original and a fiberglass body were fitted following a 2013 accident. A new fuel cell, fire suppression system, instruments, plumbing, and wiring have also been installed under the seller’s ownership. Additional features include a Hewland FT200 five-speed manual transaxle, Koni adjustable shocks, Wilwood brakes, Panasport wheels, and twin Weber carburetors. This G16 was featured on BaT in 2016 and is now offered with 1968 purchase paperwork, period photos, FIA and HSCC registration from its time in Europe, SVRA logbooks from 1999 to 2013, Spares including a set of Minilite wheels and AP Racing brake calipers, and a Maryland bill of sale. A replacement powder-coated tubular space frame was fabricated and fitted with a replacement fiberglass body made from Ginetta molds following a 2013 crash at Watkins Glen. The blue paintwork on the body and roll bar is accented by a yellow grille surround, mirror pods, and cooling ducts. Three-piece Panasport wheels are mounted with Avon 9.0/21.0×13″ front and 12.0/23.0×13″ rear tires. The suspension features nickel-plated double wishbones and Koni 8212 adjustable dampers, while steering is via rack and pinion. Braking is handled by Wilwood four-piston calipers and vented rotors all around. A set of period Minilite wheels and AP Racing calipers are included in the sale. The right-hand drive cockpit features a single seat with a five-point OMP harness, an MSD electronic ignition box, and a right-hand gear shifter as well as a fire suppression system and front-to-rear plumbing that were installed under the seller’s ownership. A leather-wrapped Mountney steering wheel frames a 10k-rpm Stack tachometer flanked by replacement Smiths auxiliary gauges. Protected ignition and fuel pump switches are mounted on the left. A Lester Owen 2.0-liter BMW M10 inline-four was one of three powerplants offered in-period by the factory. This unit was installed while the car was with Needham, and was rebuilt by Coleman Performance Engines of Stratford, Connecticut under the seller’s ownership. Details reportedly include a billet steel crankshaft, JE pistons, Carillo connecting rods, a Schrick camshaft, and an aluminum flywheel. Induction is through twin Weber 50 DCOE carburetors drawing from a 12-gallon Fuel Safe cell. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a Tilton twin-disc clutch and a Hewland FT200 five-speed manual transaxle. A Ron Davis aluminum radiator is fitted up front along with a trio of fluid reservoirs. Changes of the oil and transmission fluid are recommended by the seller along with bedding in the brakes. Purchase paperwork from 1968, FIA and HSCC registrations from the 1990s, and SVRA logbooks covering 1999 to 2013 are included in the sale.