Ginetta G15 Standard
The Ginetta G15 was the most commercially successful model from the Walklett brothers' Ginetta Cars, a small manufacturer based in Witham, Essex. The G15 used the rear-mounted engine and transaxle from the Hillman Imp — a Coventry Climax-derived aluminum unit — in a lightweight fiberglass body on a tubular steel chassis. This mid/rear-engine configuration, combined with a curb weight of just 499 kg, gave the G15 handling characteristics that belied its modest power output. With 51 horsepower driving under 500 kg, the G15 could reach 100 mph and felt considerably faster than its numbers suggested. The fiberglass body was beautifully shaped with a low-slung coupe profile that looked like a miniature Le Mans car. The Walklett brothers — Ivor, Trevers, Bob, and Douglas — designed and built every aspect of their cars themselves, from chassis fabrication to body moulding. The G15 was offered both as a factory-built car and in kit form to take advantage of the UK's purchase tax exemption for self-built vehicles. With 830 examples produced, it was Ginetta's best-seller until the modern era.
Fiberglass body doesn't rust but check for gel coat crazing and stress cracks around mounting points. The tubular steel chassis can rust — inspect thoroughly. Imp-derived mechanicals are well-supported by the Imp enthusiast community. Rear engine access is through a small hatch. Check that the chassis hasn't been bent from racing use.
830 G15s were produced between 1967 and 1974, available both factory-built and in kit form. The car used the complete Hillman Imp engine/transaxle assembly mounted in the rear.