Ginetta Cars
Corporate brand
UnclaimedBritish specialist manufacturer of sports cars and racing cars, with a history spanning kit cars, road-going performance models and customer motorsport.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ginetta Cars is a British specialist automobile manufacturer based in Garforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire. The company was founded in 1958 by four brothers—Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Douglas Walklett—whose complementary skills in management, engineering, design and styling shaped the company’s early identity. Ginetta began by producing lightweight sports-car bodies, chassis and kit cars for enthusiasts rather than conventional mass-market vehicles. Its first completed design, later associated with the G1, was based on a pre-war Wolseley Hornet, while the G2 used a tubular chassis, aluminium bodywork and Ford components. Early products such as the Fairlite body shell reflected the company’s focus on accessible amateur construction and mechanical simplicity. During the 1960s and 1970s, Ginetta developed a succession of increasingly sophisticated road and competition cars. The G3 and G4 established a durable lightweight sports-car formula, combining fibreglass bodywork with strong motorsport potential. The G10 and G12 demonstrated more ambitious racing intent: the G10 used Ford V8 power and attracted attention through early competition success, while the G12 became a successful small-capacity sports racer. The G15, a compact rear-engined coupé using Sunbeam Imp mechanical components, was one of the company’s higher-volume early models. Ginetta also experimented with single-seat and prototype racing cars, including the G16 and G19. The company changed locations several times as it expanded, moving from Woodbridge in Suffolk to Witham in Essex, spending a period in Sudbury, returning to Witham and subsequently relocating to Scunthorpe in 1988. In the 1980s it returned strongly to kit-car production with Ford-based models including the G26, G27, G28, G30 and G31. The GRS Tora estate and pickup conversions also helped sustain the business during that decade. In 1989 the Walklett family sold Ginetta to an enthusiast-backed group based in Sheffield and managed by Martin Phaff. Later products under that ownership included the G20 and G33, although the company experienced financial and operational difficulties during the period. Lawrence Tomlinson acquired Ginetta through LNT Automotive in late 2005. Under Tomlinson, the business moved toward an integrated model combining road-car manufacture, racing-car production, driver development and one-make championships. The G50, developed to mark the company’s fiftieth anniversary, became an important modern racing product and competed in European GT4 competition. In 2010 Ginetta acquired Somerset-based Farbio Sports Cars; the inherited F400 was substantially revised and relaunched as the Ginetta G60. The company also expanded its customer-racing range with the G40 Junior, G40 Challenge and G55, while continuing to develop road-going performance cars. Ginetta acquired Blyton Park test circuit in 2017, giving it a dedicated facility for development, testing and driver activities. Its modern identity is therefore closely linked to motorsport: the brand supplies race cars, supports single-make series and uses competition as a route for product development and customer engagement. The G56 was launched in 2021, extending the company’s contemporary competition-car portfolio. Ginetta remains a niche British manufacturer rather than a high-volume producer, serving enthusiasts, racing drivers, teams and customers seeking lightweight, distinctive performance cars.
History
Ginetta was established in 1958 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, by brothers Bob, Ivor, Trevers and Douglas Walklett. Their first work combined lightweight construction, Ford mechanical components and fibreglass or aluminium bodies. The G2 was an early kit car using a tubular frame and Ford 10 HP running gear, while the earlier G1 concept drew on a Wolseley Hornet. The company also marketed the Fairlite body shell for installation on Ford-based chassis. The Walklett brothers divided responsibilities among management, mechanical and electrical engineering, design and styling. The G3 and G4 developed the firm’s core sports-car formula. The G4, introduced in 1961, was suitable for both road use and competition and achieved production of approximately 500 cars before its original run ended in 1968. A later Series IV revival ran from 1981 to 1984. More specialized racing projects followed. The Ford V8-powered G10 showed strong promise in competition but was not homologated in sufficient numbers, while the G12 became a successful small-capacity sports racer. The G15, launched in 1967 with a rear-mounted Sunbeam Imp engine, was produced in much larger numbers than many earlier Ginetta models and was fully type approved. The G16 and G19 represented further competition and single-seater experiments. Ginetta moved from Woodbridge to Witham in 1962, operated for a time from premises in Sudbury, and returned to Witham before relocating to Scunthorpe in 1988. The 1980s brought a renewed emphasis on kit cars, including the Ford-based G26 family and the G27. The GRS Tora, a fibreglass estate conversion based initially on Hillman Hunter components, provided an additional source of sales during the decade. Approximately 320 Tora variants were produced, although the final four-door version had very limited production. On 7 November 1989, the Walklett family sold Ginetta to an international enthusiast group based in Sheffield and led by managing director Martin Phaff. The company produced models such as the G20 and G33 during this era. The G32 represented a return to fully built, type-approved road cars, while the G33 and related G34 continued the company’s lightweight sports-car tradition. A Swedish importer later built a limited Volvo-engined G34 variant through Gin1Car AB, with production occurring in 1997 and 1998. LNT Automotive, operated by racing driver and engineer Lawrence Tomlinson, acquired Ginetta in late 2005. The new ownership increased the emphasis on factory-built performance cars and organized racing. The G50 was developed for the company’s fiftieth anniversary and used a 3.5-litre V6. Its early GT4 competition results helped establish it as a significant modern Ginetta product. The G50 and G50 GT4 were launched publicly in the late 2000s and became among the company’s best-selling cars. In 2010 Ginetta acquired Farbio Sports Cars. The Farbio F400 was redesigned and rebranded as the Ginetta G60, a mid-engined road car using a 3.7-litre V6. Ginetta simultaneously developed the G40 Junior and G40 Challenge cars for its single-make racing structure, replacing the older G20 in junior competition and supporting adult club racers. The G55 served as a larger GT-oriented competition model, while the G40R extended the lightweight racing-car-for-the-road concept. The company acquired Blyton Park in 2017 as a proving and testing facility. This reinforced the relationship between Ginetta’s road products, racing programs and driver-development activities. The G56, introduced in 2021, continued the modern racing-car line. Ginetta remains a low-volume specialist manufacturer whose business is built around performance engineering, race-car production, customer competition and a distinctive British sports-car heritage.
- 2021
G56 launched
[1]Ginetta adds the G56 to its modern racing-car portfolio.
- 2017
Blyton Park acquired
[1]Ginetta acquires Blyton Park as a test and development facility.
- 2011
G55 and G60 introduced
[1]The company launches the G55 competition car and the G60 road car.
- 2010
Farbio acquisition and G40 program
[1]Ginetta acquires Farbio and develops the G60 from the F400, while introducing the G40 Junior program.
- 2007
Relocation near Leeds
[1]Ginetta moves production to the Leeds area.
- 2005
Acquisition by LNT Automotive
[1]Lawrence Tomlinson acquires Ginetta through LNT Automotive.
- 1989
Walklett family sells Ginetta
[1]Ownership passes to an enthusiast-backed group managed by Martin Phaff.
- 1988
Move to Scunthorpe
[1]Ginetta relocates to larger premises in Scunthorpe.
- 1967
G15 launched
[1]The rear-engined G15 becomes one of Ginetta’s more extensively produced early models.
- 1961
G4 introduced
[1]The G4 develops Ginetta’s lightweight road-and-race sports-car formula.
Products and positioning
A specialist, motorsport-led British performance marque focused on lightweight sports cars, customer racing and limited-volume road vehicles.
Road and competition sports car · 1961
G4
Introduced in 1961, the G4 was a lightweight fibreglass-bodied sports car designed to work both as an everyday road vehicle and as a competitive club-racing machine. Its compact dimensions and adaptable mechanical layout made it representative of Ginetta’s early engineering philosophy. Original production ended in 1968, and a wider, longer Series IV version was produced from 1981 to 1984.
Sports-racing car · 1966
G12
The G12 was an advanced mid-1960s competition car with a tubular space-frame chassis, removable bodywork and sophisticated suspension. It commonly used a 1.0-litre Cosworth SCA engine, although larger engines were also installed. The model achieved notable results in small-capacity circuit racing and hill climbs and was produced in limited numbers.
Sports coupé · 1967
G15
The G15 was a compact two-seat coupé introduced in 1967. It used a rear-mounted 875 cc Sunbeam Imp engine, a tubular chassis and fibreglass bodywork, with Triumph-derived front suspension. Unlike many earlier Ginetta designs, it was fully type approved, allowing complete cars to be sold. Approximately 800 were produced between 1967 and 1974.
Customer-racing car · 2010
G40
The G40 family was developed for Ginetta’s modern single-make racing structure. The G40J replaced the older G20 in the Ginetta Junior series with a newer and safer package, while the G40 Challenge version served adult competitors. The platform became associated with accessible entry-level circuit racing and the Ginetta GT5 Challenge.
GT racing car · 2007
G50
Created for Ginetta’s fiftieth anniversary, the G50 used a 3.5-litre V6 and was developed as a modern GT competition car. It achieved an early second-place finish in European GT4 competition at Nogaro in 2007. The road-oriented G50 and G50 GT4 were launched publicly in the late 2000s and became important modern products for the company.
GT racing car · 2011
G55
The G55 is a modern Ginetta competition model developed for GT racing and one-make competition. It was launched in 2011 and was associated with the Ginetta GT Supercup and GT3-oriented racing applications. The model formed part of the company’s strategy of supporting customer teams and structured racing championships.
Road sports car · 2011
G60
The G60 was derived from the Farbio F400 after Ginetta acquired Farbio Sports Cars in 2010. It is a two-door, mid-engined sports car using a 3.7-litre V6 related to the powertrain used in Ginetta’s racing range. The car represented Ginetta’s return to a more contemporary, fully built road-car format.
Racing car · 2021
G56
Launched in 2021, the G56 is part of Ginetta’s contemporary racing-car portfolio. Its introduction continued the company’s practice of using dedicated competition models to support customer racing and the wider Ginetta motorsport ecosystem.
Brand decisions
2017
Blyton Park acquisitionStrategyBackground
Ginetta required a dedicated environment for developing and validating road and racing models.
Action taken
The company acquired Blyton Park test circuit near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
Aftermath
The site became part of Ginetta’s engineering, testing and driver-development infrastructure.
2010
Farbio Sports Cars acquisitionM&ABackground
Ginetta sought to expand its modern road-car range and acquired Somerset-based Farbio Sports Cars.
Action taken
The Farbio F400 was redesigned and relaunched as the Ginetta G60.
Aftermath
The transaction gave Ginetta a contemporary mid-engined road car and broadened its product portfolio beyond racing cars.
2005
LNT Automotive acquisitionM&ABackground
Ginetta had passed from the Walklett family to an enthusiast-backed group in 1989. In late 2005, the company was acquired by LNT Automotive, led by Lawrence Tomlinson.
Action taken
LNT Automotive took ownership and redirected the business toward integrated road-car engineering, race-car production and organized customer motorsport.
Aftermath
The change led to the G50 program, a Leeds-area factory move and a larger modern racing portfolio.
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