1967 Gilbern GT 1800 Coupe

Description

Gilbern Sports Cars (Components) Ltd was founded in Glamorgan, Wales by Giles Smith, formerly a butcher, and Bernard Friese, a German engineer with experience in fibreglass mouldings. Friese had previously made a one-off car for himself, and the two partners used this as the basis for its first Gilbern car. Called the Gilbern GT, it was a 2+2 two-door coupe that was ultimately produced in several guises between 1959 and 1967. The GT Mk 1 was initially available only as a kit, but Gilbern later began small-scale production from its tiny workshop in Church Village, Pontypridd and then later at the old Red Ash Colliery at nearby Llantwit Fardre. Using a one piece moulded body, the GT Mk 1 was powered by either 948 cc BMC A-Series engine with an optional Shorrock supercharger or Coventry Climax 1098cc engine. The chassis was fabricated from square steel tubing and the front suspension was initially from the Austin A35. Later versions came with a B-series 1500 or 1600cc MGA or 1800cc MGB engine and coil-sprung BMC rear axle. With the arrival of the larger engine, the car was renamed the GT1800. Although supplied in kit form, the body was supplied fully trimmed and painted, leaving the purchaser to complete the mechanicals. In 1968, seeking a cash injection, Gilbern was sold to Ace Capital Holdings Ltd, whose core business was the slot machine manufacture. Following the takeover Smith left the business and was replaced by Mike Leather and Maurice Collins, as joint managing directors. In 1970 Ace was bought out by entertainment group Mecca Ltd, which sold Gilbern to Maurice Collins who in turn, two years later, sold it to Mike Leather. One of the very few cars to be made in Wales, the Gilbern GT was expensive for its time and became even more so when Value Added Tax (VAT) was applied to kit cars. The name, Gilbern, was a combination of the first three letters of the founder Giles Smith and the first four letters of his co-founder Bernard Friese. Production of the Gilbern GT ended in 1973.