1972 Ginetta G15

The vendor bought the car earlier this year, has had it stored away ever since and, as if often the way with such things, then found himself not using it or doing anything he’d imagined he might be doing with it.

The reason is ergonomics, because it soon became apparent that the car was really better suited to someone rather shorter (he's 6' 3").

So, it’s back on the market and his loss could turn out to be your gain.

The previous owner bought the car in 1985, kept it for nearly 40 years and, during the 1990s, had it pretty much rebuilt from the ground-up and optimally specified for racing events.

The extent to which he succeeded may be measured by the size and quality of his trophy cabinet, which includes HSCC Historic Roadsports and 1970’s Roadsports class wins among numerous other accolades to be found on shelves buckling under the weight of cups, medals, gongs and rosettes.

Even when it’s filled to the brim with oil, water and other life-giving fluids, this stripped-down GRP race car weighs just 558kg, which is only slightly more than a rainswept cheetah wearing a poncho.

No wonder it is so familiar with the top podium.

It’s also got no accident history, which tends to endorse the racing capabilities of those who piloted it over the years.

At the heart of this proven track machine is a 108hp 1012cc engine that’s been fettled and honed by the much-respected Imp engine whisperer Andy Jones of Shrigley Engineering.

That’s just the beginning of what this car has to offer.

Pour yourself a drink, sit back and run your eyes down the following list.

·         40DCOE Webers

·         Race head and valves

·         Shrigley race camshaft

·         Janspeed exhaust manifold

·         Strengthened engine block

·         High-capacity oil pump and bronze drive gear

·         Increased capacity baffled sump

·         Lightened flywheel

·         Facet fuel pump

·         Oil cooler

·         Lightweight stainless-steel repackable silencer

·         Armtech rev limiter

·         Alloy crankshaft

·         Dynamo pulleys

·         Lightweight high-torque starter motor

·         Dave Weedon built transaxle with 'rally' ratios in final type case casting

·         Competition clutch

·         Roller bearing clutch release bearing

·         Competition engine and transaxle mounts

·         1" driveshafts with recent couplings

·         Increased capacity high-efficiency, fully ducted aluminium radiator

·         Dual circuit brakes with adjustable brake balance

·         Full bolt-in roll cage fitted through chassis

·         Strengthened chassis with Imp competition rear cross-member

·         Seam-welded strengthened rear suspension arms

·         Custom Leda adjustable dampers front and rear, front with adjustable spring seats.

·         Poly-bushed suspension (except anti-roll bar)

·         Adjustable camber front top suspension arms

·         Yokohama A050s dated 2019 on all four corners

·         SPA Design plumbed-in fire extinguisher (last serviced 04/21)

·         Bead-blasted, painted and Waxoyled chassis

·         Powder-coated suspension and other components

We don’t think we’ve missed anything – and the previous owner clearly didn’t, either.

The fibre-glass body is reassuringly free of any bulls-eye cracks, spidery crazing, holes, splits or nicks.

In fact, it presents very well from every angle.

But there’s no mistaking it’s raison d'etre.

This is, obviously, undeniably, a track car.

The custom paint-job, racing decals, bonnet pins and fat Yokohama Advan A050 summer track-day tyres leave you in no doubt of that.

The wheels and tyres look to be in good order, as do the lights, lenses and other exterior fixtures and fittings.

Certainly, by any aesthetic measure, it appears to be in very good condition.

There’s rarely much to say about the interior of a track car.

Carpets and burr walnut picnic tables are in short supply and we couldn’t find any cup holders.

Instead, we found precisely the spartan, minimalist, functional space we were hoping and expecting to find.

Fire extinguisher? Tick.

Roll cage? Tick.

Fibre-glass bucket seat bolted directly to the floor pan (for true seat-of-the-pants thrills)? Tick.

Bold, large-print labels attached to everything (so you can read them upside-down)? Tick.

It’s all present, it’s all correct and it’s all good to go, as far as we can tell.

The engine bay looks clean, dry and correct - as far as we can tell.

From what we can see of them, the car’s undersides are entirely beyond reproach and there’s nothing there to make us tut or shake our heads.

Everything looks solid, sound and pretty fresh.

Obviously, you’ll want to take a look for yourself.

This car comes with a big box of history and manuals so heavy that three of the people who dragged it up the stairs at our HQ have since cancelled their gym memberships.

It is bristling with invoices, bills and receipts covering all manner of work carried out over the years and up to the present day.

It also contains a wide variety of handbooks, manuals and workshop guides.

The car was last serviced in April 2021, last cleared its throat in anger on the track in August of the same year, and last had fresh oil and its engine turned over (but not started) in September 2022.

The OMP belts are valid until the end of 2024.

The car comes with all sorts of useful bits and pieces including, but not limited to:

·         Spare set of wheels with used Avon wet tyres

·         Original door cards

·         MYLAPS X2 transponder (will require subscription)

·         Lightweight battery (currently struggling to hold a charge)

·         Heavier battery

·         Box of original parts removed during race-prepping in the ‘90s

·         Original fabric for parcel shelf

·         Original fabric sample for headlining

·         Spare fluids for engine, transaxle, trunions

·         Box of various running spares and parts

If this car was 6 inches longer, or the vendor was 6 inches shorter, it would currently be doing something loud and impressive at Castle Combe or Snetterton, rather than sitting in our HQ unit.

We are entirely confident that it is able and willing to do so again, and just needs a whiff of Castrol and the flash of a chequered flag to get it in the mood.

This car first took to the road in 1972, when T-Rex and Donny Osmond were in the ‘hit parade’ and The Godfather and Carry On Matron were in the cinema.

But don’t be fooled by its age.

This Ginetta G15 is young at heart and has the build credentials, provenance and track-record (literally) to prove it whenever you’re ready.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the Enquire About This Vehicle button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.