1961 GSM Delta

This car is one of those survivors. It is powered by a Holbay Engineering built 997cc Ford Kent 105E engine, which when properly tuned should be good for over 100bhp giving a top speed in excess of 110mph, although this hasn’t been fully tested.

The UK factory entered three GSM Deltas in the Nurburgring 500 of 1961, although two failed to start and the other failed to finish. This car is believed to be one of those three works cars, as driven by John Glyde Walker and George Palmer.

A copy of the old style RF60 logbook in the history file lists Glyde Walker as its first registered keeper in December 1962. It is believed that the car continued to be raced by subsequent owners before ending up with its fifth, a Mr Rae Lawson of Nottinghamshire, in 1967.

In 2016 the current owner, our vendor, acquired this car - along with another Delta (GSM’s show car) - from a Yorkshire dealer selling on behalf of the family of the late Mr Lawson. Although he’d begun a restoration, the cars had sat outside for almost two decades and so were in a “derelict” state. This one was just a chassis, engine, gearbox and a heap of body parts, but as you can see here, it has now been fully restored (see History Highlights for more details).

But what would possess our vendor to acquire and restore such an esoteric car? The fact that he was an 'gopher' to Team Eden which raced a Delta with great success in period goes a long way to explain it.’ He’s also been very active in Historic racing since, regularly being invited to compete at the Goodwood Revival in his Anglia.

The vendor reports that the car is road-ready (although fitting a milder cam would be advised to cope with traffic) and in most respects race-ready too - complying with the regulations of the HSCC Historic Road Sports Series.

The car is now for sale for age and health reasons and the successful bidder will also have the option to acquire the vendor’s second GSM Delta project - the company’s show car.

The Delta is finished in light grey with white race number panels on the doors and bonnet. The paint and bodywork is in a reasonably good condition - not perfect by any means, there are a few scratches, chips, blisters and a couple of cracks - but it is more than suitable for enjoying out on the road or for going racing. Towing points are provided fore and aft.

The door windows are detachable and made of lightweight polycarbonate. The driver’s side window has a sliding panel and the passenger side is fitted with a rotating vent. The Vinylex windscreen appears to be conventional glass but is starting to delaminate around the top and side edges.

The Delta also comes with a detachable hard top, which looks in excellent condition; painted white with body-coloured grey accented frame. To conform to race requirements, the roof has no headlining.

The Delta sits on 13-inch steel wheels, which are in reasonable order with just a little surface rust coming through the paint. All four rims are fitted with HSCC-approved Uniroyal RainExpert3 tyres which are dated 2021 but have been used for little more than moving the car around.

The interior of the Delta is fitted for racing safety and functionality rather than luxury or comfort, with no interior upholstery or carpeting aside from the period-style racing bucket seats in ventilated vinyl. There is, however, something of a pleasing aesthetic from the combination of grey painted gel-coat, black painted fibreglass and the aluminium panelling.

As better befits its racing purposes, the Smiths rev counter is fitted centrally behind the classic leather-clad Astrali steering wheel, with the speedo (from a Ford Cortina) installed to one side. The other principal instrument bezel has been adapted to carry the Racetech oil pressure and water temperature gauge. The fuel gauge sits in the centre console alongside the electricity cut-out and extinguisher pull.

For additional safety there is a braced roll-over bar and race harnesses fitted to both seats (not in date) - a Securon harness on the driver side and OMP for the passenger.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay is painted black, clean and well laid out. For easier diagnostics and maintenance the electrical cabling is left un-loomed but all seems neatly done and in good order. The engine block appears in good condition; painted red with a black Holbay rocker cover and inlet manifold extending to the twin double-barrelled Weber carburettors. All other fittings and ancillaries look new or renewed including the aluminium radiator and oil cooler.

The undersides of the car aren’t pristine and factory fresh, but everything appears to have been well restored or replaced with new parts - as you’d expect from a sympathetic restoration. Chassis members all carry a good coating of rust-inhibiting paint and although there are touches of surface rust here and there, the mechanicals and running gear look very tidy. The side-exit exhaust appears to be a stainless unit and in good order.

Inside the boot is a spartan affair with the inside of the fibreglass body well-painted but with no lining - as required by race regs. There is a race-spec aluminium fuel tank fitted, alongside a Lifeline fire extinguisher system (in date).

Interested bidders are encouraged to scrutinise the detailed photographs of this car to satisfy themselves of its super condition. As ever, nothing beats a personal inspection, which can be arranged by using the ‘Contact Seller’ option.

Restoration had been started in the 1990s by the previous late owner. He had removed the body to replace the main chassis tubes and then refitted the body, suspension and brakes using new parts as necessary. Sadly he then passed away and the car remained untouched for nearly 20 years until the current owner completed the restoration over the last few years.

Other than the slightly rounded wheel arches - which ex-factory would have been flat topped - originality has been retained in all respects. For example, it still has drum brakes all round, the original large diameter tubular chassis is unchanged in design, as is the suspension; although with raised spring rates and adjustable dampers. It has what is believed to be its original close-ratio gearbox and engine.

The engine is built to near Formula Junior specification, having Holbay forged pistons, steel rods, vernier cam timing wheel, steel main bearing caps and lightened rockers on steel posts. The engine had apparently been rebuilt by the previous owner but never ran up. The current owner fitted a Cosworth A6 cam, an oil cooler and twin 40DCOE Weber carbs and has subjected it only to testing runs.

The car has an organic clutch and a hollow iron crankshaft - but comes with a steel 20/20 crankshaft which would make it more competitive, although it will need to be ground to 30/30 and re-nitrided.

New tyres from the HSCC approved list have been fitted and there are also some spare body panels (doors, boot lid etc.) that come with the car. Also don’t forget, the buyer will have an option to buy another GSM project.

There is some roughness in the Ford 100E steering box, not discernible whilst driving.

The documents file includes the HSCC Vehicle Identity Form, copies of the original RF60 logbook as well as correspondence with the DVLA, the GSM Car Club and a former member of the GSM race team. The car also has a current MOT, valid until March 2023.

As well as being a fun and unusual road car, this rare Delta would offer a great start in historic racing - and make you quite a talking point in the paddock too. GSM Darts and Deltas were extensively raced in period, both in South Africa and across Europe - including taking wins at Goodwood in the late fifties and early sixties, which gives this car Revival potential for the Fordwater Trophy.

It’s hard to put a value on such an uncommon car but with this provenance and historics-compliant race-preparation, we think conservatively that it will sell for between £12,000 and £16,000. That’s incredibly low for a bona-fide historic racer.

One thing we can be sure of though, there won’t be many other GSM Deltas fighting alongside you into Madgwick!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Carlisle, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.