Remi, from France. Ginetta G4 from NZ

[Remi110984]

Hello everyone,

I'm french, 33 years old, working in the automotive industry.
I've always loved the G4, but my first fun car was a Caterham 1600K SS bought in the UK. After a crash it was converted to LHD, with the 6 speed gearbox and LSD, it's a car I thought I could never sell.
Caterham 1600K SS (1997)
http://pimg.imagesia.com/fichiers/1dr/caterham-1600kss_imagesia-com_1drbi_small.JPG (http://imagesia.com/caterham-1600kss_1drbi)

After the Caterham was paid, I wanted to buy a Lotus Elan, but the prices increased a lot, and I finally bought a great, but more affordable Ginetta G15. What a lovely car! It's rare and beautiful, with some Elan styling touches.
Ginetta G15 (1972)
http://img.imagesia.com/fichiers/111/2015-04-scct-img-2313-1-resultat_imagesia-com_111ag_large.jpg (http://imagesia.com/2015-04-scct-img-2313-1-resultat_111ag)

For the nice days in spring and summer, I use this Fiat 128 as a daily driver. It's a really lovely car, with a very pleasant engine (still the Fiat Lampredi OHC, but now 1500cc and 5 speed gearbox)
Fiat 128 1500cc (1974)
http://img.imagesia.com/fichiers/jf/imgp0186_imagesia-com_jf6a_large.JPG (http://imagesia.com/imgp0186_jf6a)

I've always wanted a comfortable saloon for long trips on the motorway. The Jaguar XJR is perfect for that, and pretty cheap for the power delivery!
Jaguar XJR8 (1998)
http://pimg.imagesia.com/fichiers/1dr/jaguar-xjr_imagesia-com_1drbk_small.JPG (http://imagesia.com/jaguar-xjr_1drbk)

Last year, I had the opportunity to buy an Elan. Unfortunately I had to sell the G15 to buy the Lotus. But considering the prices rising, if I ever wanted to own an Elan, it was the last possibility for me. What a great handling!
I thought I could keep it along with the Caterham for decades, but...
Lotus Elan Sprint FHC (1972)
http://pimg.imagesia.com/fichiers/1dr/pk5i0081-copie_imagesia-com_1drbl_small.JPG (http://imagesia.com/pk5i0081-copie_1drbl)

... but a friend sent me an advert of a nice Ginetta G4 in the USA. It was affordable. I was on vacation, but I contacted the owner. He wanted to sell it quickly, and I had to sell the Caterham and the Lotus to buy this great car. Unfortunately, it took too long to sell the Elan, and I let this G4 go to another happy owner.
Now my 2 cars sold, I really wanted to find a G4, so I went back to a G4 owner I contacted 2 years before. His car was absolutely perfect, but back then, the Euro / NZ Dollar balance was not good for me. When I saw the new rates, I couldn't believe it! With the money of the Caterham and the Elan, I could now afford and have this lovely car shipped to France!
Some of you know this car as it has been raced extensively in NZ from the 80s until now, by a very friendly chap called Tony.
Here it is, ready to be shipped in a few days! I can't wait!
Ginetta G4 (1963/4)
http://pimg.imagesia.com/fichiers/1f8/lo8hx3ic_imagesia-com_1f8s7_small.jpg (http://imagesia.com/lo8hx3ic_1f8s7)

By the way, I have seen some of you here have some great photos of races taken during the 80s in New Zealand, but the main image host used (the bucket one) removed many of them.
If you have some photos of my car, I would really love to see them as I want to document the history of this car, modifications, colour changes, races attended etc...

Thanks for your help!
Remi

[ERC]

I have several pictures of the car taken in NZ from 1983. If you send me a Private Message with your email address, I'll be in touch.

In terms of races attended, I think you will find that this has an extensive history and Tony Herbert probably made this one the most raced classic/historic cars in NZ for a while, as he often entered several classes on the same day!



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You will also find some photographs on the website: www.groundsky.co.nz

[Steve Holmes]

Bonjour Remi. Comment ca va?

I love your car. Congratulations. I hope you don't mind but I copied your thread from the Introduction thread to the General Discussion thread so more people will see it and hopefully you'll have more luck in your quest for photos.

[Michael Clark]

You have bought a lovely car from a great guy.

[Remi110984]

Thank you so much!
I spend a lot of time on this site discovering all those great photos! You have cars that we don't see in Europe, and as I saw on an Aussie / NZ Fiat forum, people there seem to be very good mechanics, and real car enthusiasts! It's very interesting to see cars like the Maserrari or the Morrari.

Merci!

[BMCBOY]

I have a few photos of Tony Herbert in the Ginetta if they are of any interest.

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[Remi110984]

They are of greatest interest, and really beautiful! Thank you!

[Remi110984]

Car is now ready for boarding

48100

[Milan Fistonic]

This is from Whenuapai in 1992

52540

[Paul Wilkinson]

It'll take you a while to find them all but there are several instances where your car appears in the videos of the 'Historic Sportscar Racing NZ' profile on Facebook.


https://www.facebook.com/pg/historicsportscarracingnz.co.nz/videos/?ref=page_internal

[Milan Fistonic]

Here's another one for you.

53229

[Remi110984]

Thanks a lot!!
So great to see the car in the videos!
thanks for the photos too. I have a big file of race programs, tickets, patches and passes which I should scan if anyone is interested.

[Roger Dowding]

Remi has been in contact with myself regarding the car which is mentioned in this magazine " Sports Car Talk " published by the Sports Car Club of New Zealand Inc - the magazine is the 3rd Special Edition [Annual ] from 1989

58576

From the magazine - this photo looks like a B and W copy of Ross Cammick's photo featured earlier in the thread

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This photo was provided to Remi - from Jim Short's archives - Jim in Paton Ford - slideways behind Tony.
The photo is ; as stated by the photographer " That photo might be in Jim Short's archive but I took it in 1983. That's Rothmans Corner. " The photogrpaher our own Milan Fistonic - thanks Milan.

58575

The article on Ginetta was some 20 pages which I have sent to Remi for his archives on the well known car.

[Remi110984]

Yes, thank you Roger! It was great to recieve this article.
Milan Provided a lot of great photos. It must be so much work to scan all those photos, and I thank everyone who do so.

Here is the car in its actual configuration. A hard top will be fitted this winter
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[Remi110984]

I am looking for informations on those 3 pictures (year and location).
Anyone know?
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Thanks and Happy New Year!

[ERC]

# 1 is definitely Pukekohe - and I'd like the exact date too!!! 1985/1986. A TACCOC meeting.



#3 looks like Ardmore January 29th 1989.

[Andrew Metford]

#2 is Manfield ( recently renamed to Chris Amon Motorsport Park ).

[Remi110984]

Thanks!
With your help I found the events :
#1 : 1987_October_04_TACCOC Classic_Pukekohe
#2 : 1986_November_07_Charter Corporation Classic Race Meeting_Manfield
#3 : 1989_January_29_Ardmore Shell Classic Spectacular

I'll post the programms in the other topic

[Roger Dowding]

Thanks!
With your help I found the events :
#1 : 1987_October_04_TACCOC Classic_Pukekohe
#2 : 1986_November_07_Charter Corporation Classic Race Meeting_Manfield
#3 : 1989_January_29_Ardmore Shell Classic Spectacular

I'll post the programms in the other topic

Remi, was at the Ardmore meeting - have the entry lists somewhere !! Good Stuff - more pieces to the history of the Car ..