Description

The Ginetta G10 was one of the boldest and most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the small British manufacturer founded by the Walklett brothers. Introduced in 1965, the G10 was conceived as a direct assault on the powerful big-block Cobras and Corvettes that were dominating GT racing at the time. While Ginetta had built its reputation on small, lightweight sports cars like the G4 and G5, the G10 represented a dramatic departure—an attempt to harness raw V8 power in a chassis designed for agility and competition.

From the outside, the G10 had the purposeful look of a true racing car. Its fiberglass body was wide and muscular, with flared arches, a long bonnet, and a squat, aggressive stance. The lines were more brutal than elegant, clearly designed with racing in mind rather than showroom appeal. Large wheels, minimal overhangs, and a compact greenhouse emphasized performance over refinement, while the lightweight construction kept weight to a minimum despite the massive engine it housed.

At the heart of the G10 was a Ford 289 cubic inch (4.7-litre) V8, the same engine that powered the early AC Cobras. In race tune, this engine could easily deliver over 300 horsepower, and when combined with the Ginetta’s relatively light chassis, it promised explosive performance. Power was sent through a four-speed gearbox to the rear wheels, and the car’s independent suspension and disc brakes ensured that it had the handling to back up its straight-line pace.

The G10 was intended primarily as a competition machine, and its track performance showed enormous potential. At its debut at Brands Hatch in 1965, the car stunned the racing establishment by beating the factory-backed AC Cobras, immediately proving the concept’s effectiveness. Its combination of V8 power and lightweight design gave it the edge over heavier rivals, and it seemed poised to become a serious contender in international GT racing.

However, the G10’s career was cut short by circumstances outside of Ginetta’s control. Just as the car was being prepared for wider competition, rule changes in GT racing effectively rendered it ineligible. Without a suitable category to compete in, Ginetta was forced to scale back its ambitions, and only a handful of G10s were ever built. The project’s abrupt end was a major disappointment, as the car had demonstrated it could challenge the very best of its era.

Today, the Ginetta G10 is remembered as one of the great “what ifs” of British motorsport. Had the regulations not shifted, it might have established Ginetta as a dominant force in GT racing alongside AC and Lotus. Surviving examples are extremely rare, making them highly sought after by collectors. They stand as a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of the Walklett brothers, who dared to pit their small company against the giants of the racing world—and, for a brief moment, succeeded.

The G10’s legacy lies in its demonstration that a lightweight chassis paired with a powerful engine could topple much larger and better-funded competitors. This philosophy would echo through later Ginettas, and it remains a cornerstone of the brand’s identity to this day.