Drivetrain
Chassis
Body
1966 Gordon Keeble - 2 owners only & restored condition
A quite remarkable example of these completely brilliant "gentlemans GT"
When introduced in 1964 they were, for a very short period, the fastest 4 seater motor car available in the World!
Performance was provided via a Corvette 327cubic inch V8 being driven through a 4 speed gearbox, suspension was of the highest technical quality being independent all round with coils over wishbones at the front and a complex de Dion at the rear, again supported via coil springs
Naturally with all of this performance braking was provided via 4 wheel outboard disc brakes, as would have been found on a Formula 1 car of the period - but not much else
Launched at an initial £2.798 these were not priced for the faint of heart - this was serious motorcar money in those days and the creators of these GT's ( John & Jim ) hadn't held back in any way on the quality of the product they offered. Not only was the GK a technical tour de force, it was astonishingly beautiful, for they had commissioned Bertone to style their 2 door coupe and as was so often the case, Bertone had come up trumps
Our car is number 98 of the 100 produced and being one of the last enjoys the International Touring spec' which amongst a few other items included better internal ventilation - quite handy with so much glass to warm up the interior
The first owner, Donald Sterling of London kept the GK until 1979 and seemingly used her on a very regular basis for there is a log with mileage covered, fuel used, including trip and totals suggesting that he was covering between 10.000 - 15.000 miles per year
He sold her to the only other keeper in her 50 year life, Mr Appleby - the bill of sale is within the copious history package
It is clear that he had been searching for a GK for some while as there is correspondence with Ernest & Ann Knott (Founder - President & Secretary of the Gordon Keeble Owners Club) prior to his purchase of chassis 098
Highly treasured 'our' GK was always cared for by The Gordon Keeble Centre in Brackley, next to Silverstone and by the late 1980's had only travelled an additional 9.000 miles since purchase from Mr Sterling
At this point Mr Appleby entrusted the GK Centre to carry out a full body off restoration. This was to take as long as required and to include various upgrades along the way too
A full photographic record of these works was kept (still in the history package) and the finished result must represent, and have represented at the time, the best GK in terms of condition, specification and historical detail (original handbook too) anywhere
098 has 2 sets of wheels, both the currently fitted centre lock wolf race and the original (refurbished) GK wheels, electric Windows (Rolls-Royce window switches if you please), Parketex seats and door cards (again exclusive to Rolls-Royce & usually only in Phantom limousines), power assisted steering, Blaupunkt stereo system (top of the pops at the time) updated brakes and a 5 speed gearbox wraps up a tidy specification upgrade list
Subsequently 098 has travelled a mere 4.500 miles and still presents in immaculate condition - there are a couple of chips to the paintwork, however hardly any and for nearly 30 year old paint I'd excuse her for these!
Mechanically she simply purrs, whilst having, even for a 50 year old car, magnificent performance and certainly would show a clean pair of heels to many "sports and GT" cars of the period and much later too
For us we are completely besotted with her charm, charisma and condition too
The next owner is one very lucky chap ( or chapess ....... )
1966 Gordon Keeble
Story and History
1966 Gordon Keeble - 2 owners only & restored condition
A quite remarkable example of these completely brilliant "gentlemans GT"
When introduced in 1964 they were, for a very short period, the fastest 4 seater motor car available in the World!
Performance was provided via a Corvette 327cubic inch V8 being driven through a 4 speed gearbox, suspension was of the highest technical quality being independent all round with coils over wishbones at the front and a complex de Dion at the rear, again supported via coil springs
Naturally with all of this performance braking was provided via 4 wheel outboard disc brakes, as would have been found on a Formula 1 car of the period - but not much else
Launched at an initial £2.798 these were not priced for the faint of heart - this was serious motorcar money in those days and the creators of these GT's ( John & Jim ) hadn't held back in any way on the quality of the product they offered. Not only was the GK a technical tour de force, it was astonishingly beautiful, for they had commissioned Bertone to style their 2 door coupe and as was so often the case, Bertone had come up trumps
Our car is number 98 of the 100 produced and being one of the last enjoys the International Touring spec' which amongst a few other items included better internal ventilation - quite handy with so much glass to warm up the interior
The first owner, Donald Sterling of London kept the GK until 1979 and seemingly used her on a very regular basis for there is a log with mileage covered, fuel used, including trip and totals suggesting that he was covering between 10.000 - 15.000 miles per year
He sold her to the only other keeper in her 50 year life, Mr Appleby - the bill of sale is within the copious history package
It is clear that he had been searching for a GK for some while as there is correspondence with Ernest & Ann Knott (Founder - President & Secretary of the Gordon Keeble Owners Club) prior to his purchase of chassis 098
Highly treasured 'our' GK was always cared for by The Gordon Keeble Centre in Brackley, next to Silverstone and by the late 1980's had only travelled an additional 9.000 miles since purchase from Mr Sterling
At this point Mr Appleby entrusted the GK Centre to carry out a full body off restoration. This was to take as long as required and to include various upgrades along the way too
A full photographic record of these works was kept (still in the history package) and the finished result must represent, and have represented at the time, the best GK in terms of condition, specification and historical detail (original handbook too) anywhere
098 has 2 sets of wheels, both the currently fitted centre lock wolf race and the original (refurbished) GK wheels, electric Windows (Rolls-Royce window switches if you please), Parketex seats and door cards (again exclusive to Rolls-Royce & usually only in Phantom limousines), power assisted steering, Blaupunkt stereo system (top of the pops at the time) updated brakes and a 5 speed gearbox wraps up a tidy specification upgrade list
Subsequently 098 has travelled a mere 4.500 miles and still presents in immaculate condition - there are a couple of chips to the paintwork, however hardly any and for nearly 30 year old paint I'd excuse her for these!
Mechanically she simply purrs, whilst having, even for a 50 year old car, magnificent performance and certainly would show a clean pair of heels to many "sports and GT" cars of the period and much later too
For us we are completely besotted with her charm, charisma and condition too
The next owner is one very lucky chap ( or chapess ....... )