1964 Gordon-Keeble Coupé

Registration no. DBH 160B Chassis no. 21

Footnotes

Produced between 1964 and 1966, the Gordon-Keeble was one of a select band of 1960s Grandes Routières that combined British chassis engineering with American horsepower and Italian style. Designed by John Gordon, lately of Peerless, and produced in collaboration with garage owner Jim Keeble, the car featured a spaceframe chassis with independent front suspension, De Dion rear axle, and four-wheel disc brakes. Styled by the youthful Giorgetto Giugiaro, then at Carrozzeria Bertone, its elegant glassfibre bodywork was manufactured in England by Williams & Pritchard, one of the foremost firms specialising in this form of construction. A 327ci (5.4-litre) Chevrolet V8 engine provided effortless cruising and a top speed in the region of 140mph. With a 0-60mph time of six seconds and 'the ton' coming up just ten seconds later, the Gordon GT was one of the fastest road vehicles of its day. Amazingly, the car went from drawing board to finished prototype in just four months.

The first Gordon GT was presented on Bertone's stand at the Geneva Motor Show in 1960 where it caused a sensation. Actual production though, was still some way off and by the time the renamed Gordon-Keeble went on sale in 1964, its specification and performance were no longer so unusual. Nevertheless, these ingredients should have been the recipe for guaranteed success but the company failed to get its pricing right and production ceased after little more than a year. A brief revival saw a few more cars assembled by the successor company, but when finally the end came only 99 cars, all right-hand drive, had been produced. (A 100th was assembled from spares some time later). It is estimated that all but a tiny handful survive. Today the stylish Gordon-Keeble remains a fascinating 'might-have-been' that can only become increasingly collectible.

This manual transmission example has belonged to the current vendor for the last seven years, having been with its previous owner since 1979. It history prior to that date is not known. We are advised by the vendor that the car was restored in the late 1970s and that it has required no significant work since then other than the exterior colour being changed. Recent maintenance has included refurbishing the differential and shock absorbers, these works being carried out by Nical Engineering in Beaulieu, while the interior was professionally re-trimmed four years ago. All bills dating back to 1979 are available. Finished in grey with White Linen leather interior, 'DBH 160B' represents a rare opportunity to own one of these sought-after British GT cars.