Gilburn Sports Cars (Components) Ltd., Llanwitt, Pontypidd, Glamorgan. UK 1959 - 1973

Th name Gilburn was an acronym of the names of the two founders. Giles Smith and Bernard Friese. The company also had the distinction of being the only car manufacturer to be based in Wales.

By the late 1950s they were one of a number of small car manufacturers supplying cars in kit form for home assembly to avoid the iniquitous tax on new cars. Some manufacturers actually assembled their cars at the factory and then dismantled them again into kits, which could easily be re-assembled.

There was also a demand for sports cars which had 4 seats or at were capable of seating two children in the back and known as 2 + 2 GT.

The Gilburn was one of the more successful kit cars because there was attention to detail and the finish was good. It was also quite a good looking GT car and had the advantage of using off the shelf components sourced mainly from BMC. These included the engines (some supercharged), front suspension from the Austin A35, and rear axle, although some cars were fitted with Coventry Climax engines. The chassis was made from square section steel tube and the body a fibreglass moulding.

From 1962 the 1,500cc engine from the MGA (B series BMC) was fitted as standard and from 1963 the 1,800cc MGB engine was used.

About 500 of the GT model were sold before it was superceded by the Genie in 1966.

The Genie used the same chassis as the GT but the MGB suspension and disc brakes were more substantial to cope with the greater performance provided by the 3-litre Ford V-6 engine which was the most frequently fitted option. The body was restyled along the lines of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and was capable of seating four adults. In this form the car was capable of about 115 mph although the ride was poor and the road holding rather unpredictable. Over the three years to 1969 about 200 of the Genie model were built.

As with so many small, and even some larger, manufacturers there is never enough retained profit to fund the new model and so by 1968 it became clear that outside finance would be required. The company became a subsidiary of Ace Capital Holdings Ltd., another Welsh company, whose main activity was the manufacture of gaming machines. At this juncture Giles Smith resigned from Gilburn.

In 1969 the restructured company produced the Invader which was similar to the Genie but had improved handling and was available with overdrive or automatic transmission options. The interior trim was also improved.

The Invader was followed in 1972 by the Invader Mk II, with revised front suspension. There was also a "hatch-back" version described as a "sporting estate". The final Invader Mk III had Ford Cortina front suspension and back axle when displayed at the Motor Show in October 1972.

The tax advantages of the kit car disappeared in 1973 when VAT was imposed and there were by then sporting options available on family saloons. The Gilburn was no longer a viable proposition and the company was wound up in July 1973.