GILBERN

GILBERN 

Friese Bernhard (Bernhard Friese) was born in Germany in his youth he studied mechanics. After working at the firm, which produced cars with fiberglass bodies, he decided to open their own business and deliver a special body for Giles Smith (Giles Smith), car enthusiast and owner of a butcher's shop in Wales.

Later, they joined forces and began to produce sports cars. In the history of their company came because was the only one in the history of Wales, which itself is fully developed and manufactures its cars. The name of the company consisted of the first letters of the names of its founders - Giles and Bernhard.

Gilbern GT left a mark in history as the first car was completely created and produced in Wales

The first model is called the "GT". Its nondescript box was mounted on a tubular frame. Like many cars of that time, it was offered with different engines and as an assembly kit. Demand for the car caused the firm to learn a more expensive model Genie ("Jeanie") with the V6 engine from Ford, as proposed in the form of an assembly kit. In 1969 it was renamed Invader ("Inveyder").

With the accession of Britain to the EEC in 1973 instead of the sales tax was introduced Value Added Tax, which is extended to vehicles in the form of assembly kits. Products rose sharply Gilbern, production finally ended in 1974

Gilbern GT ("Dzhaylbern GT") 1960-1967

This is the first car company. He had a complex frame of square tubes, and glass-plastic body with a capacity of 2 +2 coupe.

Front axle, rear axle and steering borrowed from contemporary models of MG (GM-GM) or Austin-Healey ("Austin-Healey"). The choice immediately engines have been proposed by the Navy (Bi-MCG), a working volume of 948 cm3 and 1489 and the Coventry Climax ("Coventry Klaymeks"), a working volume of 1098 cm3. The first of these could be supercharged.

All this confused customers and impeded the work of the company. Therefore, in 1962 the available engines are replaced by a 1.8-liter engine MGA (GM-GM-Yo) 95 hp, and later - MGB (Em-Gee-Bee). Sales have increased. Basically, "GT" attracted by the fact that it offered as a kit almost assembled units. Customers thus saved at a fairly high taxes on cars assembled. The car was no faster and no perfect models of MG and Triumph ("Triumph").The company released a year a maximum of 150 cars "GT", a whole attracted 600 cars. With the advent of the production of Genie "GT" gradually ceased as the location for its manufacturing plant in Lentuite, Wales, was not enough.

With the 1962 model year Gilbern GT base engine is a 4-cylinder 1.8-liter engine Navy, who provided the car a top speed of 145 km / h

Characteristics (with the engine MGA, 1960)

Engine: P4, the overhead

Bore and Stroke: 75,4 x88, 9 mm

Displacement: 1588 cm3

Maximum power: 80 hp

Transmission: 4-speed manual

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: the helical springs - front independent, rear axle

Brakes: disc / drum

Body: 4-seater coupe

Maximum speed: 151 km / h

Gilbern Genie ("Dzhaylbern Jeanie")

The second model is a company called Genie eventually modernized by installing V6 engine and gearbox Department of English Ford, and was renamed the Invader. In general, repeated machine model "GT", but the details differed substantially from it. On the frame, welded from a variety of pipes, installed a more spacious glass-fiber bodywork and sold either in a fully finished form or as an assembly kit.

This Invader in 1970 as an assembly kit. Provide high-speed car Ford V6 engine

Front suspension and rear axle the company bought the firm MG. However, the car has been criticized for poor driving stability and the lack of improvement. During the following years at the behest of customers improved design. In 1969 came an improved version of the Invader. At its base the company has created a machine with a station wagon to compete with Reliant Scimitar GTE ("Rilayent Scimitar").

Commercial Invader competed with the Reliant Scimitar GTE

With the introduction in 1973, value added tax on the sale of all cars Gilbern things have deteriorated sharply, and production of new items is completed. There were produced about 280 cars and 600 copies of the Genie Invader.

The style of Invader recalls Alfa Romeo GTV ("Alfa Romeo GTV") from the "studio" Bertone ("Burton")

Characteristics (Invader III, 1972)

Engine: V6, the overhead

Bore and Stroke: 93,7 x72, 4 mm

Displacement: 2994 cm3

Maximum Power: 141 hp

Transmission: 4-speed manual

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: the helical springs - front independent, rear axle

Brakes: disc / drum

Body: 4-seater coupe or sedan

Maximum speed: 185 km / h

Options Gilbern Genie Gilbern Invader

Invader - Genie is upgraded with the same structural and stylistic decisions. Invader I with a number of external changes and upgraded suspension appeared in 1969, Invader II released in 1971 Invader III (1972-73 gg.) Had the front suspension and rear axle of the Ford Cortina ("Ford Cortina"). Invader also offered a station wagon.