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Sept 13, 2012 9:47:38 GMT
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A rather special car I just posted on my blog... In a serpentine way, this is where it all began for me. My father, as a mischievous youth, was once playing on the private estate of a local nobleman when he was caught red-handed by the nob in question. His punishment? A high-octane thrill-ride in a brand new Gordon-Keeble! It ignited the petrolhead flame in my old man, permeating his very DNA, and that passed genetically down to me. My automotive obsession, when traced back to its roots, can all be attributed to the Gordon-Keeble GT. So what is it? Well, it's basically a 327ci (5.4-litre) Corvette V8 sitting in a Peerless chassis, swathed in gorgeous Italian curves designed by Giugiaro. The interior took its styling cues from the aviation industry, with quilted aircraft-grade PVC seats, copious toggle switches and white-on-black gauges. The company was sadly plagued by supplier issues, and went into liquidation when just ninety cars had been built; shortly after, in 1965, production resumed under the new name of Keeble Cars Ltd, although this venture was also doomed to failure - the total number of cars built came to exactly 100. My dad was undoubtedly a very lucky boy to enjoy such a rare piece of exotica, and I owe much to that car. When I spotted this example at the Windsor Concours last weekend, I sat down in the grass for a while and just basked in its glory. The Gordon-Keeble GT is SuckSqueezeBangBlow genesis.
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Gordon-Keeble GT [pics]luckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Sept 13, 2012 9:57:19 GMT
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An excellent car, unlike some of the small-volume British eccentricities, one that deserved to be a massive success. Given the alarming performance, I always wondered why the company emblem featured a tortoise Lightbulb!... ......goes off to google.....
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2012 9:57:35 GMT by luckyseven
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Sept 13, 2012 9:58:36 GMT
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I always wondered why the company emblem featured a tortoise Lightbulb!... ......goes off to google..... I'll let you find that one for yourself. It's a sweet story.
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Sept 13, 2012 10:00:07 GMT
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if I suddenly came into 40 grand........
all time #1 WANT. for a looooong time
youll laugh when you hear about the tortoise hehe
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2012 10:01:14 GMT by hairnet
2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Gordon-Keeble GT [pics]luckyseven
@luckyseven
Club Retro Rides Member 45
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Sept 13, 2012 10:02:00 GMT
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The marvels of the electro age ;D Wikipedia reckons "The marque's badge was unusual in featuring a tortoise — a pet tortoise walked into the frame of an inaugural photo-shoot, taken in the grounds of the makers. Because of the irony (the slowness of tortoises) the animal was chosen as the emblem." In an old-skool stylee of, errr, looking stuff up in a book, Giles Chapman's Guide to Car Badges simply says it was an ironic mockery of Ferrari's rampant horse motif Works for me
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Sept 13, 2012 10:19:03 GMT
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I have a long time lot of love for these cars.
I'd have one of these and a Facel Vega with my lottery winnings.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Sept 13, 2012 20:34:49 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 13, 2012 20:35:26 GMT by Speedman
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Llewelyn_
Posted a lot
Hi everyone :)
Posts: 1,977
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Sept 13, 2012 21:23:23 GMT
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A weapon of distinction, there is no doubt!
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"Back off man, I'm a Scientist" - Dr. Peter Venkman
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Sept 14, 2012 10:24:21 GMT
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Sept 14, 2012 15:52:05 GMT
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I'd have one of these and a Facel Vega with my lottery winnings. In my case a HK500 or the GK's direct nemesis, The Facel II. I'll have the HK500; much as I love the GK, the Facel makes it look a little, well, ordinary, to my eyes. laconcour07-2 by Sosumi Photography, on Flickr
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Sept 14, 2012 16:08:58 GMT
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Gordon Keebles always remind me of the Prince Skyline Sport from the front. They also had Italian styling only by Michelotti...
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1962 Datsun Bluebird Estate - 1971 Datsun 510 SSS - 1976 Datsun 710 SSS - 1981 Dodge van - 1985 Nissan Cherry Europe GTi - 1988 Nissan Prairie - 1990 Hyundai Pony Pickup - 1992 Mazda MX5
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Gordon-Keeble GT [pics]10mpg
@10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member 204
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Sept 15, 2012 10:31:20 GMT
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Hell yes, my boss back before i went off on my own had one of these, awesome car, he did Reading to Bristol station in about 50mins once iirc, quite a turn of speed...
Also sat in one at school aged about 12, remeber being thrilled by the aircraft like cockpit, the guy was there to give a lecture as he was a professional explorer... He told me that this one was his fourth or fifth (not sure now) as he'd written the others off by planting then very quickly into various hedges and trees.. sacrilege when i founf how many were built...... 99 iirc
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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Sept 15, 2012 19:50:22 GMT
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Love the GK badges, Mr Tortoise! Very cool cars, it's just a shame that more weren't produced
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,537
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Sept 16, 2012 8:46:00 GMT
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Have another. That's nearly 5% of production shown in this thread now
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Sept 18, 2012 11:21:07 GMT
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Between Windsor and Goodwood, I saw seven Gordon-Keebles in a week!
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,537
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Sept 23, 2012 19:47:33 GMT
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Another...
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Sept 23, 2012 20:30:25 GMT
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