BX4 - Jimmy Gibbon's Girastro Rover special (2nd version, 1949)

[barrett]

Who built this car, when, and what was it called? A point if you know

[Oguerrerob]

Italian?

[barrett]

Italian?

Not Italian

[Oguerrerob]

German?

[nicanary]

Scotland ?

[barrett]

Scotland ?

A very specific question... so I suspect you'll solve this easily when I say 'yes, Scotland'!

[nicanary]

I wish I could, but I can't remember the name of this car !Was it Rover -based ?

[barrett]

I wish I could, but I can't remember the name of this car !Was it Rover -based ?

Yes! LOCKED for you.

[nicanary]

Is it a later version of the Girastro?

BTW the po-lis gentleman in 1940s/50s uniform was a clue.

[barrett]

Yes, it's one of the incarnations of Girastro. Can you fill in the blanks?

[nicanary]

Yes, it's one of the incarnations of Girastro. Can you fill in the blanks?

Built by James Gibbon, at first a stark 2-seater ( a previous puzzle of mine) and then rebuilt in 1953 with 3 different Rover engines available of 1500cc (linered-down) 1800cc and 2000cc. My information comes from Autosport of 13.2.53 but there is no mention of this revised bodywork. I'm guessing the date is 1953. Doesn't look like Rest-and-be-Thankful so maybe Bo'ness.

[barrett]

Well, you're most of the way there. This is the short-lived 1949 version of Girastro - the bodywork proved too heavy, and it was soon re-fitted with the original cycle-cinged body (although modified).

The 1953 car is actually a different car altogether, and nothing to do with Girastro (although it was also Rover-based).

[nicanary]

Thanks for the info. I did read that the front end was destroyed in a crash, and wondered if that was the reason for the new body. Now I know.