Highlights

Car 37 of the 99 Gordon Keebles built
Believed the only GK1 supplied new to Sweden
Finished in Right-hand Drive
Previously belonged to a private museum collection in Sweden
In current family since 1985
Recently tested and serviced, with invoices available
Fitted with a set of new tyres
Registered in Sweden

The Appeal

Beautifully designed by Giugiaro, powered by V8 Chevy heft and built to extremely high standards, the Gordon Keeble had it all. The tortoise logo was a sly joke because when the GK1 arrived in 1964, it was the fastest production four-seater in the world.

Just 99 were built, largely because Messrs Gordon and Keeble underpriced them whilst also vastly underestimating the cost of building them. This 1965 RHD car is number 37 and is believed to be the only one supplied new to Sweden. For many years, it was part of a private museum collection before passing to the current keeper’s father in 1985. It subsequently formed part of his collection and was dry-stored and used sparingly.

Painted in Champagne Gold metallic with a lovely red leather cabin, this car runs and drives and comes to market with a recent check-over and service. Due to the long-term storage, there are points to note in the photos, and the vendor recommends a new head gasket and a brake service. It appears to be a matching-numbers car, retaining the 5.4L 327CI Chevy motor and 4spd manual box with which it left the Eastleigh Aerodrome works, in the same building where the first Supermarine Spitfire was constructed in 1936.

For the right buyer, this represents a rare chance to acquire one of the most collectable British GTs ever made and bring it back to its full potential.

History and Paperwork

Registered in Sweden with VRN MON91C
Originally sold new in Sweden under registration number DAY182
Acquired by the vendor's late father in 1985 to join his collection
Previously part of a private museum collection in Sweden
Acquired by the current vendor from his father in 2025
Invoices available for recent servicing totalling approximately SEK 72,000
Factory handbooks
VIN number C37/FI004/RD

The Condition

Previously repainted, with some paint damage visible in the photographs
Red leather interior with matching carpets showing some age-related wear
Fitted with a set of new tyres
Factory steel wheels with white banded tyres
Steel spare wheel
Wood-rimmed Clubman steering wheel
Factory dials and switchgear with auxiliary temperature gauge added as shown

As these photos show, the GK1 was, still is, one of the best-resolved grand tourers of the 1960s. It’s remarkable to think that Giugiaro was just 21 when he designed it at Bertone. Later, in the 1990s, whilst attending the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, he named it the favourite of all his designs.

This car has been Swedish-registered from new and was repainted at some point. The current Champagne Gold metallic finish suits the car’s lines but shows inevitable deterioration from long-term storage. It could be lived with or improved, as the buyer wishes.

Inside, there is a lovely red leather cabin with quilted trim for the doors and boot and matching carpets. It appears to be largely standard and is nicely detailed with a period Clubman wood-rimmed wheel. The car retains its factory steel wheels with white-banded tyres of indeterminate age.

The Mechanics

5.4L 327CI Chevrolet V8 engine
4spd manual gearbox
Recently tested and serviced for approximately SEK 72,000, with invoices available
Brakes require servicing
Head gasket requires replacement
The vendor notes there may be additional mechanical issues due to long term storage

In the 1960s, many boutique European car makers were jumping on the ‘transatlantic hybrid’ wagon by fitting reliable American iron to stylish, low-volume GT bodywork. Gordon Keeble joined the likes of Jensen and Monteverdi by selecting Chevrolet’s 5.4L 327CI V8 for its new GK1. The combination of the grunty engine and light glassfibre bodywork delivered what was then the fastest four-seater production car in the world.

This car has been stored as part of private collections for most of its life, so the displayed mileage of 46,151 miles could be correct, although this is not warranted. The chassis plate and engine stamp indicate that it remains a matching numbers car, still fitted with the potent 5.4L Chevy V8 and manual gearbox with which it left the factory.

The vendor tells us that it has recently been checked over and serviced. He recommends replacing the head gasket and servicing the brakes, and advises that due to long-term storage, other mechanical work may be required.

BEFORE YOU BUY

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