Gilby F1 (1960) Engine 1484cc S4 Climax
Race Number 12 Frabcesco Baldanza (CH)

The Gilby racing team was founded by the owner of Gilby Engineering, Sid Greene, racing mostly in Sports Car Racing, the team nurtured a sucession of young British drivers, and eventually (when old enough) Sid Greenes son Keith. And also ran a Maserati 250F and later a Cooper Maserati in single seater racing for Roy Salvadori.

In 1959 Gilby bought a new Lotus 17 for their sportscar efforts, but the 17 had proved difficult to handle Greene commisioned for Terrier and Lotus engineer (he latera second spell with Lotus) Len Terry, to design an improved race car, and the first Gilby was created, a very competitive a 1,098 cc Coventry Climax FWA engine sports racer.

By the end of 1960, Sids son Keith had aquired some F1 experience in the Cooper Maserati and the decsion was taken to build a Formaula One car to the new 1.5 litre Formula, again designed by Len Terry. Powered by a 4-cylinder Coventry Climax FPF engine, giving 158 bhp, mated to a 5-speed Colotti gearbox in a light (59 ld) spaceframe chassis. with a total build cost of £ 5000. The new car was good from the word go, but the team did not have the resources to tackle a full GP season, instead concentrating on non Championship British F1 races with the odd trips to the Continent. the best results were fourth in the Lewis-Evans Trophy at Brands Hatch and sixth in the Danish Grand Prix at Roskildering, they did compete in the 1961 British Grand Prix with Keith finishing thirteenth, the only other driver that season being a one off drive by David Piper in the Oulton Park Gold Cup.
For 1962 the Climax FPF engine was mated with a six speed Colotti gearbox, but despite a promising start to the season, more of their rivals were running with V8 Climax or customer BRM engines, and Gilby finally joined their ranks, by purchasing an engine from BRM the season finished with a seventh in the Mediterranean GP at Pergusa and retirement in the Oulton Park Gold cup due to an oil leak in the gearbox.
In the meantime Gilby Engineering had been taken over and the new owners had no interest in supporting Motor Racing. and the team was disbanded.

The F1 car was sold to Ian Raby who used it to race in smaller events with the odd foray into GP racing His best finish was third in the Rome GP at Vallelunga.

The car dissapeared from the scene for many years, before being discovered by Ian Bax, sand racing in Jersey and being powered by a Buick engine. Bax purchased the car and set about the long term restoration and fitting the appropriate Coventry Climax engine.

This car raced at Silverstone in the Jack Brabham Trophy Race fior HGPA Pre 1966 Grand Prix Cars

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Tags:   Gilby British 1960's F1 Racecar Racing Greene GilbyEng. Silverstone Racingcar

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