Motoring Discussion > Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Falkirk Bairn	Replies: 28

New Tue 16 Nov 10 09:12   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Falkirk Bairn

www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/nov/14/bernard-friese-obituary You have to say theythem off in 1973 were different / individual - VAT killed Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 09:36   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - R.P.

Still a fair number around - there was something on one of the Welsh news opt outs a few weeks ago.. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 09:51   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - hawkeye

German-born Friese selling a post-war car called the Invader to the Brits; he must have had a sense of humour. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 09:55   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Dog

I can't say they do a lot for me, aesthetically speaking ~ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gilbern_Invader_Reg_Jun_1972_2994_cc.JPG Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 10:09   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Zero

Nasty little plastic sheds. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 10:32   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Mike Hannon

Friend of mine built an Invader estate with a V6 Ford in it back in 1971. I remember being very impressed by the fit and finish as well as the looks - and the fact that it was the first car in which I exceeded an indicated 120mph. It's odd, isn't it? After all the effort he put in, three years later he had lost interest in it completely and it mouldered away in his garden while he went yachting. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 10:33   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - FotheringtonTomas

Nearly 40 years ago that was probably quite a thing. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 10:38   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

A lot of late 60s/early 70s cars could be deascribed as nasty sheds... in truth the Gilbern Invader mkII/mkIII was an interesting alternative to others in its class like the Scimitar. Short travel hard suspension and very slightly twitchy handling but different and entertaining. images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/623408/Gilbern%20Invader_2.jpg3..jpg Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 10:58   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Dog

>>in truth the Gilbern Invader mkII/mkIII was an interesting alternative to others in its class like the Scimitar.<< I used to tune and hence road-test a lot of kit cars but - I certainly wouldn't put the Reliant Scimitar in their class ... I even nearly bought a GTE myself once :) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:07   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Zero

No way was any Gilbern an interesting alternative to a Scimitar GTE (se5 / se6) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:15   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

In your opinion but not that of group road tests and buyers of the time that put them up against Scimitar, Alfa, Stag, BMW 2002 etc. I tried to get Dad to trade his 3.0 Granada estate for a new Scimitar in 1973 but it was a non-starter due to their cramped interior. Then a few years later self and Mrs F test drove a used Scimitar but it seemed an absolute dog after the P6 V8 Rover 3500S we'd driven there in. Last edited by: Fenlander on Tue 16 Nov 10 at 11:15 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:38   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Zero

>> In your opinion but not that of group road tests and buyers of the time >> that put them up against Scimitar, Alfa, Stag, BMW 2002 etc. >> Maybe, but a Gilbern is not in that list is it. You are not comparing Apples with Apples. Didnt see many people flocking to Gilberns, but you could always see a GTE or two around. You cant seriously compare any fibreglass car to a P6 rover 3.5 Last edited by: Zero on Tue 16 Nov 10 at 11:42 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:49   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

Ahh but an apple isn't much of an interesting alternative to an apple is it... some might go for a pear. I was spending time around the antique trade in that era so unusual cars were the norm. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:56   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Zero

Yes well I was talking about Apples, not the entire fruit basket and vegetable counter. You went off into the realms of rhubarb and asparagus. Last edited by: Zero on Tue 16 Nov 10 at 11:57 Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:59   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

>>>rhubarb and asparagus. Ah well that's where it's all explained. I like rhubarb and asparagus... except too much rhubarb and it doesn't like me. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:41   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Dog

>>I tried to get Dad to trade his 3.0 Granada estate for a new Scimitar in 1973<< Same injun ... I think y'all have to be a sort of connoisseur/enthusiast/ affectionado to drive these things, bit like a vinyl & valve amp merchant :-) Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 11:52   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

>>>vinyl & valve. No valves here but modest interesting old gear. Don't remind me about the vinyl though... since a house renovation over the last couple of years the deck lost its place and has been under the bed for too long.... lots of stuff I need to play. Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 13:17   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Bellboy

bit of background for you i nearly bought an invader 3 years ago but decided it would never get used enough i was at the nec on sunday for the classic car show and i spent a good 10 minutes speaking to the owners club about the car and its chassis very nice people male and female and some beautiful cars on display ,one of them finished in a most beautiful vauxhall mica metallic blue we discussed the chassis in great detail and it is built very strongly indeed and proper door hinges,the only downside was i was advised that it is a little difficult to remove the body from the chassis for restoration work a very nice iconic car of the 70>s in my opinion Reply to this message | Report message

New Tue 16 Nov 10 13:58   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Mike Hannon

>No valves here but modest interesting old gear. Don't remind me about the vinyl though... since a house renovation over the last couple of years the deck lost its place and has been under the bed for too long.... lots of stuff I need to play. < I've got a Fergus Fons CQ30 with an SME 3009/Shure V15/3HE in regular use here. Still plays even 78s sometimes, although not with the V15/3. And a Lenco GL78 in the attic - along with a collection of Quad electronics and a pair of orginal Quad electrostatics, all gathering dust. Shame but I couldn't bear to part with them. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 18 Nov 10 19:11   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Bellboy

from the nec i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/smartiesx3/DSC03834.jpg i6.photobucket.com/albums/y246/smartiesx3/DSC03833.jpg Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 18 Nov 10 19:13   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - R.P.

Nice wheels wouldn't look out of place on a modern motor. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 18 Nov 10 19:16   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

Nice pics BB. In some ways those H/J-reg cars look cleaner than the last of the line around L/M-reg when they put slightly DIY looking flares on the wheelarches... for a wider track I assume. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 18 Nov 10 20:09   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Dog

Quite a stunning paint job Bb, especially on the first one. Reply to this message | Report message

New Thu 18 Nov 10 20:11   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Perky Penguin

A young man in my village has a varied collection of cars, I haven't seen thm all at the same time as some are garaged. He has a Gilbern, a Herald convertible and a hot Fiat of some sort (Strada or Ritmo?). The Gilbern looks very tidy and well kept. Agree on the paint job too! Last edited by: Perky Penguin on Thu 18 Nov 10 at 20:12 Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 21 Nov 10 17:57   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

This one on EBay finishing in an hour is proving a demand for them. It's been *improved* a fair bit so non-standard... but by someone who knows what they were doing from the look of it. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280589517026&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 21 Nov 10 18:35   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Bellboy

those lights front and rear and those dreadful escort wheels ruin it in my opinion lovely colour car though Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 21 Nov 10 18:36   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Fenlander

I prefer stuff 100% original but thought it a reasonable effort. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 21 Nov 10 18:38   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Iffy

...lovely colour car though... Bet you don't say that when someone brings in a yellow car to part exchange. Reply to this message | Report message

New Sun 21 Nov 10 18:45   Welsh car maker Gilbern founder dies - Bellboy

er er errrrrrrrrrrr Reply to this message | Report message