This article, which features William Rouse’s immaculate chassis no.93, makes a refreshing change to the ‘usual’ published content in the coverage of a GK, inasmuch as it is factually accurate and in addition to complimentary comments about the GK’s appearance and driving impressions, it goes into some detail regarding the car’s genesis and John Gordon himself.

This latter information has rarely, if ever, been featured before in print outside the club’s own publications and the limited-edition book on the GK written by Charles Giles and Ernie Knott.

This should come as no surprise perhaps, as the article has been penned by Mark Dixon, a respected journalist of some 36 years’ experience and a frequent contributor to the Octane magazine, who talked at length to John Gordon’s son Richard.

The text is accompanied by some stunning photography by Stefan Marjoram.

Mark states that “the Gordon-Keeble was a brilliant concept but it never sold as well as it deserved to. It looks every inch the exotic thoroughbred; it is a gorgeously understated machine. It is, of course, stonkingly quick……it’s exactly what you want from a grand tourer.”

The article also touches on other elements of GK history, such as the de Bruyne attempt at an update and the reasons for the marque’s sad demise.

Our thanks to William for providing the car.

Another fine article, this time by Robert Coucher, the founding editor of Octane and very well known in exotic car circles.

It puts a Facel Vega Facel II, which the originator Jean Daninos most favoured of all the Facel models he conceived, against Gordon-Keeble chassis no.22, both cars being provided by the dealer Graeme Hunt Ltd, who has had the GK for sale for some time now.

The latter appears, from the photographs in the article, taken by Paul Harmer, to have been very well prepared for the occasion, which was just as well as the Facel is virtually flawless.

While the two cars are alike in having large V8 American engines, 2 doors and 4 seats, Robert is keen to point out their distinctly differing characters.

According to Robert: “The Facel has the look of a Venetian ‘Vaporetto’ swishing along at speed. Start it up and a Riva motor launch soundtrack assails you, as the 383cu.in V8 awakens with a lazy drawl.”

Of the GK, he says:” [its] interior was styled like a classic fighter-jet cockpit with a plethora of gauges, toggle switches and quilted PVC. The Corvette V8 is instantly more aggressive. The [engine] is set well back for balance, the brakes are immense and the suspension feels taut and precise. The handsome GK is a consummate grand tourer and a fast and willing sports car. I’ll take the GK1, please.”

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Author: Roy Dowding