Gibson Gtr

[Z1LLA]

The GIO GT-R is now down in Victoria (the owner also has an ex-George Fury DR30 Coupe too), I was talking to him last week and he was keen to have it out at the Historics event at Phillip Island, or failing that the Nissan/Datsun Nationals in Easter.

The car is in 1991-spec so it doesn't have the lower power figure or higher weight either.

[Roy]

...is that Strongman?

What do these ppl do to afford such cool toys

[Z1LLA]

...is that Strongman?

What do these ppl do to afford such cool toys

Yeah it is mate, they were saying the car also came with enough spares to almost build a second one!

Not sure what they do, but I want in!!

[31GUN]

Mr Strongman was saying he wanted to be at P.I. at Sandown last year.

And he wanted to be racing not showing which was making Terry think very seriously about matching his equipment.

Wouldn't that just be bloody awesome!

Problem with the Winnie car is it is in perfect condition.

A stone chip would make you cry, let alone panel damage....

Hooks

[Roy]

Yeh, if i owned any of them i would cry over a stone chip. The Vic R31 is immaculate as well. Frankly im amazed he is even considering racing it. But like he says, why build it if your not going to race it

[sav man]

Any pics of the GIO car? I always wondered what happened to it.

[Z1LLA]

Any pics of the GIO car? I always wondered what happened to it.

Here is the GIO car, pic was taken last year after the current owner picked it up.

Was wondering what happened to the second Winfield GT-R?

[Roy]

Whats the history of the GIO GTR? Is it the 1990 or 91 Gibson car or was it built by Gibson for Bob Forbes? From memory before the GTR Forbes was running a Perkins VL Walkinshaw. (Did he run a VN for the 91 season?)

Meh, i cant remember. Its 16 years ago, its all a blur

There is another Winfield GTR, its in Lindsay Fox's collection. Ill make him an offer when my Powerball numbers come up

[Z1LLA]

Whats the history of the GIO GTR? Is it the 1990 or 91 Gibson car or was it built by Gibson for Bob Forbes? From memory before the GTR Forbes was running a Perkins VL Walkinshaw

Heres a few details (this is only what was said in the email that the above pic was attached too, so I'm not responsible for any errors ):

The car was ordered by Bob Forbes from Fred Gibson at Nissan Motor Sports in late 1990 and was delivered in 1991. Bob Forbes sent his chief Engineer and his wife to Dandenong to live so that he could maintain the GIO car in the Gibson workshop alongside the two Winfield GTR's.

1991 Castrol 500 at Sandown the GIO GTR launched off the line to victory, and won the race by six laps, ahead of the next car.

1991 Bathurst it won best presented car and qualified 2nd on the grid to Jim Richards and launched off the line into first position by Hells corner and rocketed up the back straight and let the great race for 2 laps, leading the works GTR's until lap 2 when Jim caught and passed the GIO car heading up the mountain. It finished the race in 3rd position.

1992 Bathurst race was cut short due to torrential rainfall and major accident on conrod straight. GIO GTR finished 6th and would have been on the podium if the race wasn't cut short.

The car also contended the 1991 and 1992 touring car championship and had various successes during that period.

Since 1992 Bathurst the vehicle has done virtually nothing, it has been put away in mothballs and it is still carrying its original paintwork and is in excellent condition for a 15 year old car. It also comes with a truckload of new spares (from handmade magnesium front and rear uprights to a brand new diff and even a complete motor with turbos ready to bolt in, in a crate). This car is such a credit to Bob Forbes for looking after it so beautifully.

[Roy]

There are some stories going around regardging the money he bought the GIO car for. Makes me cry...and its not even a Championship or Bathurst winning car.

In my eyes its the pick of the litter...

Actually in light of what Brock's Torana recently sold for...i cringe at what this would be worth

i would love to own a Mobil 1 Sierra or a DJR Sierra.

[Z1LLA]

Yeah it was pretty pricey, well at least the asking price for the car was, not sure what he ended up paying.

Those Sierras are very cool, what did Brock's Torana go for?

[Roy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okfb7BQa4Ss...ted&search=

These were the days!!!

The Torana went for $570,000....a lot of money.

[Z1LLA]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okfb7BQa4Ss...ted&search=

These were the days!!!

The Torana went for $570,000....a lot of money.

Get this message when trying to view that link:

"This video has been removed due to terms of use violation."

[sav man]

I read in Unique Cars recon that Brocks 84 VK big banger might be up for sale, and they recon it could break the $1,000,000 mark.

Bloody youtube and their copyright regulations

[blk180]

A new Crate engine very nice.

[djr81]

Whats the history of the GIO GTR? Is it the 1990 or 91 Gibson car or was it built by Gibson for Bob Forbes? From memory before the GTR Forbes was running a Perkins VL Walkinshaw. (Did he run a VN for the 91 season?)

Meh, i cant remember. Its 16 years ago, its all a blur

There is another Winfield GTR, its in Lindsay Fox's collection. Ill make him an offer when my Powerball numbers come up

Forbes ran a VL Commodore before the GT-R. During 1992 in the midst of a poo fight about the weight the GT-R's had to carry he briefly reverted to a Commodore. Mark Gibbs was the main driver with Rohan Onslow backing him up in the enduroes.

When the Group A formula died he ran a VP Commodore for Neil Crompton in GIO colours - '93 season. The team was subsequently bought by Wayne Gardener to become Coca Cola racing.

[Roy]

Wasnt the Forbes/Crompton car an Ex Brock car for the first few races of 93...that was until mid season when they got their own VP. I think their first race was the wet Barbagallo where they were running real well until i think it was Garnder that punted him with a few laps to go

[djr81]

My dodgy memory tells me they had a VN Commode kicking around in '92. That was the car that stood in for the Gt-R. But my memory is pretty dodgy.

Forbes first proper V8 (group 3A as it was briefly known) was a big budget effort at the time. I can remember Cromption talking it up. They ran well at Bathurst until Gibbs stuck it in the wall. I think they may have converted their older VN to the new formula also. Probably ran it as a second car in the enduroes.

PB's effort in '93 was pretty much a busted arse outfit. His previous deal with Perkins fell apart (remember LP bitch slapping Tomas Mazera in the pits? Gold) & there wasn't alot of money for the cars. I think Crompton signed for Brock in maybe '92 after LP had left. But there was rarely a car for him to drive, let alone a good one. May have my years mixed up, however.

Aahh, Captain Chaos!!!! Missed the '93 ATCC at Wanneroo due to having a bastard of an exam the next day.

Edited February 21, 2007 by djr81

[Frink]

i was lucky enough to watch the Brock VL Touring car and the Johnson Sierra Touring car go head to head in a demo race at the F1's a couple of years ago....

you could here the turbo of the sierra spooling louder than the V8 at full noise. it was detuned to run about 500hp so the V8 had a chance of winning, but the sierra still wiped the floor with it....

[Roy]

Brock ran a 3A car at Bathurst 92 and i understand by the time 93 rolled around they had a new car. The Brock '92 Bathurst car that dropped its tailshaft on the line was the car that Crompton took over for Rd 1 at Amaroo Park in 93 (From memory..i actually have the race on vid...ill look tonight). It was a cracker of a race meet, Mezera bashing thru the midfield, Gardner coming home strong. The PJ Ford vs Shell Falcons up front whilst Morris and Longhurst were running around in the M3s.

Hardly a car finished with its fron spoiler. LOL...i think it was Jim Richards that cleaned up the back of Brock...all caught on race cam.

Its a shame because all the tasty VN Group As were converted to VPs...i dont even think the HRT VN Gp A car that finished 2nd at Bathurst in 91 survived. It would be a cool car to have. I know the HRT VL is kicking around, i recall it did very well at Eastern Creek last year agaisnt the R31s etc.