A little story
Styled by Giugiaro and built by Bertone, the prototype was rushed to America to convince Chrysler to allow them to use the company's 280bhp, 5.3-litre V8.
Permission was given, but this was a classic tale of small-volume tribulations.
The coachwork was changed from aluminium to glass-fibre, production moved from Slough to Eastleigh and the car's heating and ventilation were rubbish.
For all that, the GK1 was a cut above, especially at the £2,798 asking price. It was fast, very quiet and luxurious and rode and handled well; quite the grand tourer it purported to be.
Cash flow and that price proved problematic, as was a strike at the steering supplier.
Yet even when the firm went bust, such was the appeal that production was taken up by Rolls-Royce specialist Harold Smith.
Just 100 GK1s were built, 90 of which survive.
Why you want one: a really handsome GT, rare and fast, plus it has 'Chinese Eye' headlamps – what's not to like?
Why you don't: no one knows what it is. Early Sixties fuel consumption isn't easy to live with these days.
You might not know: the bonnet badge shows a tortoise – ironic, considering the GK1's speed. It was born when a pet tortoise ambled into the first photoshoot of the car.
