Gilbern Invader

Manufacturer	Gilbern Sports Cars Ltd
Production	1969-1973
Made	603
Body style	2-door coupé,estate
Engine	2,994 cc Ford Essex V6
Transmission	4-speed manual all-synchromesh
Wheelbase	93 in (2,400 mm)
Length	159 in (4,000 mm)
Width	65 in (1,700 mm)
Height	51 in (1,300 mm)

 The Gilbern Invader was a car built by Gilbern Sports Cars  from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s in Wales UK.

History

The final car built by Gilbern was the Invader, a factory built car introduced in July 1969 .The Invader as the successor to the Gilbern Genie . It was based on the Genie but had an improved chassis and bigger brakes.

 The front axle suspension now came from the MGC and the chassis was strengthened. With the Invader, which offered, for example, power windows and a dashboard with walnut veneer, Gilbern opened up the luxury vehicle market segment. It was available as a fully assembled car and from 1970 there was the Shooting Brake Gilbern Estate. Customers could choose between automatic transmissions and manual transmissions with overdrive. In 1971 there was a revised Mark II version.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
overdrive, automatic gearbox, sunshine roof.

In September 1972 the. Mark II version with the front suspension of the Ford Cortina from the time and styling changes at the front and rear. The engine was a tuned version of the Ford Capri 3000 GT V6 Essex engine with Weber 40 DFA downdraught twin barrel carburettor. 

PERFORMANCE
max power (DIN): 141 hp at 4,750 rpm
max torque (DIN): 181 1b ft. 25 kg m at 3,000 rpm
max engine rpm: 6,100
specific power: 47.1 hp/l
max speeds: 41 mph, 66 km/h in 1st gear; 58 mph, 93 km/h in 2nd gear; 92 mph, 148 km/h in 3rd gear:
129 mph, 207 km/h in 4th gear
power-weight ratio: 17 lb/hp, 7.7 kg/hp
fuel consumption: 25 miles imp gal, 20.8 m/ US gal, 11.3 1 x 100 km.

The body was fiberglass plastic laminated in a new shape and was wider and lower than that of its predecessor. Because of the wider track, the fenders had to be widened.

The rear rigid axle was attached to trailing arms and a Panhard rod . Adjustable shock absorbers were mounted on all four wheels .

front suspension: independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers
rear suspension: rigid axle, twin trailing radius arms, transverse Panhard linkage bar, coil springs/ telescopic dampers unit.

This version was only available assembled in 1972 for £2,693. In four years, a low production total of only 603 built. 

With a wheelbase of 2356 mm, the vehicle was 4039 mm long, 1651 mm wide and 1295 mm high. The curb weight was given as 1118 kg.