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Hambly Sportscars, new custodians of the Cox GTM, has announced kit prices for the delightful little Mini-based car.

Originally unveiled an unbelievable 49-years go in 1967 the car’s real heyday was when it was sold under the GTM banner, when that company was run by Paddy Fitch and the late, Peter Beck, when over 650 were sold.

The year? Probably circa 1984, the place, GTM's factory at Sutton Bonington. The image shows a very busy production line...

The year? Probably circa 1984, the place, GTM’s factory at Sutton Bonington. The image shows a very busy production line…

Once GTM had developed the Rossa and was busy introducing the Libra and its Spyder brother, they sold the original (Cox) Coupe project to a delightful chap called Peter Leslie who ran a low-key operation called Primo Sports Cars in deepest Worcestershire.

This was around the time that SVA came into being in summer 1998 and Leslie worked hard on the car making it compliant with the stringent, new regulations. It was mainly detail – albeit important details – that he addressed primarily the height of the headlights. He succeeded and the GTM became SVA compliant although that’s pretty much where it was left unfortunately.

Derek Hambly was a long-term GTM owner and even raced a highly-tuned version back in the eighties in the early years of the 750 Motor Club’s Kit Car Championship with some success.

Seeing Hambly Sports Cars at the recent Castle Combe event, it took me back a few years seeing a Cox GTM bodyshell on display. It was just like 1984 all over again except that thanks to inflation the prices are a lot dearer. Derek will offer two variants – the early Howard Heerey-era (the little car’s early history is convoluted so I sense a historical feature on the car could be in order) bodystyle, known to aficianados as the ‘1:3’, which uses 10in wheels and a new Hambly-designed variant that uses 13in wheels along with pumped-up, beefy wheel arches. Both packages are priced the same at £1880 although all parts are available separately.

Floorpan/chassis kits add a further £1645, while to further add to the retro feel, both types of early seats (the Cox-spec and Heerey-spec) are available at £295.

This image was taken in about 1986 at the Chobham test drive in Surrey.

This image was taken in about 1986 at the Chobham test drive in Surrey.

I’ve always felt that the little car, a personal; favourite of mine, still had mileage left in its tank and it’s to be hoped that Kent-based, Derek Hambly does well with his venture.

More information from www.hamblysportscars.co.uk or 07814 420 388 ENDS.