More Detail:
In 2021 we purchased a new Ginetta G56 GT4 V8 Ultimate from Ginetta. The price paid for this car was approximately $220,000. This car is now branded their Ginetta GT4 GTX car. The power of the car was agreed to be 520 BHP. The car was delivered with a substantially underpowered engine and has had multiple failures since delivery. The extent of the failures and the lack of support from both Ginetta USA and Ginetta UK has led to an ongoing dispute. Recently, we discovered that even though we paid for a new 2021 built car, the car that was delivered containing old and used components dating back to 2016 . The fact that Ginetta have:
- Delivered a car that is unreliable and unsafe, including but not limited to:
- Monumental (Ginetta’s own adjective) oil leak, returned to Ginetta and not repaired. We had to replace the engine to repair the leak
- Brakes that last less than a weekend.
- Brakes that lock up and seize on track
- An engine and prop shaft that excessively vibrate.v
- Fuel cell failure and leaks causing fuel spillage and a potential fire
- Gearbox that sticks in first gear
- Broken pulley wheel bolts
- Broken AC bracket
- Broken gearbox mounts
- Nonfunctioning AC unit and bad heat management resulting in cabin temperatures greater than 140 degrees F.
- Delivered a car that is far below specification
- Part of the agreed specification was that the Ginetta GT4 G56 would produce
520 BHP . When dyno’ed the car produced 413BHP . On the same dyno and
using the same fuel a standard Porsche 991.2 GT3 cup car produced 470BHP
both readings were at the wheels. The Ginetta GT4 is consequentially 57 BHP
less than the standard Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup yet it was specified to be 35 BHP
more. This results in a shortfall of 92 BHP. This deficit was also ratified at the
track with straight line speeds being extremely short of what a 520 BHP race car
should be capable of.
- Click here for the Ginetta G56 GT4 Ultimate now branded the Ginetta GTX Dyno Sheet
- Click here for the Porsche GT3 991.2 Cup Dyno Sheet
- Part of the agreed specification was that the Ginetta GT4 G56 would produce
520 BHP . When dyno’ed the car produced 413BHP . On the same dyno and
using the same fuel a standard Porsche 991.2 GT3 cup car produced 470BHP
both readings were at the wheels. The Ginetta GT4 is consequentially 57 BHP
less than the standard Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup yet it was specified to be 35 BHP
more. This results in a shortfall of 92 BHP. This deficit was also ratified at the
track with straight line speeds being extremely short of what a 520 BHP race car
should be capable of.
- Shipped a new car that used old used components and not new components.
- Recently we learned that Ginetta sold us a NEW car in 2021 but used OLD components in this build. The Xtrac gearbox was a used component as was the Megaline gearbox actuator. This single act by Ginetta has prompted this site and the filing of a lawsuit for multiple counts including fraud against Lawrence Tomlinson and Clive Seddon for fraud, Ginetta USA for fraud and TMI AutoTech, Inc. also, for fraud. Read the full Complaint here . In total, there are six counts against Lawrence Tomlinson, his companies and others.
Potential customers need to know that Ginetta are selling new cars with used components and that even when caught doing so, will not provide new replacement components.
Not only did we buy a new 2021 Ginetta G56 GT4, we also bought a new 2018 Ginetta G55 GT4 in 2018. The reason for the 2021 purchase was that the car should have been a very capable car based on the 2018 car. The 2018 car was a light good handling car but had some issues. However, and with hindsight, the G55 issues pale into insignificance compared to the G56 issues. Because of the G55 (2018 car) issues we felt it necessary to procure a guarantee, in the form of a letter from Ginetta CEO and LNT Care Developments CEO Matt Lowe providing some guarantees. This letter states that we would have:
- “Ongoing access to Ginetta UK for correspondence and technical help and support where required”
Here is a copy of the letter . The 2021 Ginetta G56 GT4 had numerous problems and very quickly Ginetta staff started ignoring us to the extent that we asked for Matt Lowes’ contact information so we could try to resolve the problems with the car. DESPITE HAVING THIS WRITTEN GUARANTEE neither:
- Jamie Robinson, Ginetta Head of Sales, or
- Clive Seddon, Ginetta Technical Director
Would provide Matt Lowes’ contact information. Each blamed each other and neither would help. However, both were the only people involved when discussing and determining the specification and collecting payment for the car. We, the customer, were left with no one to raise our issues to. Despite asking to speak or communicate with Lawrence Tomlinson he remained silent.
Recently, Ginetta have involved Gareth Wilson, the group financial controller in LNT. He claims that he is not authorized to make a decision on this issue.
We have also involved Jonathan Wharam, Ginetta and LNT Group in house counsel that has also remained silent other than to tell us “We (meaning Ginetta) do not have to listen to idle threats”.
Therefore, to summarize, we were left with two alternatives; lie down and take it, or file suit. Some of you who have met me in the paddock and have seen this whole debacle unfold over the last few years will not be surprised to learn we chose the latter and have filed suite as follows against the individuals and entities named below:
- Lawrence Tomlinson for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
- Clive Seddon for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
- Ginetta North America, A/K/A Ginetta USA for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
- Ginetta Limited for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
- LNT Automotive Limited for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
- TMI AutoTech, Inc for Breach of Contract, Breach of Warranty, Fraud, Constructive Fraud and Deception
Read the full Complaint here