Successful Karmann Ghia Special Saloon to return to action
One of the most successful Special Saloons in British club racing, Doctor David Enderby’s VW Karmann Ghia, is set to compete again next season, having not raced for 30 years.
Enderby scored 85 class and overall wins in the car, which he last raced in 1991 and has not left his ownership.
The London anaesthetist, who started racing with an 850cc Mini in 1971, graduated through several Minis and Sunbeam Stiletto/Hillman Imp derivatives before repurposing the ex-Nick Adams/Richard Eyre Sports 2000 Tiga SC79 chassis within the Fibresports-mastered shell.
Following its transformation, designed by Enderby’s pal Clive Brown, the car was initially powered by one of Brown’s 1000cc Imp engines.
It wowed spectators on its debut at Brands Hatch in November 1982, but a week later was badly damaged in a first-corner shunt at the British Automobile Racing Club’s Thruxton TV meeting, in which Enderby broke his ankle.
Undeterred, the combo returned in 1983, Tiga Race Cars having repaired the monocoque.
It was lacking power but not handling in large fields, so Enderby installed a 1300cc Ford BDH engine for 1985, and from 1987 ran it with the current 1700cc BDA mated to the original Hewland Mk9 gearbox.
Inside the David Enderby’s VW Karmann Ghia
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
Moving up a class enabled Enderby to reconfigure the aerodynamics and run a separate F3 wing within the regulations.
In this form, they won the BARC’s final Special Saloon title in 1990 and the BHL Silhouettes class in 1991.
“Delays exacerbated by COVID turned a one-year project into three, but it’s as close to original as current regs allow,” said Enderby, who has worked alongside experienced motorsport engineer Iain Swan of SMD Racing in Kent to get the Karmann Ghia back on track.
“I’m planning to compete in the Classic Sports Car Club’s Special Saloon and Modsports series.”
Cars from that category will have the opportunity to compete at next year’s Oulton Park Gold Cup as the CSCC series has been invited to race alongside a variety of other historic grids within a wholesale shake-up of the event.
Circuit operator MotorSport Vision’s “curation” of the meeting has also led to the Historic Grand Prix Cars Association, Masters, Vintage Sports-Car Club and Historic Racing Drivers Club being invited to provide a broader range of action.
The Historic Sports Car Club-run event has moved from its traditional August Bank Holiday date to 29-31 July for next year to avoid clashing with the Silverstone Classic.
Related video
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
Track testing an outgoing stalwart of British motorsport
‘Slim’ Borgudd obituary: F1 points finisher dies aged 76
‘Slim’ Borgudd obituary: F1 points finisher dies aged 76 ‘Slim’ Borgudd obituary: F1 points finisher dies aged 76
Lotus F1 mechanic and Hawke cars creator David Lazenby dies aged 86
Lotus F1 mechanic and Hawke cars creator David Lazenby dies aged 86 Lotus F1 mechanic and Hawke cars creator David Lazenby dies aged 86
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
FIA launches F1 tyre supply tender from 2025
FIA launches F1 tyre supply tender from 2025 FIA launches F1 tyre supply tender from 2025
RNF unveils new-look for first MotoGP season with Aprilia
RNF unveils new-look for first MotoGP season with Aprilia RNF unveils new-look for first MotoGP season with Aprilia
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos The Mexico maestro keeps cool among the WRC chaos
Evans explains why he lost second at WRC Rally Mexico
Evans explains why he lost second at WRC Rally Mexico Evans explains why he lost second at WRC Rally Mexico
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
How to get the best out of amateur racers
How to get the best out of amateur racers How to get the best out of amateur racers
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
The second-generation Can-Am racers that took the UK by storm
The second-generation Can-Am racers that took the UK by storm The second-generation Can-Am racers that took the UK by storm
The father and son team taking GT racing by storm
The father and son team taking GT racing by storm The father and son team taking GT racing by storm
Track testing an outgoing stalwart of British motorsport
Track testing an outgoing stalwart of British motorsport Track testing an outgoing stalwart of British motorsport
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
How rocket O'Sullivan banished painful memories with GB3 glory
How rocket O'Sullivan banished painful memories with GB3 glory How rocket O'Sullivan banished painful memories with GB3 glory
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.