Gilbern Invader Buying Guide

The Gilbern Invader is one of the most overlooked British classic grand tourers of the 1960s and 1970s. Rare, usable, and surprisingly tough, this Welsh-built GT offers strong performance, glassfibre rust resistance, and genuine collector appeal. If you want an unusual classic before prices rise, the Gilbern Invader deserves serious attention.

Why the Gilbern Invader Matters

The Gilbern Invader is one of the last truly underrated classic cars from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Designed by Gilbern co-founder and engineer Bernard Friese, its styling has clear echoes of the Alfa Romeo Giulia GT, but the Invader brings a very different ownership experience.

Unlike many steel-bodied classics of the era, the Invader uses glassfibre bodywork, which means far less concern about cosmetic rust. Under the bonnet, it features the muscular Ford Essex 3.0-litre V6, delivering strong low-end torque and relaxed grand touring performance. Add in a chassis proven in rally competition, and you get a rare classic that is far more robust and usable than many people expect.

By the time the MkIII Gilbern Invader arrived, it had evolved into a more aggressive-looking GT with flared wheelarches, a wider stance, and the Ford Atlas rear axle also used in performance Ford applications such as the RS Escort.

But the Invader was never only about performance. It was Gilbern’s most serious attempt at building a true luxury grand tourer, offering features such as:

Leather trim
Walnut dashboard
Electric windows
Automatic transmission option
A rare Estate (shooting brake) version from 1970 to 1972

That Estate model often draws comparisons with the Reliant Scimitar GTE. Both are glassfibre-bodied, Essex V6-powered British shooting brakes, but the Gilbern is arguably the more distinctive and engaging driver’s car.

Gilbern Invader Model History

Gilbern Invader MkI (1969)

Launched in July 1969, the Invader replaced and evolved the earlier Gilbern Genie. It was available either as a fully built factory car or in part-built form for home completion, helping buyers avoid Purchase Tax.

Key features included:

MGC-derived front suspension
Walnut veneer dashboard
Electric windows
Flush-fitting door handles
Alloy wheels
Optional automatic gearbox

Gilbern Invader Estate (1970–1972)

The Invader Estate arrived in 1970, using Ford Corsair estate tailgate glass. This rare three-door shooting brake added practicality and exclusivity, though it offered less cargo space than a Scimitar GTE.

Production of the Estate ended when the MkIII was introduced in 1972.

Gilbern Invader MkII (1971)

Introduced in October 1971, the MkII incorporated updates first seen on the Estate. It can be identified by:

Triumph Stag-sourced door handles
Improved bonnet ventilation
Revised engine placement further back in the chassis for better balance

Gilbern Invader MkIII (1972–1974)

Released in September 1972, the MkIII was a major redesign and marked a shift in Gilbern’s business approach. It was sold only as a fully built factory car.

Notable changes included:

Lower, wider grille
Flared wheelarches
Wider track (around 10cm broader than MkI/MkII)
More Ford-sourced mechanical parts
Cortina MkIII-derived suspension

Financial difficulties and management changes eventually ended Gilbern production in late 1973, with the final Invader MkIIIs sold in March 1974.

Gilbern Invader Bodywork and Chassis: What to Check

Although the glassfibre body resists rust, the steel chassis does not. This is one of the most important areas to inspect when buying a Gilbern Invader.

Common Chassis Rust Areas

Watch closely for corrosion in:

Sills
Outriggers
Uprights ahead of the rear wheels
Top rail below the parcel shelf
Rear damper mounting points

Some early MkI cars also suffered from stress cracks around the front suspension mounting areas.

A professionally repaired chassis is not necessarily a problem, but you should always check:

Who carried out the repair
When it was done
How extensive the work was

Repair Costs

Restoration can be expensive. While some owners remove the body during major work, it is often unnecessary for localised repairs. A common method is cutting through the floor in sections to access the chassis.

Typical costs:

£300–£800 per floor section
Up to £6,000+ for major professional chassis restoration

That means severe chassis corrosion can easily exceed the value of an average MkI or MkII car.

Glassfibre Body Issues

Check carefully for:

Cracks
Crazing
Weak points around the left-hand boot hinge on saloons
Body shake ahead of the bulkhead, which may indicate loose mountings

The good news is that the Gilbern Owners’ Club owns many of the original moulds and can supply certain repair sections and replacement panels.

Doors, Hinges, and Glass

Doors are heavy and should fit correctly
Bonnet and door hinges mount directly to the chassis
MkIII door alignment can be especially difficult
Windscreens are unique, but replacements can be made via club-owned moulds
Flat side glass is easy to reproduce
Estate tailgate glass comes from a Ford Corsair estate
MkI/MkII rear lights are hard to source
MkIII rear lights use Ford Escort MkI items, which are easier to find

Gilbern Invader Engine: Ford Essex V6 Buying Advice

One of the Invader’s biggest strengths is its Ford Essex V6 engine. Parts availability is far better than many expect, and the engine is known for being simple, durable, and torquey.

Key Essex V6 Checks

A smart reliability upgrade is fitting an alloy cam timing gear. The original fibre timing wheel can fail, especially on engines that have previously overheated.

Recommended upgrades:

Alloy timing gear conversion: around £150
Unleaded cylinder head conversion: around £200 per pair

Cooling System

Radiators were made specifically for the Invader, so replacements are generally custom-made or re-cored originals.

When buying parts for a MkIII, make sure it has the correct:

Water pump outlet pipe
45-degree back plate

Improvised flexible hose setups can create airlocks, which may lead to overheating.

Gearbox and Drivetrain

Most Gilbern Invaders used the Ford Zodiac MkIV four-speed gearbox with overdrive.

Common Issues

The gearbox selector uses external rubber bushes, which harden with age and cause sloppy gear changes. Fortunately, replacement nylon bushes are available.

Five-Speed Conversion

A popular upgrade is the Ford Type 9 five-speed gearbox, which improves cruising usability.

Typical costs:

Rebuild: from £375
Complete unit: from £600+
Bespoke bellhousing: around £460

Rear Axles

MkI and MkII automatics used an MGC axle with a lower-ratio MGB crown wheel and pinion
MkIII used a Ford Atlas rear axle from a German-market Taunus, which is much harder to source

Suspension and Brakes

MkI and MkII

Earlier cars used Gilbern-specific front suspension, which can make sourcing some components more difficult. However:

Kingpins are available again
Unique dampers can be sourced through the owners’ club

MkIII

The MkIII benefits from much more Ford-based running gear, making maintenance easier. However, the front suspension mounts to a subframe that can take significant labour to rebuild.

Expect up to:

20 hours of work for a full rebuild
Engine and gearbox removal may be required

Brake Upgrades

If you want better stopping power:

MkIII rear disc conversion for the Cortina axle: around £300
Four-piston front calipers as an upgrade from MGC items: from £100 per pair

Interior and Trim: Rare Parts Warning

The Gilbern Invader interior is durable, but trim parts are one of the hardest areas for restorers.

What’s Hard to Find

Original seats
Dashboard assemblies
Centre consoles (especially MkIII)
Estate-specific rear folding seat components

If parts are missing, you will likely need:

A skilled trim specialist
Custom-made replacements
Good used parts through owners’ networks

Practical Alternatives

Because the Invader cabin is narrow, one of the few modern seat swaps that fits reasonably well is:

Mazda MX-5 seats, from around £100 per pair used

Rear seats will usually need re-trimming to match.

Interior Details

Standard trim was vinyl
Leather was optional
Gauges and dials are still available new
New dashboards must generally be custom-made
Wiring is simple, but electrical faults often come down to bad earths, as is common with glassfibre-bodied classics
New wiring looms are available through the club

How Much Is a Gilbern Invader Worth?

Only 603 Gilbern Invaders were built across all versions, making it a genuinely rare British classic.

Gilbern Invader MkI and MkII Prices

For coupé or estate models:

£5,000 – usable driver-condition car
£10,000 – excellent/mint example
£14,250 – top dealer-level car

Gilbern Invader MkIII Prices

The MkIII is generally seen as the most developed and desirable version, so values are stronger:

£5,500 – decent running example
£11,500 – top private-sale or excellent car
£16,000 – exceptional dealer-supplied example

Because these cars come to market so rarely, the best place to find one is often through the Gilbern Owners’ Club, rather than dealers or public auctions.

Is the Gilbern Invader a Good Buy?

Yes — if you want a rare, usable, characterful British GT that still offers value for money, the Gilbern Invader is a very smart classic car buy.

It combines:

Rare production numbers
Strong Ford V6 mechanical support
Practical glassfibre bodywork
Genuine grand touring comfort
A far more distinctive identity than many mainstream classics

The key is buying carefully. A good chassis matters far more than shiny paint, and missing trim can be costly to put right. But buy well, and you’ll own one of the most underrated British classics of its era.