GKD
Encyclopedia
The GKD EVOLUTION is a light-weight high performance convertible sports car manufactured by
British company GKD Sports Cars
, based in Boughton Monchelsea
, near Maidstone
with workshops at Lenham
. The EVOLUTION is available in component form, or fully built.
A number of improvements were introduced; to the front and rear aerodynamics, exterior styling, greater torsional rigidity for the chassis, reduced weight, and enhanced front suspension geometry. The cockpit was updated to give more interior space. GKD produce their own fabricated suspension uprights instead of compromising the design to take donor uprights.
The improved car - renamed the EVOLUTION - was launched in 2006.
The EVOLUTION has been upgraded to take BMW 3 Series E36/E46 donor parts since the Sierra became more difficult to source. The EVOLUTION will take any BMW 4 or 6 cylinder engine.
Parts are also available to G27 owners wanting to upgrade earlier models. These include a hard top for the first time on a G27.
. The donor pack includes differential, half-shafts, brakes, prop shaft, steering column and lower steering shaft and if required, engine and gearbox. The large engine bay helps accommodate most engines, including 2.0 litre Cosworth
, BMW
straight six and Rover
V8. The chassis comes with BMW engine mounts already welded to the chassis to ease fitment.
Kits start at around £5,595, with an estimated build price from £12,000 (as of late 2008).
Fully built cars are also supplied to foreign markets, countering crash test requirements. Prices start at around £17,500, with the donor pack left to the customer to source. Or GKD can supply all the donor pack components to order.
The body shell is made from GRP fibreglass
, with a bespoke chassis housing the engine and suspension.
"From the specification, the EVOLUTION comes across as an out and out performance car which, of course, it is but it's also practical".
British company GKD Sports Cars
GKD sports cars
GKD Sports Cars is a small volume car manufacturer based in Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone, Kent, with workshops at Lenham. GKD Sports Cars produce two models, the GKD Evolution and the GKD Legend.- History :...
, based in Boughton Monchelsea
Boughton Monchelsea
For other Boughtons in Kent see Boughton Aluph; Boughton under Blean and Boughton MalherbeThe village and civil parish of Boughton Monchelsea is in the Maidstone District of Kent, England. The civil parish lies on a ragstone ridge situated between the North Downs and the Weald of Kent and has...
, near Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
with workshops at Lenham
Lenham
Lenham is a market village in Kent situated on the southern edge of the North Downs, halfway between Maidstone and Ashford. The picturesque square in the village has two public houses , a couple of restaurants, and a tea-room....
. The EVOLUTION is available in component form, or fully built.
History
On 27 February 2005 GKD Sports Cars purchased the G27 chassis jigs, body moulds, patterns and drawings from Ginetta.A number of improvements were introduced; to the front and rear aerodynamics, exterior styling, greater torsional rigidity for the chassis, reduced weight, and enhanced front suspension geometry. The cockpit was updated to give more interior space. GKD produce their own fabricated suspension uprights instead of compromising the design to take donor uprights.
The improved car - renamed the EVOLUTION - was launched in 2006.
The EVOLUTION has been upgraded to take BMW 3 Series E36/E46 donor parts since the Sierra became more difficult to source. The EVOLUTION will take any BMW 4 or 6 cylinder engine.
Parts are also available to G27 owners wanting to upgrade earlier models. These include a hard top for the first time on a G27.
Car components
The car uses a donor pack from a BMW 3 SeriesBMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
. The donor pack includes differential, half-shafts, brakes, prop shaft, steering column and lower steering shaft and if required, engine and gearbox. The large engine bay helps accommodate most engines, including 2.0 litre Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
straight six and Rover
MG Rover Group
MG Rover was the last domestically owned mass-production car manufacturer in the British motor industry. The company was formed when BMW sold the car-making and engine manufacturing assets of the original Rover Group to the Phoenix Consortium in 2000....
V8. The chassis comes with BMW engine mounts already welded to the chassis to ease fitment.
Kits start at around £5,595, with an estimated build price from £12,000 (as of late 2008).
Fully built cars are also supplied to foreign markets, countering crash test requirements. Prices start at around £17,500, with the donor pack left to the customer to source. Or GKD can supply all the donor pack components to order.
The body shell is made from GRP fibreglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
, with a bespoke chassis housing the engine and suspension.
Example cars
The Evolution can utilise most engines. The chart below indicates performance with a BMW E46 M3 with standard spec.| Trim | Weight | Power | Transmission | Estimated 0-60 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Car | 820 kg (1,808 lb) | 343 hp | 6-Speed | 3.2 sec |
| Road Car | 820 kg (1,808 lb) | 265 hp | 5-Speed | 3.8 sec |
| Road Car | 780 kg (1,720 lb) | 165 hp | 5-Speed | 4.3 sec |
| Race/track car | 650 kg (1,433 lb) | 200 hp | 5-Speed | 4.0 sec |
Awards and press comments
The car was awarded car of the year 2006 from Which Kit Car magazine. This included winning 5 out of 7 categories in the competition."From the specification, the EVOLUTION comes across as an out and out performance car which, of course, it is but it's also practical".