The Gilbern Invader is a rare Welsh-built grand tourer combining a glassfibre body, steel chassis and Ford Essex V6 power. Built in tiny numbers from 1969 until the company closed in 1974, it offered genuine four-seat practicality and performance in an unusually individual package.
This guide covers Gilbern history, Invader Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 differences, the scarce estate, mechanical specifications, ownership realities and the checks that matter before buying one.
Gilbern Invader at a glance
| Built | 1969–1974 |
|---|---|
| Factory | Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd, South Wales |
| Body | Glassfibre two-door 2+2 fastback; rare estate also offered |
| Structure | Gilbern steel chassis |
| Engine | Ford 3.0-litre Essex V6 |
| Transmission | Manual with overdrive or automatic, depending on version |
| Versions | Invader Mk1, Mk2 and substantially revised Mk3 |
| Main buying concern | Condition and repair quality of the steel chassis beneath the glassfibre body |
What was Gilbern?
Gilbern was founded by Welsh butcher Giles Smith and German-born engineer Bernard Friese. The name combined the opening parts of Giles and Bernard. Their first GT took shape in 1959, and production moved to a modest factory at Llantwit Fardre in South Wales.
The company was unusual not only because it was Welsh, but because it produced sophisticated glassfibre-bodied grand tourers rather than minimal sports-car kits. Gilberns used proven components from larger manufacturers, yet the chassis and body gave them their own character. The GT was followed by the V6-powered Genie and, in July 1969, the Invader.
From Genie to Invader
The Invader evolved from the Genie rather than replacing it with a completely clean-sheet design. Gilbern revised the chassis, enlarged the brakes and moved the car further upmarket. Electric windows, a walnut-veneered dashboard and a better-appointed cabin supported its grand-touring role.
Power came from Ford’s compact 2,994cc Essex V6, familiar from cars including the Zodiac and Capri. Its strong torque suited the Gilbern’s relaxed character, while a manual gearbox with overdrive made long-distance use more civilised. Automatic cars were also built.
Gilbern Invader Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3 differences
Invader Mk1: 1969–1970
The first Invader retained the familiar Genie-based shape but introduced its revised chassis, larger brakes and more luxurious equipment. Early chassis design deserves careful inspection because the Gilbern Owners Club records criticism of insufficient stiffness around the front and the possibility of stress cracking.
Invader Mk2: announced for 1970
The Mk2 brought an improved front chassis structure. Gilbern also announced the distinctive Invader Estate, with customer deliveries following in 1971. The estate retained the V6 GT’s unusual character while adding a longer roof and practical rear load area.
Invader Mk3: 1972–1974
The Mk3 was a more extensive redesign. Its body was wider and lower, with altered front and rear styling, a smaller grille, indicators below the raised front bumper and small wheelarch extensions. Ford Cortina Mk3-based suspension and a modified rear axle simplified the component supply, while the higher-output Capri 3000GT version of the Essex V6 was used.
Unlike most earlier Gilberns, the Mk3 was sold only as a fully built car. It was expensive—competing in price territory occupied by established manufacturers—and only nine left-hand-drive Mk3s are recorded by the owners club as having been exported.
Identification tip: registration year alone does not establish the version. Low-volume production, component-form sales and cars completed after the factory’s closure can blur dates. Use the chassis number and consult the Gilbern Owners Club register.
How rare is the Gilbern Invader?
Published production totals vary slightly, which is unsurprising for a small manufacturer that sold many cars in component form and left unfinished cars when trading stopped. Contemporary research generally places total Invader production at roughly six hundred across all three marks, with the estate accounting for only a small fraction.
Survival is helped by the glassfibre body and enthusiastic club support, but a sound, complete car is still an uncommon sight. Estates, factory-specification Mk3s and cars with unusually complete histories are particularly notable.
Why did Gilbern close?
Gilbern’s difficulty was not simply a lack of interesting cars. The owners club’s history describes rapid expansion, rising staffing and multiple development projects without a sufficient increase in production. The company also faced the challenge of selling a costly specialist car against established rivals.
The move to fully built Mk3s removed the purchase-tax advantage that had encouraged component-form sales. Financial crises and changes of ownership followed, and production finally stopped in March 1974. Several partly completed cars were finished later, further complicating the history.
Gilbern Invader buying checklist
Steel chassis
- Arrange inspection from beneath; the shiny glassfibre body can conceal serious structural deterioration.
- Check main rails, outriggers, suspension pick-up points, front crossmember areas and body mounts.
- Look for cracking, distortion and old plated repairs, particularly around the front of early cars.
- Ask whether the body has ever been removed and insist on photographs and invoices for major chassis work.
- Uneven stance, poor panel alignment or unusual tyre wear can indicate structural or suspension problems.
Glassfibre body
- Inspect for crazing, star cracks, blistering and repairs visible through the paint.
- Pay particular attention to hinges, catches, bumper mounts and stressed edges around apertures.
- Check door fit and the large rear hatch carefully; correcting a distorted opening can involve more than adjustment.
- Colour mismatch or surface ripples may reveal old accident damage or poor glassfibre work.
Ford Essex V6 and transmission
- Start from cold and check oil pressure, smoke, coolant condition and persistent valvetrain noise.
- Watch for overheating and inspect radiator, hoses, water pump and evidence of neglected antifreeze.
- Check carburettor condition, fuel lines and whether modifications have been sensibly engineered.
- On manual cars, test synchromesh, clutch and overdrive operation when fully warm.
- Listen for axle whine, propshaft vibration and worn universal joints.
Suspension, steering and brakes
- Establish which Invader mark you are viewing before ordering components.
- Check bushes, dampers, ball joints, wheel bearings and rear-axle location.
- Investigate wandering, pulling or instability rather than assuming it is normal for a specialist classic.
- Inspect brake pipes, hoses, calipers, discs and master cylinder and confirm the car stops straight.
Interior, trim and identity
- Check the walnut dashboard, instruments, electric windows, heater and every switch.
- Missing Gilbern-specific glass, brightwork, lamps and trim can be much harder to replace than service parts.
- Confirm chassis and registration identities match and research the number through the owners club.
- Value a detailed restoration and ownership file highly; it can explain non-standard parts and later completion dates.
The Invader originally featured here
The car in these photographs appeared in a 2023 online advertisement as a 3.0-litre Invader with three former keepers. Its seller said the second owner had kept it for 42 years. Those details are worth preserving as part of this individual car’s story, but the expired advert is no longer useful as the main purpose of the page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Gilbern Invader a kit car?
Many early Gilberns were sold in component form for tax reasons, but they were substantially assembled specialist cars rather than simple home-built kits. The Mk3 was sold only as a complete factory-built car.
What engine does it use?
The Invader uses Ford’s 3.0-litre Essex V6. The Mk3 received the higher-output Capri 3000GT specification.
What is the biggest buying risk?
Structural chassis corrosion or poor repair hidden beneath an attractive glassfibre body. A specialist inspection is strongly recommended.
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