The Story of GP59
grace noun 1. A charming or attractive trait or characteristic. 2. a pleasing appearance or effect. 3. ease and suppleness of movement or bearing.
pace noun 1. rate of performance or delivery. 2. rate of progress.
Our name, GP59, stands for Grayson Pace - a play on the words grace and pace.
The number 59 was chosen as this was quite a milestone year in motor racing, speed, and aluminium panel forming. With component manufacture for classic marques such as AC, Ferrari, and Lotus being a specialist skill of GP59, we felt the year 1959 was a part of us.
we felt 1959 was part of us
In 1959, MG built the EX181 teardrop-shaped aluminium-bodied car which Phil Hill drove to a record-setting 254.91mph at the 1959 Annual Bonneville Speed Trials in Utah.
Also in 1959, Aston Martin secured a historic victory with their aluminium-panelled DBR1/300 - driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori - marking the first Le Mans 24 Hour win for the British manufacturer. Carrol Shelby went on to develop the AC Ace into the AC Cobra in the 1960s which again, boasted an aluminium body.
Among these significant moments in history lies GP59 Co-Founder, Richard’s (historic) 1999 race season in his Lancia Fulvia 1600HF - car number 59!
Continuing the tradition our aluminium-bodied Lotus Eleven’s race number is 59. You can follow our Lotus racing in the Motor Racing Legends Stirling Moss Trophy throughout 2024.
Our Values
As owners of classic cars, we understand the frustrations that come with them. The biggest of which is getting a job over the line. This is why GP59 is committed to customer relationships and excellent communication.
How many of us have been disappointed by delays, meaning we miss an event we’ve been looking forward to? Or have you experienced that queasy feeling when an unexpected invoice arrives, and it’s now too late to turn back the clock?
For these reasons, we provide constant communication, photographic updates of work, and no surprises. Additionally, to avoid third-party delays, we undertake engine building, bodywork repairing, component fabrication, and paintshop services in-house.