History

A total of around 60 Madison Roadsters were manufactured by the British company GP (Grand Performance). 

These vehicles were predominantly kit cars based on the chassis of the Volkswagen Beetle and designed as retro roadsters in the style of the 1930s. The GP Madison was particularly popular in the 1970s and 1980s and was offered as a modular system, allowing owners to assemble most of the vehicle themselves.

An even more exclusive series exists from this already limited edition: only about 14 examples were manufactured with Ford components, making them a true rarity among collectors. Models featuring the drivetrain of the Ford Cortina, based on a specially developed ladder frame, are particularly sought after. A larger body had to be developed specifically for the Ford-based roadster in order to integrate the powerful technology – an adaptation that gave the vehicle even more harmonious proportions.

Models with Ford Pinto engines are even rarer, as these were manufactured exclusively as left-hand drive vehicles for the US market.

The exact ratio of Cortina and Pinto variants is not documented. 

In later years, some of these roadsters were modified with more powerful Ford Sierra engines, at the expense of their originality.

The very small number of units produced makes the original Cortina and Pinto roadsters rare collector's items.

When production in England ceased in 1988, the Madison story was far from over. 

Gerry Khouri — a passionate classic car enthusiast and devoted Madison Roadster fan — acquired the original moulds from GP together with his two brothers. Under the Bufori name, the Madison MK1 was reborn, first in Sydney, Australia, and later in Malaysia, where it was built as a new vehicle with, in some cases, bold technical and stylistic changes until 1992.

Among the most remarkable versions were a rally-spec Madison and an experimental roadster powered by a rear-mounted Subaru V6 boxer engine.

In 1992, the MKII was introduced. A permanently integrated soft top and a spare wheel mounted on the front fender modernised the car — but at the expense of its iconic silhouette. With this model, the final chapter of the classic Madison Roadster came to a close.

The introduction of the Mark III “La Joya” in 1997 marked a turning point for Bufori. Luxury became the brand’s primary focus, and the era of open roadsters ended forever. Only the distinctive radiator grille continued to echo the glamorous spirit of the 1930s.

A Small Anecdote...

It was the summer of 2003. At that time, the Madison and I had already been together for four years when I learned of plans to establish a production facility for the Bufori “La Joya” in Görlitz, on the German–Polish border. The intention was to manufacture vehicles there for the European market.

I got in touch with the European representative responsible at the time, and we arranged to meet in Görlitz in the autumn of that year. What made this meeting particularly memorable was the opportunity to meet Gerry Khouri in person — one of the three brothers who founded the Bufori brand and who continued the development and production of both the Madison Roadster MK I and its successor, the MK II.

Gerry spoke openly about the plans and vision behind Bufori. As I later learned, the Khouri brothers eventually parted ways with their European representative, and the project to build Bufori luxury automobiles “Made in Germany” was ultimately abandoned. The reasons for this decision are unknown to me.

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