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1960 Sabra This was Reliants' first ever prototype sports car called the "Sabra". It all started when the project manager from Autocars "Itzhak Shubinsky" went to the 1960 Sports and Racing Car Show in London and saw an Ashley 1172 bodykit and an Leslie Ballamy chassis. Itzhak wondered if he could make a new sports car for Israel, so he approached Reliant, who had already been doing other projects for Autocars, and asked Ray Wiggin if he could help build up a sports car using the body and chassis. The car was registered CBF 941 and was built using the Ashley GT body and fitting it to the Leslie Ballamy ladder chassis (with a few modifications from Reliants Ken Wood and David Page). The engine they decided to use was the 1703cc from a Ford Consul. The result was a fine looking open top sports car, which opened up further opportunities for Reliant in the sports car market. Reliant went on to produce the cars for Autocars, while they were setting up their business in Haifa, Israel. Reliant then supplied the kits for Autocars to build, which were ultimately sold to the US and a small number sold in Belgium. Reliant kept a couple of the "Sabra" cars and converted them to right hand drive and launched them in the UK as the Reliant "Sabre".
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Above: Sir John Whitmore (Director of Ogle) seen here at Ogle with prototype
Above: Boris Forter
Above: Second Ogle SX250 on road test.
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1963 Ogle SX250 Ogle Design restyled the Daimler SP250, still using the chassis and 2.5 litre V8 engine, and the called it the Ogle SX250. The car then went on display at the Earls Court motorshow in October. Daimler were not interested in the new design, but Reliant bosses were impressed and had already seen a great opportunity to use the body work on their Sabre chassis. Boris Forter, the director of Helena Rubenstein cosmetics company, bought the first one car and a second car was made specially for his mistress. Only 2 cars out of 6 cars planned were actually built. The two cars were registered 347 PNK and 595 NJH Both cars apparently survive today, one in Germany and one in Sussex, England? |
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Above: The Ogle Scimitar GT
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1964 Ogle Scimitar GT Ogle and Reliant got together to produce the first Reliant Scimitar GT. The first prototype car was actually badged as an Ogle (note the square badge on the front) and was registered with DVLA as an Ogle with registration AUE 38B on 28 05 1964.
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Above: Prince Philip with Ogle GTS
Above: Me in the Ogle GTS at the Town and Country Festival in 2001
Above: The late Don Pither, author and enthusiast in his beloved Ogle GTS.
Above: New owner:- Professor Carl Olson and the Ogle GTS (now in America).
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1966 Ogle/Triplex Scimitar GTS Triplex Glass Company asked Ogle to build a project car to help demonstrate their use of laminated sundym glass. Using a Scimitar GT bodyshell, it was modified to produce this Triplex Ogle GTS (Glazing Test Special). The car was originally registered as 660 GLE, but the numbers were spaced to make 66 0GLE, which did get them into trouble by the police at one stage, but the registration was later accepted. The car had a heat-absorbing glass roof, curved round side windows, laminated heated front and rear window. The car was covered in a total of 43 square feet of safety glass. After its feature at the London Motorshow in1965, the car was driven to the Turin Motor Show by two journalists where it was admired by many Italian Designers. The car was acquired by Prince Philip for his own personal use for two years before being loaned to the National Motor Museum at Bealulieu. The car was then owned by the late Don Pither who sadly died in 2002. 66 OGLE is now back in the hands of one of its designers "Professor Carl Olson" now in America. |
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Above: The full scale model in Ogle Designs model shop in 1967, ready for approval.
Above: Note the mesh grille front end and 15" Coupe wheels.
Above: The prototype as it left Ogle Design on its way to Reliant.
Above: Modified with 289ci V8 engine by Peter Bailey, this unique car was for sale at Cheffins Auction House.
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1968 Scimitar GTE Prototype NRE 845F was the first Scimitar GTE built with chassis Number 450001. Tom Karen worked with the modelers to develop the famous rising waistline, Peter Bailey prepared the drawings for the car and as a result a stunning Scimitar GTE was born. Only a couple of things were changed on the final production car, which were the front light/grille layout and the rear air vents were moved from above the rear screen and fitted adjacent to the rear lights. Peter Bailey acquired the prototype car for himself and later fitted a small block 289ci V8, which boasted giving the car a top speed of 150 MPH! When Peter Bailey left Ogle, he took the car with him. The car was recently sold through Cheffins auction house and is now in the hands of an enthusiast who is now re-commissioning the car after many years of storage.
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Above: Original design drawing
Above: Press Photo from 1968
Above: Ogle Scimitar well looked after today. A special Thanks to Robert Hodge for sending and letting me use his photographs.
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1968 Ogle Scimitar GTE This one off Ogle Scimitar was also shown at the 1968 motorshow to show off Ogle's unique styling. The new and exciting 3 litre Scimitar by Ogle, based on the Reliant GTE, incorporates a number of extra features which give this new concept car an even more futuristic look. Apart from the large windscreen and glass roof over the front seats the most striking difference is the frontal grille area. Ogle's Scimitar has a concealed headlamp system which embodies four of the new Lucas "all-glass" rectangular sealed beam units, with electrically operated shutters. These 60/60 watt light units are a result of two years development work, and offer all the advantages already associated with the sealed beam principle. When the headlamp shutters are closed, the light units are fully protected and the full frontal area of the car has a flowing and distinctive appearance. The car was owned by the wife of the chairman of the Hodge Group, who owned the Reliant Motor Company at that time. The car features a different interior, a glazed roof section and retractable headlamp covers and had embossed Ogle logo's on the front wings. This superb car is still owned by the Hodge Family today.
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Above: Original design drawing
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1969 FW7 Prototype Reliant explored a mid engined design using their own 750cc twin carburettor engine. In 1970 a mock of the car was built, which actually pre-dated Fiats X1/9 design by a couple of years! It soon became clear that Reliant's own engine would not be powerful enough and the project was killed off.
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Do you have any more details/photographs of any of the above vehicles? Contact:
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