THE POWER OF THE PENCIL
Like all good stories, this one has many twists and turns as players enter and exit while celestial puppet masters amuse themselves. The cast would include the 1963 Ogle SX250, the 1964 Reliant Scimitar GT, the 1965 Ogle Scimitar Triplex GTS and, of course, the 1968 Reliant Scimitar GTE itself, so let’s turn the spotlight of our attention on each of those in turn.
Starting with Ogle SX250, Boris Forter (a director of Helena Rubinstein (UK) Cosmetics) saw the 1962 Ogle Mini SX1000 and was taken by its fresh approach and clean lines. Sketching a few ideas, he approached David Ogle, its designer, and commissioned a larger 2+2 coupé. David Ogle Associates were manufacturing the Ogle Mini, so building a one-off car based on the chosen Daimler SP250 chassis with its 2.5-litre V8 was doable. A clay mock-up was started, but then David Ogle was killed driving to Brands Hatch in his SX1000. John Ogier, David’s business partner, head-hunted Tom Karen from Ford to complete the project, and the running car was shown at the 1962 Motor Show.
Boris Forter took delivery in 1963, and apparently commissioned another for his girlfriend (as you would). Daimler liked the SX250, but didn’t pursue it. However, Ray Wiggin, Reliant’s Managing Director, bought the rights from Ogle to replace the body of the existing Reliant Sabre sports car and the Sabre’s chassis with
