1962 Ogle SX250

Boris Forter, a Helena Rubenstein cosmetics company director, commissioned David Ogle of "David Ogle Associates" (later to become Ogle Design) to build him a one-off car.

Boris wanted to use the Daimler SP250's separate chassis with its powerful 2.5-liter V8 engine. Boris came up with a sketch of roughly what he wanted the car to look like, and before long, David Ogle started working on a full-sized clay model of the vehicle. Sadly, David was killed in a tragic accident in one of his own Ogle SX100s on the way to Brands Hatch in May 1962.

David's business partner John Ogier brought in an ex-Ford designer called Tom Karen. With the rest of the design team, Tom finished the clay model and produced a running car for the Earls Court Motorshow in October 1962. The show car was painted in Sable white, and the trim consisted of a pale grey 'suwide' with grey carpets and a walnut facia.

Boris received his personalized Ogle SX250 in early 1963 and later commissioned Ogle to build a second SX250 for his mistress, Jean Hart.

There were plans for six cars, though it is believed that only two were built.

Although it was said that Jaguar boss William Lyons liked the Ogle SX250 version, he had other ideas for Daimler and had no intention of using the design.

Ogle approached Reliant, intending to produce the Mini Ogle SX1000. Still, Reliant was trying to develop the Sabre sports car and figured that the Ogle SX250 body shell could be matched to their Sabre chassis with a few modifications. A deal was struck between Reliant and Ogle, and the new Scimitar was born, and so began a long-term business partnership between Ogle's Tom Karen and Reliant's Ray Wiggin.

Source: www.sporting-reliants.com

Images: Zwischengas Archiv; olsen-designs.com; shorey.net; www.daimler.co.uk