What is this? Is it genuine?
Discussion
Seems there's at least one other out there:
www.gspovey.demon.co.uk/garage/tvr/gallery/saiga.htm
I've not come across them before either, and this one has a different engine. Seems the one on eBay is an early S derivative?
Not sure on those looks though!
www.gspovey.demon.co.uk/garage/tvr/gallery/saiga.htm
I've not come across them before either, and this one has a different engine. Seems the one on eBay is an early S derivative?
Not sure on those looks though!
I'm watching this one.. might get bidding! 
Dodgey_Rog said:
It looks like the Test Mule for the S-Series models.
bigtone said:
Seems the one on eBay is an early S derivative?
It does look like an S prototype but it's much too early. Simply an M with elongated front and rear. Interesting cars - I wonder what they look like "in the flesh."
It was a kit car launched in the 1990's, I believe by ex-TVR personnel, and obviously using the old M-series cars as its basis.
This was in the days when the only cars TVR were producing were 'wedge' series, and these guys obviously thought that there was still a market for the traditional shape.
Didn't make much of an impact even at the time, so I doubt many were sold.
Edited to add:
...and on that basis, no, it isn't genuine any mre than a Cobra replica is a genuine AC/Shelby. It certainly shouln't be wearing TVR badges, and it didn't come out of the factory at Blackpool.
>> Edited by Sam_68 on Monday 17th October 18:39
This was in the days when the only cars TVR were producing were 'wedge' series, and these guys obviously thought that there was still a market for the traditional shape.
Didn't make much of an impact even at the time, so I doubt many were sold.
Edited to add:
...and on that basis, no, it isn't genuine any mre than a Cobra replica is a genuine AC/Shelby. It certainly shouln't be wearing TVR badges, and it didn't come out of the factory at Blackpool.
>> Edited by Sam_68 on Monday 17th October 18:39
Now there was an SEM Saiga, designed by an ex-TVR engineer, but that dated from 1989, not 80. It was a kit car and the running gear was Cortina with a choice of engines.
I've checked through a few of my mags and can't find a picture although I did find the statement, 'Under the rather unbalanced body . . . ' so it could be the same one.
I suppose it is a genuine SEM and, no doubt, would be interesting to anyone interested in limited production kit cars. i agree with the above - it has not right to be wearing that badge.
>> Edited by Derek Smith on Monday 17th October 20:26
I've checked through a few of my mags and can't find a picture although I did find the statement, 'Under the rather unbalanced body . . . ' so it could be the same one.
I suppose it is a genuine SEM and, no doubt, would be interesting to anyone interested in limited production kit cars. i agree with the above - it has not right to be wearing that badge.
>> Edited by Derek Smith on Monday 17th October 20:26
Derek Smith said:
Now there was an SEM Saiga, designed by an ex-TVR engineer, but that dated from 1989, not 80. It was a kit car and the running gear was Cortina with a choice of engines.
I've checked through a few of my mags and can't find a picture although I did find the statement, 'Under the rather unbalanced body . . . ' so it could be the same one.
I suppose it is a genuine SEM and, no doubt, would be interesting to anyone interested in limited production kit cars. i agree with the above - it has not right to be wearing that badge.
That'll be the bunny - I stand corrected on the date; I was working from memory and guestimated early 1990's, but '89 sounds plausible.
I'm fairly sure I'll have details in my magazine archive, but most of it still lives at my other house in Leeds.
From recollection, the one that featured in the magazines was a cupe, but again I could be wrong - it was a long time ago!
Derek Smith said:The Saiga was built by the two Trevors, Bee and Steptoe of TET Mouldings. It was 'designed' by Joe the Pole and commissioned by the original owners of David Gerald who owned/own the rights to the pre-Wedge stuff.
Now there was an SEM Saiga, designed by an ex-TVR engineer
I saw the red coupe under contruction at TET in 1988 but never saw the convertible. Fortunately, there were no orders for the cars and the world was spared
Terminator said:
Now there was an SEM Saiga, designed by an ex-TVR engineer
The Saiga was built by the two Trevors, Bee and Steptoe of TET Mouldings. It was 'designed' by Joe the Pole and commissioned by the original owners of David Gerald who owned/own the rights to the pre-Wedge stuff.
I saw the red coupe under contruction at TET in 1988 but never saw the convertible. Fortunately, there were no orders for the cars and the world was spared
It looks like they just took all their scrap stock and stuck it together. Let's hope it returns to being scrap soon. It is a Saiga but they were not made by TVR. From a fading memory they were an "attempt" (probably the wrong word)to produce a car for those TVR enthusiasts who detested the shape of the Tasmin when it was introduced in 1979. Again from my fading memory Trevor Bee and Terry Steptoe, both ex TVR had set up TET moulding and were repairing and servicing TVR's started the project in Blackpool. They even set up premises but the idea was not a great success and only 2 cars were ever produced, possibly more but I think not.I was actually offered the moulds jigs etc at one point but managed to sesist and I beleive they are still somewhere in Blackpool. Trevor Bee is still running TET mouldings and would probaly be able to give more complete information to any prospective bidder. The car must live only a few miles from here but I have never seen it around. If anyone is serious I may be able to have a quick a quick look round it for you sTeVeR
Sam_68 said:
It was a kit car launched in the 1990's, I believe by ex-TVR personnel, and obviously using the old M-series cars as its basis. This was in the days when the only cars TVR were producing were 'wedge' series, and these guys obviously thought that there was still a market for the traditional shape.
Not disputing the rough facts but the dates must be wrong, as the S Series cars were launched in 1986, the Tuscan Race series was going in 1989 and the Griffith was first seen at the 1990 Motor Show. All of which were, of course, very curvey! Rich...
p.s. It didn't stand a chance did it, when you could buy a S1/2 from TVR or place an order for a Griff!
>> Edited by richb on Tuesday 18th October 13:41
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