Modified Motors

A page for modified or customised Scimitars or Sabres!  Enjoy!!!!

Above:  The superb ex-Val Walker 1967 Scimitar GT Roadster. (recently sold on Ebay)

Ex-Scimitar specialist "Val Walker" of Scimitar International Ltd carried out this wonderful roof chop conversion on his Scimitar in 1988.  He carried out some extensive work on the Scimitars chassis and body work along with many other improvements to the brakes, suspension and engine.  The engine bay was completely rebuilt to hide all the wires and ancillaries.

Reliant never produced a Scimitar GT convertible, however there have been a few conversions done:

The late Don Pither did a fine conversion on a Scimitar GT.

I photographed this Scimitar GT convertible at "Denpart" a number of years ago.  It was rumoured to be a Reliant prototype, however I later found out that it was done privately by the previous owner 

Above: Dave Stephens Scimitar SE6a.  Fitted with a mk1 Sierra front bumper, the rear lights have been changed to L.E.D. clusters and the interior came from a later Scimitar SE6b.  Super job Dave :o)

Above: Willem Wempe from Holland sent in these photos of his 3.8 litre Scimitar SE6a

Willem bought the car in 1987, the LPG is installed in 1995, 5-speed gearbox (LT77) in 1997, 3.8 engine in 2002, complete respray in 2003.

Specifications:

• Ford 3.8L 90 degrees V6 (donor car Mercury Sable with a broken gearbox), called Essex in the USA. Sequenced Electronic Fuel Injection. 

• IMPCO LPG system (enough flow for 250 Hp.), 55 litre lpg tank below the floor, 22 litre petrol tank with electric fuel pump inside. 

• Flywheel Ford Probe, clutch Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 diesel. 

• Gearbox 5-speed LT77 from a rover SD1, gearlever mechanism same as in the MGB V8. 

• Bigger radiator with 2-speed cooling fan + shroud at the rear (from donor car), controlled by the EC VI computer. 
  LSD 2.88 rear axle. 

• Wolfrace 14 x 7J, Avon tyres 225-60-14. 

• Electric rear hatch. 

• Recaro seats from a Mercedes 450SL, with scimitar headrests. 

• Heater matrix from a Saab, so a good working heating system. 

• 71/2 inch H4 headlights. 

• Rear lights with chrome reflectors inside.

• Polybushes. 

• Kenwood sound system 

• Lots of other mods, 
  
  Next project is installation of a supercharged thunderbird engine and uprating the brakes.

Above: Les Clarke's Modified Scimitar GTC with 2.8 injection

Above: Shane Hughes stunningly modified/uprated Scimitar GTC.

Specifications

Brakes & Suspension

• Wilwood Four Pot Callipers' & Vented Discs

• Ceramic Disc Pads

• Uprated Front Springs

• 200Lb Special Rear Springs

• Adjustable AVO Shocks All Round

Electrics

• Electric Boot Release

• Cobra Cat 1 Alarm/Immobiliser

• Remote Central Locking

• 90 Amp Alternator

• Xenon Headlights

• Led's To Rear Lights

• Uprated Heater Blower

• More Relays Than I can Shake a Stick at

Engine

• Uxbridge Engineering 3.7 litre Long Stroke Cologne

• Metal Timing Gears

• Edlebrock Air Box

• Edlebrock Performa 1404 500Cfm Carb

• Stainless Steel Exhaust & Manifolds

• Vulcan Engineering Max I Heads

• Red Top Electric Fuel Pump

• Mallory Promaster Coil

• Offehauser Inlet Manifold

• Piper Special Cam

General

• SVA (Bodi) Wind Deflector

• Clarion DXZ577R Usb Mp3 Head Unit

Interior

• Smiths Magnolia Face Dials

• Piped Full Cream Leather Interior Refit

• Chapman & Cliff Burr Veneer Finish To Existing Dashboard

• Motolita Steering Wheel

• Various Chrome/Stainless Steel Interior Components

Running Gear

• 3.06 LSD Axle

• Standard 4 Speed Overdrive Gearbox

Wheels & Tyres

Image 17" Spun Aluminium Split Rim Billet Wheels
225/45/17 Goodyear F1's
Stainless Steel Wheel Nuts

Above: David Waterfield has almost finished the conversion, Its just waiting for a spray job now. 

Above: David Waterfield's is currently converting his Scimitar GTE into a pickup.

Above: Duncan Matheson now owns the ex-John Hughes modified 1970 Scimitar GTE 'SE5'.  Classic fun with modern sports-car performance and reliability!

Specifications:

• 4.6 TVR spec V8 built by V8 Developments (cross-bolted block, top-hat liners, etc).

• Electronic fuel injection (TVR/Jaguar).

• Custom-made tubular exhaust manifolds & stainless steel system. 

• TVR Borg-Warner T5 manual gearbox. 

• High ratio rear axle (approx 3000rpm @ 90mph). 

• Wilwood ventilated front discs & alloy 4-pot calipers and rear disc brake conversion.

• Wilwood pedal box with adjustable front/rear brake bias.

• AVO coilovers (adjustable damping and ride height). 

• Polybushes throughout.

• TVR front seats. 

• Full bodywork restoration with subtle upgrades. .Built for fast road use and the occasional track day, this Scimitar is fitted with a 4.6 fuel injection V8 engine (TVR-spec), 5-speed box, big brakes including rear disc conversion.  John plans to add a mappable ECU, custom made extractor manifolds, LSD axle and bias adjustable brakes.

Above: Graham Ather's sent these pictures of his mighty 1972 Scimitar GTE.  This 400 bhp Scimitar is road legal and was recently for sale on eBay!

Modifications include:  Engine is a 1990 V8 5.7 Chevy with Hyperutechtic pistons running 10.5 : 1 compression, rebored +30 thou, full reciprocal balance, gm heavy duty con rods, roller cam, edelbrock ali heads, Edelbrock 750cfm carb, Chevy bow tie high rise inlet manifold.  The gearbox is a TH350 with shift kit fitted.  The Volvo rear axle has been narrowed to take the 15 x 295 rear wheels.  The back of the car has also been tubbed out to take the rear wheels.  The chassis has had a full body off restoration and the suspension has been lowered.  Brake discs fitted all round and all 4 wheels are American Ford 5 stud.

Above: Malcolm Paris's 1973 modified Scimitar GTE SE5a fitted with a Rover 3.5 litre V8 engine.

Above: Andy Nicolson's new project.  Andy recently bought this 1972 Scimitar GTE pickup conversion and hopes to tackle to body work soon.  Plans in the future include a 200hp engine and possibly a supercharger!

Above: Ashley Lynch's Modified Scimitar SS1 project was spotted on Ebay a while ago.  This SS1 started life with a 1600cc CVH engine, but now has a Ford 2.3 litre V6 engine, a Cosworth gearbox, twin exhaust boxes, 16'' Renault alloys and Renault high back seats. 

 Above: Ever fancied a diesel Scimitar?  Tony Shakeshaft has replaced his old 3 litre lump with a 2.5 litre straight six engine from a Vauxhall Omega!  Tony says:

 "it has been chipped and power is thought to be 160-170 (4000rpm) and the torque 235lbs.ft at around 1800rpm. The rack has been kept in its original position, the front pulley misses it by about an inch, the bulk head has had to be jig sawed and the cabin heater dispensed with to make it fit.  A heater unit has since been made and fits in the depths of the passenger foot well."

(click to enlarge)

Above: In 1991 business men Martin Hall and Brian Turner gave SE5/SE5a owners the chance to have their GTE's made into a soft top conversion.  The above article is from 1991 "Your Classic" magazine advertising their conversions for £1995.

Above: Marks SE5 Scimitar GTE/soft top conversion is currently being restored and is fitting a Rover 3.5 litre engine.  Follow his progress on his website:

http://www.v8scimitar.co.uk/index.htm

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Above: Dave Clarkson's project: a 1972 SE5a fitted with a Rover V8 3.5 Litre engine. 

Above: Nick Hollister's modified Scimitar SS1.  

Nick has fitted a 2 litre ZVH engine with a fast Piper road cam, a limited slip diff from a 4x4 Sierra, a big bore straight through exhaust system and green stuff brake pads.

Above: Russell Ram's full on, Pro Street spec Scimitar GTE in the making.  It is going to be stripped, fully caged, alloy paneled interior.  Narrowed, rose jointed four bar rear axle with 18 inches of tyre each side.  A one piece flip front will be covering the the massive 5.2 litre Wildcat Rover engine fitted with quad Dellorto downdrafts and port injected nitrous.  Russell is aiming to achieve 0-160mph in 9 seconds!!!

Above: Dave Clarke's Scimitar GTC fitted with 3.5 litre V8 engine (a ex-Robin Rew conversion)

Above:  Chris & Louiza Johnson's magnificent Scimitar Coupe named "Darkstar" is fitted with a Ford 2.9 litre SEi engine. 

 More  pictures of Darkstar can be seen in the "Motorsport Gallery" under the hillclimb section and the "Overseas Gallery".  

Above:  This beast spotted recently for sale on Ebay ( Item Number 4613673889 ) started life as a SE6a GTE and was converted to a GTC, then fitted with and awesome 5.7 litre Chevrolet V8 Engine which has been bored out to 5.8 litre which gives it approx 380bhp!!   

Above:  Scimitar GTE SE6a with 24 valve Ford Cosworth engine conversion carried out by Queensbury Road Garage (anyone know or got contact with owner or have any more pictures?)

Above:  Paul Hunt's incredible modified Scimitar SS1 with 2.0 Litre Zetec engine.

Click here to see his vast list of Modifications!  

Above: John Mees's Scimitar GTE Convertible is fitted with a TVR 4.0 litre V8 engine.  (Top centre picture is of Tom Karen from Ogle Design trying out John's car!!)

Above: Colin (wide-wheel arch) Watson's Customised V8 Scimitar Coupe.

Above: The ex-Don Pither SE5 Scimitar GTE converted into cool looking pickup.