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Siva Edwardian
Some 100 plus kits were made by Siva Engineering of Blandford Forum, Dorset between 1969 and 1976 (finishing as Neville Trickett Design at Aylsbury). The concept was originated by Michael Saunders who asked the car designer Neville Tricket to develop the idea of a veteran style “fun” car on a Ford Popular chassis.
The models offered with the Edwardian style bodies were:
Roadster (two seats) - Ford 103E based
Tourer (four seater) - Ford 103E based
Parisienne (four seater) - Citroen 2CV based
San Remo (four seater) - VW Beetle based
Raceabout (two seater) - VW Beetle based
Other than the Raceabout, all models shared many similarities in design and some
common components such as seats and wings. The Raceabout was greatly different
with the pilot seated just in front of the VW engine with no protective bulkhead
originally. Later, a full windscreen similar to the other models was available instead of
the monocle glass mounted on the steering column.
Something in the region of 100 Ford based kits were produced but it is not known how
many Citroen and VW kits were sold before Siva (run solely by Neville Trickett at this time) closed the doors of the Aylesbury factory in 1976. The most common are the Ford based tourers and, far behind, the Ford based roadster. There is one known example of the Parisienne in the UK and various in Europe. No examples of the VW based San Remo exist and very few of the Raceabout.
Building the Siva - Construction Details
What this sort of replica (or pastiche) gives the driver is the experience of Edwardian
motoring without the problems of a real veteran car that needs great driving skill and excellent fettling ability. The old Ford, Citroen and VW are all reliable if well maintained. There is no doubt that the purist will scoff and harrumph but fun and enjoyment is the name of the game. I have enjoyed this sort of motoring for some 30 years now and it really is a complete antidote to the euro box experience and the trials and tribulation of the workplace.
Restoring a Siva Edwardian - feeling brave?
As chairman of the Ford Sidevalve Owners’ Club which caters for the sidevalve Fords
’32 – ’62, I hold a register of these Edwardian Sivas. As a lad, I built one a four seater in 1969 and have owned it ever since. The car is now irretrievably part of the family and regularly travels to France in the summer. We Siva owners have become a somewhat eccentric little band of enthusiasts and I hope to point any new owner of a Roadster or Tourer in the Ford Sidevalve Owners' Club’s direction.
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Building my Siva
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