Camberwell Contender - Motorsport in the 1960s was a fertile ground for bold ideas, where small manufacturers could still challenge established names through ingenuity rather than sheer scale. In that vibrant era, Britain became a hotspot for compact, clever racing machines that punched well above their weight. One of the most intriguing examples to emerge from this scene was
the Diva GT, a car that quietly carved out its place in racing history while reflecting the experimental spirit of its time.
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| The Diva GT 1300 Type C Prototype with an aluminum body and has an extensive racing history with even an entry in the 1964 Le Mans 24 Hours race. (Picture from: RitzSite.nl) |
The Diva GT was conceived and developed by British designer Don Sim,
whose background lay in single-seater construction and Formula Junior projects at Yimkin,
a company he co-founded.
Established in the early 1960s, Diva Cars began as part of Tunex Conversions in South London before becoming Diva Cars Ltd in 1966.
Between 1962 and 1966,
the company produced just 65 GT cars, nearly all intended for competition.
Built in Camberwell, these cars were never about mass production; they were precision tools designed for racers who valued lightweight engineering and mechanical honesty.
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| The 1964 Diva GT 1300 Type C powered by by a Cosworth-tuned reverse-flow 1.3-liter Ford Kent four driving the rears through a Hewland 5-speed, the car was reportedly originally delivered to F1 driver Jackie Oliver who intended to campaign it in the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans. (Picture from: BringAtrailer) |
Visually and structurally,
the Diva GT embodied the minimalist efficiency of its era.
The car featured a compact sports coupé silhouette wrapped in a glassfibre-reinforced plastic body produced by Heron Plastics.
Beneath that skin sat a finely constructed tubular steel spaceframe chassis with independent suspension all around,
an advanced feature for its class at the time. Disc brakes at the front added further credibility, making
the Diva GT a technically serious contender rather than a garage-built curiosity.
Interior appointments were sparse,
focused entirely on the driver and the demands of racing,
reinforcing its purpose-built character.
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| The 1964 Diva GT 1300 Type C ex Jackie Oliver was built
around a finely constructed tubular steel spaceframe chassis with fully
independent suspension, an advanced feature for its class at the time. (Picture from: Pinterest) |
Power came from a range of four-cylinder Ford engines,
typically the Kent unit,
with displacements from just under one litre up to 1.6 litres,
allowing the car to be tailored to different racing classes.
Although a road-capable version could be specified on paper,
every Diva GT produced ultimately went to the track. Variants such as
the B,
C, and
D Types were designed exclusively for competition,
while the slightly more road-oriented Diva 10F featured thicker fibreglass and a more flexibly mounted engine. Even then, practicality remained secondary to performance and durability.
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| The Diva GT 1300 Type C ex Jacky Oliver is the third of just 13 Type-C models–most were constructed of fiberglass over a tubular steel spaceframe chassis, but this features aluminum bodywork with wider front and rear fenders and an extended Kamm tail. (Picture from: BringAtrailer) |
On the circuit,
the Diva GT proved its worth.
It achieved notable success in British national GT racing and made its mark internationally,
including a class win at the 1964 Nürburgring 1000 km race in the under-1000 cc prototype category.
Drivers associated with the marque read like a snapshot of future motorsport talent,
including John Miles,
Jackie Oliver,
Peter Gethin,
Brian Redman, and
Alain de Cadenet.
One particular example even earned an entry at the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, underlining how far this small British manufacturer managed to reach.
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| The Diva 10F was the only car designed for road use and was a version of the GT cars with thicker fibreglass bodywork and a more flexibly mounted engine. (Picture from: BringAtrailer) |
Although Diva Cars ceased production after a change of ownership in 1967,
the Diva GT’s story did not end there. Many cars continued racing for decades, finding new life in historic championships across Europe well into the 21st century.
Today,
the Diva GT stands as a reminder of a time when creativity, craftsmanship, and determination could still level the playing field. Its legacy feels especially relevant now, as modern enthusiasts rediscover the appeal of lightweight design and authentic engineering in an increasingly complex automotive world.
*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CARS-BONHAM | BRINGATRILER | AUTA5P.EU | RITZSITE.NL | SPECIALCARSPHOTOS | HYDE1841 | WIKIPEDIA ]Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.
