Diva was a British manufacturer of sports cars from 1961 to 1966. It was a subsidiary of the Tunex Conversions Co set up by Don Sim in Camberwell, London but in 1966 Diva Cars Limited became its registered name. In 1967, after car production ceased, the name changed again to Skodek Engineering. Don Sim started making repairing and making cars as Yimkin Engineerig at a small workshop adjacent to the Creed Teleprinter factory in East Croydon. His partner was Miles Handley who had invented a hydraulic teleprinter which worked well as long as the temperature remained above freezing! The workshop had a large sign on the wall which said “May we help you out. How the hell did you get in”.
The first Diva was intended to demonstrate Tunex's technology and had a body built by Heron Plastics and was a development of their 750 model. The car was raced successfully and another was built with larger windscreen and called the B-Type. Demand grew from enthusiasts for more of them so a "production" version of the GT was developed.
The 1963 Diva GT or C-Type had a fibreglass body and spaceframe chassis and could be built with a range of Ford engines ranging from 998 to 1650 cc. Suspension was independent all round and disc brakes were fitted at the front. The car was designed for track use only. Thirteen were built. Don Sim sold a share in the company to David Bertorelli of the restaurant chain and he entered a Diva at the Nurburgring 500 km race in 1963. Another well known driver of Diva’s was John Miles who also drove at the Nurburgring.
The 1965 D-Type had a longer nose and headlights so road use was possible. Fifty one were made.
A mid engined Diva, the Demon, was exhibited at the 1965 Racing Car Show in London using a mid mounted Hillman Imp engine. This was changed later in the year for a Ford 1500 cc unit and the car launched as the Valkyr. Six were made including the prototype.
The only car designed specifically for road rather than racing was the 10F, a version of the GT which used thicker fibreglass bodywork and a flexibly mounted engine. As some road going GTs were also called 10Fs the actual number made in uncertain but would seem to be less than ten.
Production of cars had stopped by 1967 when the rights to the model were sold to a new owner.
