Saker Cars

Saker Cars is a low-volume sports-car marque whose origins lie in Feilding, New Zealand. The cars were designed and built there by Bruce Turnbull through Turnbull Engineering from 1989 to 2002. The brand developed around lightweight, competition-oriented vehicles that could also be road registered, combining space-frame construction with a broad choice of engines and driveline configurations. Its early models were intended to appeal both to enthusiasts seeking an unusual road car and to amateur competitors looking for an affordable racing platform. The first production model was the Saker SV1, which entered limited production in 1992. It was road legal and used for touring and competition. The design could accommodate different engine types, including V6 and V8 powerplants, and examples were sold in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan. In 1999, Turnbull introduced the SVS GT and SVS Sprint. These cars used an updated chassis and mechanical package. The space frame was lengthened by approximately 100 millimetres to accept a wider range of engines, while the Sprint provided an open-top alternative to the GT. Subaru Impreza WRX turbocharged flat-four engines became a common installation, paired with a converted transaxle for rear-wheel drive; Subaru flat-six engines could also be fitted. A major transition occurred in 2002, when Huub Vermeulen and Robbert Visser sought an affordable race car and acquired the rights to manufacture Sakers. They established Saker Sportscars in the Netherlands, with Herbert Boender managing the company with support from Laurens Meyer and Gerrit Meyer. Dutch production focused on the GT and Sprint and helped move the marque from its New Zealand manufacturing base into a European enthusiast and amateur-racing environment. The manufacturing arrangement was accompanied by a licensing dispute, although the Dutch operation continued to build Saker vehicles. Saker Sportscars expanded its range in 2010 with the RapX and Sniper. These were substantially related to the GT and Sprint mechanically, with bodywork providing the principal visual distinction. The company also cultivated a dedicated competition ecosystem. The Saker Sportscar Challenge, established in 2004 under the Dutch National Racing Team structure, gave owners a one-make-style setting in which to race at venues including Zandvoort, Assen, Spa-Francorchamps and Brands Hatch. The series appears to have held its last full season in 2013. Sakers also participated in endurance racing, including the 24 Hours of Dubai and the 24 Hours of Barcelona, while a Saker RapX achieved a Britcar Endurance Championship race victory late in the 2018 season. In March 2023, Saker Sportscars was acquired by Tobias Moehring and relocated to Neresheim-Elchingen in Germany. The business subsequently began producing new vehicles there, while continuing to support racing activities and organize track days. From 2023, Sakers were also eligible for the Series Sportwagen Sprint; the organizers indicated that a separate championship could be reinstated when sufficient Sakers entered. The brand therefore remains a niche, specialist manufacturer defined by low-volume production, modular performance-car engineering, customer competition and track use rather than mass-market automotive sales.

Saker Cars began as a New Zealand sports-car project led by Bruce Turnbull through Turnbull Engineering in Feilding. Design and construction activity dates from 1989, and the first limited-production model, the SV1, appeared in 1992. The SV1 was unusual for its ability to serve as both a road-legal touring car and a competition vehicle. Its architecture allowed buyers or builders to select from multiple engine types, including V6 and V8 units, reflecting the marque's emphasis on flexibility rather than a single standardized powertrain. Turnbull revised the concept in 1999 with the SVS GT and SVS Sprint. The Sprint used an open body format, while both variants benefited from updated chassis and mechanical systems. The space-frame chassis was extended by roughly 100 millimetres, improving its ability to accept different engines. Subaru Impreza WRX turbocharged flat-four engines became particularly common, installed with a modified transaxle to drive the rear wheels. Subaru flat-six engines were another possible choice. The cars were built for a niche market and were sold in several countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan. The marque's manufacturing history changed in 2002. Huub Vermeulen and Robbert Visser, associated with the Dutch National Racing Team environment, were looking for an affordable race car and concluded that the Saker design suited that purpose. They acquired manufacturing rights and founded Saker Sportscars in the Netherlands. Herbert Boender ran the company with assistance from Laurens Meyer and Gerrit Meyer. The Dutch operation produced the Saker GT and Sprint, although the licensing relationship was subject to a dispute. This Dutch period established Saker more firmly within European amateur racing. In 2004, the Saker Sportscar Challenge was created under the DNRT banner. It allowed Saker owners to compete against one another at prominent circuits such as Circuit Park Zandvoort, TT Circuit Assen, Spa-Francorchamps and Brands Hatch. The series became one of the notable amateur racing classes in the Netherlands, although the available record indicates that its last complete season was in 2013. Sakers also appeared in broader endurance competition. They competed in the 24 Hours of Dubai and recorded a class victory at the 24 Hours of Barcelona. A small number of race-only cars were built under licence in the United States, and individual road-going cars reached the American market. Saker Sportscars added the RapX and Sniper to its range in 2010. Their specifications remained closely related to the GT and Sprint, with bodywork serving as the main differentiator. The RapX later became a platform for Britcar endurance racing, where Alan Purbrick and David Brise secured a race win in 2018 after competing with the model for three years. In March 2023, Tobias Moehring acquired Saker Sportscars and moved the business to Neresheim-Elchingen in Germany. The German operation began producing new vehicles and continued the brand's links with racing and track-day activity. Since 2023, Sakers have also been eligible for the Series Sportwagen Sprint. The company indicated that a dedicated Saker championship could return if participation exceeded the required threshold. Saker consequently remains an active but highly specialized marque, with its identity rooted in small-scale construction, adaptable sports-car engineering and customer motorsport.

• 2023

  Acquisition and relocation to Germany

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Tobias Moehring acquires the company and relocates it to Neresheim-Elchingen, where production resumes or expands.

• 2010

  RapX and Sniper added

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Saker Sportscars expands its range with the RapX and Sniper, closely related to existing models.

• 2004

  Saker Sportscar Challenge established

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  A dedicated Saker competition series begins under the DNRT.

• 2002

  Manufacturing rights move to the Netherlands

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Saker Sportscars is founded in the Netherlands after Huub Vermeulen and Robbert Visser acquire manufacturing rights.

• 1999

  SVS GT and SVS Sprint introduced

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Turnbull introduces updated GT and open-top Sprint variants with a revised, longer space-frame chassis.

• 1992

  SV1 enters limited production

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The road-legal Saker SV1 becomes the marque's first production model.

• 1989

  Saker development begins in New Zealand

  [1]Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Bruce Turnbull and Turnbull Engineering begin designing and building Saker sports cars in Feilding, New Zealand.

A specialist, low-volume sports-car brand positioned around lightweight construction, adaptable powertrains, road legality and accessible amateur motorsport.

• Road-legal sports car · 1992

  Saker SV1

  The SV1 was Saker's first production model and entered limited production in 1992. It was designed to be road legal while remaining suitable for touring and competition. Its layout could accommodate several engine configurations, including V6 and V8 powerplants. Examples were sold in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan.

• Sports car and race car · 1999

  Saker SVS GT

  Introduced in 1999, the SVS GT used an updated space-frame chassis and mechanical package. The chassis was lengthened to accept a broader range of engines. Subaru Impreza WRX turbocharged flat-four engines were common, using a converted transaxle for rear-wheel drive, while Subaru flat-six installations were also possible. The model was manufactured in the Netherlands during the Saker Sportscars period.

• Open-top sports car and race car · 1999

  Saker SVS Sprint

  The SVS Sprint was introduced alongside the SVS GT in 1999 and used the same broad technical concept in an open-top body style. Its revised chassis and flexible engine installation made it suitable for both enthusiast road use and amateur competition. Dutch production followed the transfer of manufacturing rights to Saker Sportscars.

• Sports car and race car · 2010

  Saker RapX

  The RapX was added to the Saker range in 2010. It retained specifications closely related to the GT and Sprint, with a different body design. The model was also used in endurance racing, including the Britcar Endurance Championship, where a RapX achieved a race victory in 2018.

• Sports car and race car · 2010

  Saker Sniper

  The Sniper joined the product range in 2010. It shared the basic specifications of the GT and Sprint, while its bodywork distinguished it visually. It represents Saker's approach of offering closely related low-volume variants for road, track and competition use.

• 2023

  Acquisition and German relocationM&A

  Background

  Saker Sportscars changed ownership after operating in the Netherlands.

  Action taken

  Tobias Moehring acquired the company and moved operations to Neresheim-Elchingen in Germany.

  Aftermath

  The business began producing new vehicles in Germany and continued racing participation and track-day organization.

  Source

• 2010

  Launch of the RapX and SniperProduct launch

  Background

  Saker Sportscars sought to broaden its low-volume product range while retaining the established mechanical specification.

  Action taken

  The company added the RapX and Sniper, which primarily differed from the GT and Sprint through their bodywork.

  Aftermath

  The expanded range gave the brand additional road and track-oriented variants without a fundamental change to its underlying vehicle architecture.

  Source

• 2002

  Transfer of manufacturing rights to the NetherlandsStrategy

  Background

  Huub Vermeulen and Robbert Visser wanted an affordable race car and considered the Saker design suitable for Dutch amateur motorsport.

  Action taken

  They purchased manufacturing rights and established Saker Sportscars in the Netherlands.

  Aftermath

  The GT and Sprint continued to be manufactured in the Netherlands, expanding the marque's European racing presence. The licensing arrangement was later associated with a dispute.

  Source

1. 1Saker Carsen.wikipedia.org