Welcome, Shamrock!
To be precise, this is the Ikenga MK III from 1969, the third in this series.
The Ikenga car venture began as a joint effort of designer/photographer David Gittens and the renowned coach builder Charles Williams; with a goal of creating a series of innovative prototype vehicles as limited editions and as future-linked concept probes for British manufacturers. Regarded along with Dennis Adams, Colin Chapman, and Tom Karen by the Times of London as "auto stylists whose ideas put Britain ahead in the world of design," David conceived and designed six radical vehicles including a single seat Fiat 500cc powered inner city module; a trike based on the Reliant chassis; an electric city car; a tiny four place, six wheeled, expandable vehicle; a recreational car based on the Austin Mini Moke chassis, and the 170mph, Buick powered, high performance McLaren-based grand touring Ikenga series.
'Ikenga', a figure/mask in the Ibo culture and mythology of eastern Nigeria, symbolizes the creative life force; "the personal shrine of man's right hand." It is a "symbol of justice and equity in a communal and social context, and a reminder of one's sacred obligation to honor those we cross paths with on the journey through life". Heady stuff, no?
All three Ikenga were styled as a contemporary African masks-on-wheels that faced 'skyward to spirit'. The car featured a revised McLaren M1B tubular chassis and a mid-mounted Buick / Rover V8. This, the last in the line, featured an innovative accident warning system and ultra-sound proximity sensor for parking.
