The man behind the 1975 Tapir

– a daughter’s tribute to Guyana’s 1st locally built vehicle

Long before smooth highways and modern transport in Guyana, the Corentyne route was ruled by a rumbling four-wheeled machine, its smoky exhaust leaving an imprint in both dust and memory – the Tapir.
Once a common sight on Guyana’s roads, the Tapir began to fade from prominence around 2007, as changing transport needs and rising costs forced many operators out of business. Today, the vehicle has all but disappeared. Yet even as the Tapir slipped into near extinction, its legacy has been reignited through a recently published tribute – one that centres not on the machine alone, but on the man who helped bring it to life. The Tapir holds a special place in Guyana’s industrial history as the country’s first locally manufactured and assembled vehicle, an achievement that remains a point of pride for Massy Motors Limited, formerly Associated Industries Limited (Ainlim). While the vehicle itself has long been celebrated, far fewer stories have focused on the people behind its creation.
That gap was recently addressed by Annieleez Kirton, daughter of Michael “Mike” Kirton, the key team leader behind the Tapir’s redesign, modification and assembly during the 1970s. In her tribute, she chronicles her father’s years at Ainlim, offering a first-hand account of the craftsmanship, discipline and sacrifice that shaped the iconic vehicle. In her article, she reflects for readers on the collective effort and personal loss behind the Tapir’s story. “The article is dedicated to all those who worked alongside Mike Kirton in the manufacturing of the Tapir and in memory of Terrence (Terry) Marques, whose legacy remains inseparable from the vehicle that helped shape a generation of Guyanese transport.” Writing from what she describes as “the horse’s mouth”, Annieleez takes readers back to a time when her father played a central role in transforming an idea into one of Guyana’s most recognisable machines.

Origins
She detailed that the very first Tapir to emerge from Ainlim – now Massy Motors Limited – was built and driven by her father himself. Its features were distinctive: a shade of yellow slightly darker than sunflower, manual transmission, a leatherette two-seater interior and a vintage Bedford van steering wheel. The body was constructed from 20-gauge sheet metal, the flooring from 3/8-inch marine plywood, with a bold “X” stamped on each door. According to her account, the vehicle was powered by a 1970s classic Vauxhall Viva engine, imported from General Motors (UK), while accessories such as lights, locks and windscreens were supplied through British racing driver Gordon Spice. When the Tapir was completed, she recalled, her father drove it home – not for fanfare, but to proudly show his own father what he had accomplished. Allowing readers to see the moment through the 1970s lens, Annieleez described the achievement as a defining one for a young man coming of age – proof of skill, discipline and an ability to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary. She noted that Tapirs one, two and three soon followed, while the fourth was built as a replica, specifically for advertising. On November 7, 1975, the Tapir was officially unveiled to the nation during a dramatic helicopter flyover across Georgetown, accompanied by the declaration: “The Tapir is here.” The day marked a historic milestone for both Ainlim and Guyana. Under Ainlim, she wrote, Kirton went on to modify, weld and fabricate at least seven Tapir prototypes, including a hatchback, deluxe carrier van, convertible, lower-chassis Tapir, higher-chassis Tapir and pickup models.

Highlights and tragedy
Progress, however, came at a heavy personal cost. Annieleez recounted that during a test drive at the South Dakota circuit, one of the prototypes – the lower-chassis Tapir – crashed on its final lap. Kirton’s close friend and co-worker, Terrence “Terry” Marques, lost control of the vehicle and died. Both men had been test drivers that day, along with colleague Ervin Rillen. She wrote that the tragedy took an immense emotional toll on her father. Yet, driven by resilience and remembrance, he repaired and modified the damaged vehicle, naming it “Terry” in honour of his fallen friend. In total, she documented that approximately 840 Tapirs were manufactured and sold across Guyana, most commonly in Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne), where the vehicle became a familiar fixture on the roads.
Annieleez also highlighted that her father’s contributions extended beyond civilian transport. In the 1980s, he helped design and build an armoured vehicle for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) known as “The Hawk”. Built shortly before Tapir production ceased, the vehicle was rugged and imposing, bearing similarities to what the world would later recognise as the Hummer. Throughout his years at Ainlim, she wrote, Kirton took immense pride in his work, mastering each project with discipline and precision. He attended several exhibitions, including the Tapir’s first public showcase, where the vehicle’s components and functionality were demonstrated to Guyana’s first President, Arthur Chung, and First Lady Doreen Chung. Though never a man drawn to the spotlight, Annieleez emphasised that her father played a pivotal role in shaping one of Guyana’s most important industrial achievements. “Now 77 years old, Mike Kirton spends his time enjoying the company of his dogs, tending to fruit trees and watching a good game of cricket. Yet when he speaks of the Tapir years – his proudest chapter – he does so with joy, clarity and enthusiasm. I am proud to share his story,” she wrote, “to clear misconceptions, and even more proud to call him my father – the man behind the Tapir.”