It was Michelotti's last design. Oil pressure can be reduced through engine wear as well as the oil pump drive pencil wearing; replacing this is cheap and easy. Brewed onsite in Tamworth, Scimitar was a one off ale created by George Greenaway, Unlike Jaguar, Reliant fitted its autos with longer diffs than the manuals (giving direct top closer to the manual’s overdrive top). The main problem wasn’t the product at all, as this was very good, but the   fact the car was launched in the middle of a recession. Few would ever sample it though, because by the time the Middlebridge GTE arrived, the basic design was over two decades old, and buyers wanted something rather more modern for their money. However, if the GTE does have any shortcomings, they’re well hidden. Interview - Pat Afford (Reliant co-founder, E.S Thompson’s daughter) Interview - Jack Timbury (Ex-Reliant apprentice 1937 - 1938) Interview - Microsoft on Supervan III in Forza Horizon 3 game; Interview - Trident Motors Inc. USA (Former Reliant customer) Members Stories - Daniel Clift (UK) / … The latter is the stronger of the two, but both are generally reliable if the car isn’t used for towing (many are). The original Scimitar of the sixties and seventies was a V6-powered machine that was famously popular with Princess Anne. As well as being good looking and usefully commodious, the 3-litre Ford V6 gave the Reliant Scimitar GTE plenty of performance. Reliant brought in BRM’s (That’s British Racing Motors) John Crosthwaite to design a chassis for the Scimitar; his cruciform backbone design provides excellent stiffness without being unduly heavy. The organisers of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, have decided to postpone the 2020 event. This review has 0 comments - Be the first! With its fresh light clusters and nicer vacuum-formed interior panels the SE5a became a highly respected GT in its day; around 7100 of these were made and many still feel they are the best of the bunch, especially after September 1972 when the car also gained the uprated 138bhp Capri V6 engine. Unless you’re intent on a body-off restoration, you’re better off fi nding another car. Reliant brought in BRM’s (That’s British Racing Motors) John Crosthwaite to design a chassis for the Scimitar; his cruciform backbone design provides excellent stiffness without being unduly heavy. Power steering is highly desirable. bookmark with Delicious. Essex-engined SE6s used to be prone to overheating because of their marginal cooling system. If the Scimitar has an Achilles’ heel, it’s the front suspension, which is prone to wear in numerous places. The new model was known as the SE5; its predecessor was the SE4. Less of an issue is corrosion in the outriggers just behind the front wheels, along with the side rails below the sills; these areas can both be patched up without the need for too much dismantling. ... provided the inspiration for the Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5 launched in 1968. The SE5 and SE5a had different ratio back axles to accommodate the different gearboxesavailable. It’s also seemingly eternally underrated, with a loyal band of owners singing its praises, and everyone else agreeing it was a great idea… and yet, current values do not reflect the car’s influence on the wider automotive scene. Also check the heater works okay; they’re a poor design anyway and access to overhaul the matrix of the SE5a onward is tricky. Replacing both is easy (poly bushes are readily available), but in the case of the latter the correct shims should have been used or the camber will be out. mirror. When the later German 2.8 V6 replaced the evergreen Capri 3-litre, the Scimitar was blunted but was improved on the MIddlebridge motors when the freerbreathing 2.9-litre came on stream. Circuits at the rear of the car can be especially trouble-prone, but all circuits can cause problems which is why it’s worth replacing the factory-fitted glass-fuse boxes fi tted with the more modern blade type. As with many glassfibre cars, the Scimitar’s electrics can be extremely temperamental through poor design, bodges and age. 1972 Reliant Scimitar: the ultimate sporting hold-all? GTE projects start at all of £50, but wade in at this end of the market and it’ll cost at least another £1000 in parts alone to create a car that’s reliable and looks reasonably smart – but you’ll have to do all the work yourself if the bills aren’t to mushroom. Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5A. The body style proved such a trendsetter that other manufacturers raced to produce their own versions, with Volvo’s P1800ES and … It’s hard to credit that this clean, stylish shape is well over 40 years old, but fatter SE6 not so nice. Carmakers create a new market segment every week nowadays, but it wasn’t always so. With a huge fuel tank, the car can cruise at high speeds for mile after mile, while carrying a family and its luggage in comfort. Specs datasheet with technical data and performance data plus an analysis of the direct market competition of Reliant Scimitar GTC in 1980 the model with 2-door body and V-6 2792 cm3 / 170.4 cui engine size, 99 kW / 135 PS / 133 hp (DIN) of power, 216 Nm / 159 lb-ft of torque, 5-speed manual powertrain offered since mid-year 1980 for Europe . Faults: Wiper motor seized, front and back. Reliant Scimitar GTE Review Born from the mad designs of the styling house Ogle, the Reliant Scimitar GTE was always going to have a curious life. Specs datasheet with technical data and performance data plus an analysis of the direct market competition of Reliant Scimitar GTE 3 Litre in 1971, the model with 3-door kammback coupe body and V-6 2994 cm3 / 182.9 cui engine size, 95.5 kW / 130 PS / 128 hp (DIN) of power, 261 Nm / 192 lb-ft of torque, 4-speed manual powertrain offered up to October 1971 for Europe . Combine that with a glassfi bre bodyshell and you have a car that feels fabulously nimble and it’s quick too, thanks to that lusty 3-litre Ford Essex up front. Please do not advertise products, all posts of this nature will be removed. Are parts available for these classics? It seems a pity to scrap it, but does it have any value? And today, values remain criminally low. Back in the late 1960s you could have something sporty or cavernous, but not both – until Reliant came along. Overview. Subscribe to Classic Motoring Magazine and save over 20%, Available at all good newsagents including WHSmith, Despite its many qualities the Reliant Scimitar still hasn’t cut it as a classic. This featured Ford’s 2.8-litre Cologne engine with better cooling and a lower fi nal drive ratio; 437 were made. You’re onto a winner with the Reliant’s glassfi bre bodywork, as rust isn’t an issue. As well as being good looking and usefully commodious, the 3-litre Ford V6 gave the Reliant Scimitar GTE plenty of performance. The body style proved such a trendsetter that other manufacturers raced to produce their own versions, with Volvo’s P1800ES and Lancia’s Beta HPE being the most faithful homages. Combine that with a glassfi bre bodyshell and you have a car that feels fabulously nimble and it’s quick too, thanks to that lusty 3-litre Ford Essex up front. During that time overdrive and a rear wash/wipe were made standard while a Ford automatic transmission became an option. 1974 Reliant Scimitar 1974 Reliant Scimitar price guide for classic cars. However by the mid 70s the Scimitar GTE faced some stiff competition, not least from Ford who introduced Capri II with a hatchback facility. Let’s not forget the GTC – Tamworth’s Triumph Stag. Our guide will save you money. Reliant GTE. In this bigger, heavier GTE it became almost intolerably heavy and – in the case of Autocar’s long term test car – even caused the steering wheel to fracture due to fatigue! With the help of Parkers, you can find out all of the key specs about the Reliant Scimitar from fuel efficiency in MPG and top speed in MPH, to running costs, dimensions, data and lots more. What one is now fi tted to the car? Triumph TR4 vs. Jensen Healey vs. Sunbeam Alpine vs. Reliant SS1. So a heavily revised GTE appeared in 1976, known as the SE6. Could this be the most practical sporting classic ever built – and the most underrated? If you’re going to have to get this work done, also budget to have some relays fi tted into the headlight and electric fan circuits. Monthly Car asked way back in 1971 “Is this Britain’s most underrated car?”. It’s unlikely to be rotten as such; repairs can almost always be carried out; the issue is how much work is needed. As a result a fair chunk of the agility was lost and the Scimitar’s edge was decidely blunted. The Essex powerplant tends to be durable and highly tunable, but it does have a few weak spots. The Scimitar’s affordability suggests that it has little to recommend itself, as three grand nets a tidy example. It’s a skill you can learn at home, but making invisible repairs to glassfi bre can be fraught with problems such as paint sinkage and joints that are less than perfectly blended in. Thanks to its big engine power the GTE became a respected towcar and it’s reckoned that half of those remaining are so equipped. Make sure the front seats feel secure; the frames can fracture as they’re not very well made, leading to back seat driving just when you don’t want it. Reliant Car Reviews and Road Tests: ... such as the Scimitar, Saber Six and Reliant SS1 sports cars, along with the three wheeled varieties such as the Reliant Robin, Regan and Rialto. How to value your classic for insurance purposes, Classics insurance for 17,18,19 & 20 year olds, Insurance when your classic isn't roadworthy, It's FREE to list your car on Honest John Classics, Hiring rather than buying? Make sure you check all the switchgear works okay; from the SE5a onwards it’s fragile. Overheating and fi re risks still need some watching. However, cracks, crazing and poorly repaired accident damage are all too common and can cause lots of grief and expense. Find of the week on eBay is a Reliant Scimitar first driven by Princess Anne. Don’t let that put you off this brilliant bargain all rounder though. Found the Reliant Scimitar of your dreams? The fi rst sign of old age is jumping out of second or fourth gears; when this happens you’ll need to rebuild the gearbox or buy an exchange unit. Original-style dashboards are no longer available, but you occasionally see glassfi bre replacements for sale. The syspension’s inherent design is good if wear prone plus the cheap dampers were knownto weaken prematurely. All Scimitars featured a Ford V6 engine; the 3-litre Essex unit was fi tted until 1979, when it was superseded by the smoother 2.8-litre Cologne lump. Home > Reliant > Scimitar > 1976. Check the colour of the transmission fl uid if in doubt (the dipstick is at the rear of the engine, accessed from under the bonnet); it should be pink rather than black. Also expect wear between the vertical link and bottom trunnion, which is best checked by ensuring the trunnion bolt isn’t seized, and the steering isn’t stiff when the car’s nose is lifted off the ground. With excellent handling, care of a pretty sophisticated Aston-like rear suspension, a decent ride and plenty of feedback from the brakes as well as the steering… Yet Reliant revived the name in the eighties with the Scimitar SS1. As a British success story, the Reliant Scimitar GTE remains one of the industry’s best-kept secrets. A strip down and re … Сheck out 1986 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Reviews!From mechanical specifications to styling tweaks, nothing is left out. 1986 Reliant Scimitar SS1 Reviews. When it emerged in 1980, it had the market all to itself – the Stag had been dead three years. The other likely malady are the rocker posts pulling out of the heads; if the engine sounds especially tappety, suspect this is about to happen. Car reviews. The fi nal Reliant-built car was made in 1986, and delivered to GTE fan Princess Anne. That large Triumph model had clearly provided inspiration – with its T-piece targa arrangement and removable hardtop – and, just like its fellow British marque, Reliant struggled to meet ambitious sales expectations. The GTE’s forte was its long distance cruising ability thanks to tall gearing (particularly so with overdrive) and a massive fuel tank. Summary: A real head turner, cheap sports car, great drive and handling. However, this derivative is the one that causes headaches thanks to its plastic dash surround, which is prone to cracking. Subscribe to Classic Motoring Magazine and save over 25%, Cheap, fast, practical, tough, easy to tune, easy to maintain, style, Some of the details a bit cheap, overheating and fi re issues, slow appreciator, Ford engines ensure good performance and ease of running. The areas most likely to be affl icted with crazing and cracking are the corners of the bonnet, the base of the windscreen pillars, the panel below the window on the tailgate and around each of the door handles, along with the wiper spindle hole in some of the earlier models. Check for usual GRP crazing and bodged repairs, Switchgear comes from variety of cars, known to fail, Stag-like GTC is full four-seater. You need to drive a properly sorted Scimitar to understand what all the fuss is about; they really do offer a perfect blend of fun and practicality. Is a towbar fi tted? Reliant's first Scimitar was a coupé based upon the styling of a Daimler SP250 prototype (renamed the SX250) and the chassis of a Reliant Sabre. The name was reported to stand for Small Sports 1. A 1978 Reliant Scimitar SE6a features in Me and My Motor today By Lorelei Reddin Community Content Editor My car sorry I don't have one with me in it Why Edd China was right to quit Wheeler Dealers. Overdrive really gives this Reliant a magnificent longer stride, however most came as autos. With excellent handling, care of a pretty sophisticated Aston-like rear suspension, a decent ride and plenty of feedback from the brakes as well as the steering, the GTE is more of a driver’s car than you’d think any estate of this era could ever be. For a long while, the Reliant Scimitar GTE was a maligned oddity to be avoided at all costs, but this distinctive-looking shooting brake has finally come of age and now is the time to buy. I'm considering a Lancia Appia. One of the most common is stripping of the fi bre timing gears, which is why many owners simply fi t metal replacements; they’re less troublesome but more noisy. Those who have one swear it’s the better car…. Fuseboxes can melt; SE5 units are underthe bonnet while those in an SE6 are in the passenger footwell. Reliant Scimitar GTE: See 3 user reviews, 9 photos and great deals for Reliant Scimitar GTE. SE5s were Gti quick too, less so the lardy SE6s which could see 0-60mph slump from a best of 8.7 seconds to a more sedate 11 second mooch but all were good for neigh on 120mph and 22-28mpg depending upon driving style. Buy a good GTE for at least £1500 and you’ll reap the benefi ts of the previous owner’s care, while really good cars start at £3000. Where can you get cheap classic car insurance? That said the GTE certainly became more practical thanks to a more spacious and luxurious cabin but for many enthusiasts the trade off was too great.When Ford’s 2.8-litre Cologne V6 replaced the Essex unit in 1980, the resulting SE6b was smoother and more refi ned, but it was also less torquey. ... As part the Reliant Scimitar GTE’s 50th Anniversary in October 2018, the Reliant Motor Club teamed with with Tamworth Brewring Co. to unveil a new celebratory beer called Scimitar. Reliant Review catalog. Reviving the Scimitar name, which earned the Tamworth company considerable 1970s credibility with its GTE sports estate ... 2014 Nissan Qashqai 1.2 DIG-T first drive review. That said the interior was made considerably classier, while power-assisted steering was now made optionally available, there was also a new 20-gallon fuel tank along with Girling dual-circuit brakes plus a stronger automatic gearbox too; 550 SE6s were produced before the updated SE6a appeared with a stronger scuttle, stiffer front springs, a change to Lockheed brakes with larger rear drums and, strangely, smaller front discs; 3878 left the factory before the SE6b debuted in 1980. Four types of wheel were offered over the years by the factory. Stylish, luxurious and speedy, the new Scimitar was a complete contrast to the company’s downmarket threewheelers and the fi rst – and not very good Reliant sportster of 1961. There was now a 2.9i engine and fi ve-speed manual or four-speed automatic gearbox, but before 75 cars had been produced, the company went bust. Costing £1559 at its ’68 launch and some £300 more than the 2.5 SE4 that continued in production until late 1970, around 2500 examples of the SE5 were made before the SE5a replaced it three years later. Reliant Scimitar GTE Review Born from the mad designs of the styling house Ogle, the Reliant Scimitar GTE was always going to have a curious life. NEC classic motor show 2020 postponed due to Covid 19 concerns, Classic car auction house Coys goes into administration, Sell Your Car On Honest John Classics For Free.