RE: SOTW: Reliant Scimitar GTE

[tvron]

Had three Scimitars-one SE5a from new then two SE6 s for fun-great value for money and when sorted great fun to drive and easy to own and look after-just lacked right badge-went from Scims to TVR s also great cars provided you look after them-toured Europe many times in Chim

[cliffie]

I find that really tempting, great wedge of 70's cool.

[Morningside]

They do have that certain appeal dont they? What a great car. I still admire one every time they go past as they really do have that 'something' that makes me stare.
I did look into owning one a long time ago but the fad of older cars tend to come and go when your head starts shouting 'spares, parts, maintenance'.

will261058 said:

Not bad looking cars but they can be a nightmare electrically due to the FG body!

Being an ex TVR and Espace. Oh, and Lotus owner that sounds fun.

[plasticpig]

will261058 said:

Not bad looking cars but they can be a nightmare electrically due to the FG body!

Not really. There are only so many earthing straps. The electrics are very simple by comparison to a modern car. A bit of preventive maintenance every couple of months is all it takes to keep the electrics working.

As for people mentioning overheating issues. A well maintained one will not overheat. I have done around 60000 miles in mine over the last 10 years; it has never overheated in that time.

[Rum Runner]

Its a 4 seat classic RWD and good noises from the V6..might not be fast but its very cheap thrills.

[radlet6]

Rum Runner said:

Its a 4 seat classic RWD and good noises from the V6..might not be fast but its very cheap thrills.

Faster than the Capri (which everyone raves about) with the same engine and manuals come with overdrive.

[Pistachio]

Now here is an idea for somebody

Ferrari FF on the cheap recipe

1 Scimitar GTE wheelbase 2515mm
1 Ford Sierra 4x4 wheelbase 2608mm
1 workshop
big bag of dosh but much less than the ff list price

Strip the Scimitar GTE down and keep parts to one side (too pick from later)
Take running gear from Sierra 4X4 and attach to Scimitar chassis (extend by 93mm) smooth body work where extra added length , connect up ancillaries and test
When ready reassemble with some cool Recaros and a roll cage (just in case it all goes Pete Tong)
Drive to St Moritz in your cheapy FF with skis on the roof

Any takers???

Edited by Pistachio on Monday 28th March 14:37

[plasticpig]

Pistachio said:

Now here is an idea for somebody

Ferrari FF on the cheap recipe

1 Scimitar GTE wheelbase 2515mm
1 Ford Sierra 4x4 wheelbase 2608mm
1 workshop
big bag of dosh but much less than the ff list price

Strip the Scimitar GTE down and keep parts to one side (too pick from later)
Take running gear from Sierra 4X4 and attach to Scimitar chassis (extend by 93mm) smooth body work where extra added length , connect up ancillaries and test
When ready reassemble with some cool Recaros and a roll cage (just in case it all goes Pete Tong)
Drive to St Moritz in your cheapy FF with skis on the roof

Edited by Pistachio on Monday 28th March 14:37

There is already one Scimitar FF in existence (although it's whereabout is a bit uncertain). It was a test car that had a Ferguson Formula 4 wheel drive system fitted to it like the Jensen FF.

[BountyHunter]

Pistachio said:

Scimitar chassis (extend by 93mm)

could you not just shorten the prop from the sierra ?

[VeeFour]

BountyHunter said:

Pistachio said:

Scimitar chassis (extend by 93mm)

could you not just shorten the prop from the sierra ?

It's probably a Sierra prop. anyway - just because the wheelbases are different, doesn't mean the props will be a different length.

The biggest problem with creating a 4x4 Scimitar is going to be getting drive to the front wheels - I'm sure the chassis would need significant re-engineering to achieve that.

[Rum Runner]

BountyHunter said:

could you not just shorten the prop from the sierra ?

TVR S series is basically a 2.9 seirra / engine / box/ diff / shorter prop from memory.
I am sure also later Scimitars where fitted with 2.9.

[will261058]

plasticpig said:

will261058 said:

Not bad looking cars but they can be a nightmare electrically due to the FG body!

Not really. There are only so many earthing straps. The electrics are very simple by comparison to a modern car. A bit of preventive maintenance every couple of months is all it takes to keep the electrics working.

As for people mentioning overheating issues. A well maintained one will not overheat. I have done around 60000 miles in mine over the last 10 years; it has never overheated in that time.

I agree that given preventive maintenance electrical problems wont hurt too much but most people will not undertake that so I stand by my post that they CAN be a nightmare electrically!

[BountyHunter]

Du1point8 said:

CosworthV8 said:

205alive said:

There'll be a pic of a beautiful silver one being posted soon...but until then:

The ex PH one.

If that ever came up for sale again I would have it in a heartbeat

its lovely, obviously a known car - so whats the story ?

[Du1point8]

BountyHunter said:

Du1point8 said:

CosworthV8 said:

205alive said:

There'll be a pic of a beautiful silver one being posted soon...but until then:

The ex PH one.

If that ever came up for sale again I would have it in a heartbeat

its lovely, obviously a known car - so whats the story ?

It came up for sale and has a v8 from a TVR if I remember rightly and fully sorted/restored (you only need to look at it to know that)... At the time I wanted it but didnt have/could justify the asking price (not a lot but enough when I was in my situation) and since then have kept an eye out for it and if it did come back on sale for not stupid money I would take it.

Wonder if anyone knows the owner of it now??

[Pistachio]

VeeFour said:

It's probably a Sierra prop. anyway - just because the wheelbases are different, doesn't mean the props will be a different length.

The biggest problem with creating a 4x4 Scimitar is going to be getting drive to the front wheels - I'm sure the chassis would need significant re-engineering to achieve that.

Here you go, one that was prepared earlier http://www.sporting-reliants.com/Prototypes.htm

[Strawman]

Du1point8 said:

It came up for sale and has a v8 from a TVR if I remember rightly and fully sorted/restored (you only need to look at it to know that)...

IIRC it has the full drivetrain & suspension set up as well, I think a TVR engineer helped design the suspension mounting points & setup so it handled as well as it goes.

[scimmie]

dandarez said:

Me? Never owned one.
But I did have a gold 3-litre V6 Scimitar GT Coupe - the classic of the Scimitars; still is.
I'd driven past a dealer in Oxon in early 1980s and spotted the back roofline and thought 'what's that?'
(I had been looking for another Ginetta G11 coupe (only 2 were built, I have one - blue car in pic, with Scimmi Coupe facing forward - and I'm still looking for the other missing G11 30 years on!)



Although it wasn't a Ginetta of course, I went into the dealer and I bought it (after a quick test) for 700 quid.
I had it for a couple years I think, then sold it for a 1,000 quid

Wonder if SRF 491G is still out there?

SRF 491G is still about!! A friend of mine bought it a while back from a chap in Birmingham for restoration:





Would love to see any other old pictures you have of your old Coupe.

Cheers

Dave Poole
wwww.sporting-reliants.com

Edited by scimmie on Sunday 3rd April 21:55

[scimmie]

Well,

I am a great fan of the Reliant Scimitar. Sure they have their faults, but so do many other classic cars. Scimitars GTE's are very under-rated. They're cheap, easy to repair, very practical, make excellent tow cars amd make great touring cars and brilliant for chucking around country lanes

I've owned mine for 13 years and it still brings a smile to my face everytime I take it for a blast.

Here's my 1969 Scimitar GTE, which allthough I don't use it daily, it still covers between anywhere between 5 and 8 thousand miles per year and I'm not scared of taking it out in the snow or rain!!:






Here's some nice modified Scimitars for you:

3 litre Twin Turbo:



Cosworth Power:


Ford 3.8 Litre



3.5 Litre Rover



Supercharged 3 Litre




If you are looking to buy one then I would suggest you read through the Reliant Sabre and Scimitar Owners Club forum as there are plenty of tips and discussions about what to look out for or how to fix problems.

http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/sgwrs/index.php

All the best

Dave Poole
www.sporting-reliants.com

[johnnymaestro]

I was wondering when you'd show up.

Nice bit in C&SC recently too.

<Must get car out this season>

[Pushrod-Power]

[quote/ Your car is sweet loving those other pics too any of the sixes as long as its the Essex