What's wrong with Reliant Scimitars ?
Discussion
That looks impressive. I can't understand why they are so undervalued. MK1 Escorts, Minis etc go for stupid money now but Scims are cheap. Its not a bad thing though, it means they are affordable.
I don't get the anti Reliant snobbery. The three wheelers were decent, reliable transport for thousands. (They are also great fun to drive..) The revenue from those allowed Reliant to build interesting sports cars that were far better than a lot of products from bigger manufacturers.
Its a shame they aren't still with us.
I don't get the anti Reliant snobbery. The three wheelers were decent, reliable transport for thousands. (They are also great fun to drive..) The revenue from those allowed Reliant to build interesting sports cars that were far better than a lot of products from bigger manufacturers.
Its a shame they aren't still with us.
227bhp said:
They did get it spectacularly wrong towards the end:
IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
Michelotti's work (IIRC) and like all designers he sometimes got it wrong. I think the 1800ti version was quite fun. I also recall that the entire design budget for the car was about the same as that which Ford allocated to the design of the Escort steering wheel.IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
Yertis said:
227bhp said:
They did get it spectacularly wrong towards the end:
IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
Michelotti's work (IIRC) and like all designers he sometimes got it wrong. I think the 1800ti version was quite fun. I also recall that the entire design budget for the car was about the same as that which Ford allocated to the design of the Escort steering wheel.IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
These looks are a shocker, though, and that's speaking as an owner of a Michelotti designed car, so I'm biased in his favour.
85Carrera said:
Yertis said:
227bhp said:
They did get it spectacularly wrong towards the end:
IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
Michelotti's work (IIRC) and like all designers he sometimes got it wrong. I think the 1800ti version was quite fun. I also recall that the entire design budget for the car was about the same as that which Ford allocated to the design of the Escort steering wheel.IIRC the designer died part way through and it had to be finished off by someone else.
You would never have guessed.
These looks are a shocker, though, and that's speaking as an owner of a Michelotti designed car, so I'm biased in his favour.
It was greatly improved all round, especially the looks, but the writing was already on the wall and it was axed.
227bhp said:
Yes you're right, it then was facelifted by William Towns and rebadged the SST (T for Towns) and SS2. I don't know why I thought he died part way through as research shows he passed 2 or 3yrs after.
It was greatly improved all round, especially the looks, but the writing was already on the wall and it was axed.
Whilst the looks are "interesting" these are actually not bad cars. They are stupidly cheap - rarely over £1k and they handle well and have tuneable ford engines. Interiors are rubbish, but if you want very cheap summer fun and enjoy mild ridicule from strangers they're a great buy. I had one for about 6 months and even took it on track days..It was greatly improved all round, especially the looks, but the writing was already on the wall and it was axed.
S..
Some contemporary road tests:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/set...
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
Everyone seemed to like the handling, and even if you had one with a gutless engine I'd have thought a Zetec transplant would be a piece of cake.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/set...
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
Everyone seemed to like the handling, and even if you had one with a gutless engine I'd have thought a Zetec transplant would be a piece of cake.
Lowtimer said:
Some contemporary road tests:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/set...
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
Everyone seemed to like the handling, and even if you had one with a gutless engine I'd have thought a Zetec transplant would be a piece of cake.
Some interesting articles in those links. Looks like the SS1 was well praised for its handling and road manners! https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/set...
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/...
Everyone seemed to like the handling, and even if you had one with a gutless engine I'd have thought a Zetec transplant would be a piece of cake.
MoggieMinor said:
Some interesting articles in those links.
Completely O/T but (and this must be sign of age) I've started buying old "Car" magazines on eBay instead of new classic mags off the shelf. They're cheaper for starters and IMO far more interesting – classic mags 'comparisons' always seem to end with a non-commital "well they've all got strong points and weak points, we like them all, buy whichever one you fancy".
when new those cars had been really expensive.
considering its age, the built quality was on a high level.....much better imo than lotus or tvr.
the problem with those cars are: the design (especially the later se6) isnt to everybodies taste. lots of cars have been neglected when they started to be "out of fashion". garages and owners who had no idea about treating fibreglass cars did the rest.
the major technical parts fited to those cars are undestroyable, easy to repair, most things are straight forward.
a good beginners classic-car.
all the rumors about overheating are b*llsh*t
prices are cheap. they have rized slightly over the past 10years.....but not really much.
my 2nd SE6b, which i bought 4 years ago, cost me 800pound. the car had a good body (no osmose bubbles), good paintwork, spot-on chassis (never welded, clean and free from waxoyl), engine was already rebuilt, front suspension was already rebuilt, stainless exhaust with tubular manifolds fitted. re-cored radiator with a temperature of 85degrees all day long even in a hot summer.
the "only" downside was the drivers seat was worn...but hey...it cost 800,-pound!!!!
considering its age, the built quality was on a high level.....much better imo than lotus or tvr.
the problem with those cars are: the design (especially the later se6) isnt to everybodies taste. lots of cars have been neglected when they started to be "out of fashion". garages and owners who had no idea about treating fibreglass cars did the rest.
the major technical parts fited to those cars are undestroyable, easy to repair, most things are straight forward.
a good beginners classic-car.
all the rumors about overheating are b*llsh*t
prices are cheap. they have rized slightly over the past 10years.....but not really much.
my 2nd SE6b, which i bought 4 years ago, cost me 800pound. the car had a good body (no osmose bubbles), good paintwork, spot-on chassis (never welded, clean and free from waxoyl), engine was already rebuilt, front suspension was already rebuilt, stainless exhaust with tubular manifolds fitted. re-cored radiator with a temperature of 85degrees all day long even in a hot summer.
the "only" downside was the drivers seat was worn...but hey...it cost 800,-pound!!!!
MoggieMinor said:
I've got to admit it, I've always fancied an SS1! They do drive well so I'm told, with cheap mechanicals.
Monocoque backbone chassis just like Lotus(and the non-galvanised originals rusted just like Lotus unfortunately) and well designed suspension mean they handle well as standard and can be made to go very well indeed for not much money. The looks are an acquired taste but you don't have to look at it when you're behind the wheel; it's a cheap, light convertible with non-rusting body and good handling, what's not to like?Yertis said:
Whilst I like them and agree that they are nigh-on indestructible, mine was always overheating and despite all the usual fixes this was never completely resolved.
... and to complete the spectrum, mine developed an overheating problem during my ownership, which *was* completely resolved. In my case the radiator had silted up, probably because of previous owners letting the coolant get old, weak, ineffective etc so that scale built up. Eventually it reached the stage where poor flow caused cavitation in the water pump. I fitted a new rad with a supergill core and a new water pump and it was fine after that.There is nothing inherent in the car that makes it overheat if properly maintained but even 20-25 years ago a lot of them had been through periods of poor maintenance from neglectful owners.
hidetheelephants said:
Monocoque backbone chassis just like Lotus(and the non-galvanised originals rusted just like Lotus unfortunately) and well designed suspension mean they handle well as standard and can be made to go very well indeed for not much money. The looks are an acquired taste but you don't have to look at it when you're behind the wheel; it's a cheap, light convertible with non-rusting body and good handling, what's not to like?
The sneers of the ignorant, unfortunately. 
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