What came before the reliant Robin?
Discussion
g3org3y said:
You're right! Appointment booked with specsavers.
Quick bit of research suggests early models were 3 wheeled then subsequently changed to 4 owing topple-overability.
British registered 3 wheeler:
Later German 4 wheeler
Quite Fiat 500 ish. I could see an electric/hybrid verion of that in that retro/trendy Fiat/Mini style being a success in european cites. Quick bit of research suggests early models were 3 wheeled then subsequently changed to 4 owing topple-overability.
British registered 3 wheeler:
Later German 4 wheeler
Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 6th October 13:02
Based on the Leaf I drove, there' decent acceleration from a leccy motor. If they could get batteries and weight sorted, modern day bubboe cars could make quite an impact.
Bloody Hell, i'm turning into Jonathan Porrit.
g3org3y said:
You're right! Appointment booked with specsavers.
Quick bit of research suggests early models were 3 wheeled then subsequently changed to 4 owing topple-overability.
British registered 3 wheeler:
Later German 4 wheeler
The original (as designed by Iso) had four wheels (the narrow rear track avoided the need for a diff). To take advantage of UK law regarding three wheelers they lopped one off and switched to right hand drive but the combination of fewer wheels and now having both the driver and engine on the same side made things somewhat interesting stability-wise.Quick bit of research suggests early models were 3 wheeled then subsequently changed to 4 owing topple-overability.
British registered 3 wheeler:
Later German 4 wheeler
Edited by g3org3y on Sunday 6th October 13:02
Edited by AnotherClarkey on Sunday 6th October 15:49
AnotherClarkey said:
The original (as designed by Iso) had four wheels (the narrow rear track avoided the need for a diff). To take advantage of UK law regarding three wheelers they lopped one off and switched to right hand drive but the combination of fewer wheels and now having both the driver and engine on the same side made things somewhat interesting stability-wise.
Thanks for the beardage! Edited by AnotherClarkey on Sunday 6th October 15:49
Eagerbeaver said:
I can't believe some of the replies in this thread. We have clearly been infiltrated by members of BRAKE and non car enthusiasts.
No true car enthusiast would look at that poor old 3 wheeler and have a bad word to say about it. It's a piece of motoring heritage and it served a purpose in its day.
I'm no Reliant enthusiast, I can't say I have enjoyed a drive in anything related to the marque but if I saw that driving down the road, it would bring a smile to my face a nice warm feeling inside.
If the Regal was good enough for Gordon Murray in 1969 then it should be good enough for any real car enthusiast.
Good point, but the 3 wheelers only existed to exploit an oddness in the law. As such, they were severely compromised as a car. An interesting footnote in automotive history. Much like the BMW 518, also an oddity that was bad at its job to exploit a tax break.No true car enthusiast would look at that poor old 3 wheeler and have a bad word to say about it. It's a piece of motoring heritage and it served a purpose in its day.
I'm no Reliant enthusiast, I can't say I have enjoyed a drive in anything related to the marque but if I saw that driving down the road, it would bring a smile to my face a nice warm feeling inside.
If the Regal was good enough for Gordon Murray in 1969 then it should be good enough for any real car enthusiast.
If Mr Murray learned anything from his Reliant Robin experience (which google seems reticent aboout), it is 3 wheels bad, 4 wheels good.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/murray-...
Ive always liked Reliants. They were cheap reliable transport for years. Presumably it was the sales of the three wheelers that allowed Reliant to produce the Scimitar? Last year I bought a low mileage Rialto off an old chap who had owned it from new. I couldnt resist it! So much fun to drive and surprisingly quick.. What is less pleasant though is the attitude of some other road users. I drive the pig at the same sort of speed as my other cars but people really seem to resent being behind it or being overtaken! For a bit of fun though I'd suggest a Reliant to anyone, they are great!
One other Reliant I want is the Kitten. Those are fantastic.
One other Reliant I want is the Kitten. Those are fantastic.
wildcat45 said:
The Kitten. What was its selling point? I get the loophole in the law with three wheels, but what did the kitten offer over say Mini or a little Fiat (127?)
I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
Not much over a mini, but the 127 rusted if you spat on it, the kitten never did.I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
wildcat45 said:
The Kitten. What was its selling point? I get the loophole in the law with three wheels, but what did the kitten offer over say Mini or a little Fiat (127?)
I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
I saw a somewhat tuned Kitten making mincemeat of Golf GTIs at Goodwood a number of years ago.I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
eldar said:
If Mr Murray learned anything from his Reliant Robin experience (which google seems reticent aboout), it is 3 wheels bad, 4 wheels good.
I'd forgotten that Gordon Murrays car first car in the UK was a Reliant Regal although it wasn't by choice. I remember him talking about it in his Interview with was it Octane or Car???Anyone who has driven a 3 wheeler Morgan will tell you there is a lot of fun to be had on 3 wheels. Never understood why anyone would stick the 3rd wheel at the front though.
I remember years ago, late 80s, when I dropped my car off at local small garage for servicing one morning. They had a Robin in from another customer and young apprentice had just driven and parked it over the car-pit (front wheel on a long plank). Garage owner decided to check it out before coming to me for car-keys. Turned out that the Robin's skinny front tyre was half-on and half-off the plank.
It was a case of "Now Kev, listen, start it up again and reverse REALLY REALLY slowly, keep steering as it is then straighten up, and WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T TURN THE STEERING TO THE LEFT!!".
Kev (flustered after having had a semi-b
king) turned starter without depressing clutch . . . - car was still in gear and lurched forwards.I can still hear the crunch of fibreglass.
AnotherClarkey said:
wildcat45 said:
The Kitten. What was its selling point? I get the loophole in the law with three wheels, but what did the kitten offer over say Mini or a little Fiat (127?)
I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
I saw a somewhat tuned Kitten making mincemeat of Golf GTIs at Goodwood a number of years ago.I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
Pothole said:
AnotherClarkey said:
wildcat45 said:
The Kitten. What was its selling point? I get the loophole in the law with three wheels, but what did the kitten offer over say Mini or a little Fiat (127?)
I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
I saw a somewhat tuned Kitten making mincemeat of Golf GTIs at Goodwood a number of years ago.I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
AnotherClarkey said:
Pothole said:
AnotherClarkey said:
wildcat45 said:
The Kitten. What was its selling point? I get the loophole in the law with three wheels, but what did the kitten offer over say Mini or a little Fiat (127?)
I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
I saw a somewhat tuned Kitten making mincemeat of Golf GTIs at Goodwood a number of years ago.I seem to remember as a little boy the interiors were quite cool as they had a centre console. Well it was the 70s!
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