I quite fancy a Reliant Scimitar - am I mad?

[hairykrishna]

My daily shed MR2 is coming to the end of it's bangernomics life and I'm considering what I want as a fun replacement. The other day I was following an old (as in 70's model) Scimitar and it sounded awesome, checked eBay and roadworthy non mint ones are very cheap.

I don't know anything about them. Is it a really bad idea to get one? I realise it'll be thirsty with a ~3litre V6 and probably not that quick...

[rhinochopig]

If you do get one there is a scimitar graveyard not that far from you near Ashbourne so spares should be handy.

[Scrambled]

Gorgeous cars _ true petrol head motor.

Good luck, good quality ones change hands infrequently.



.......and before anyone else gets in, Princess Anne used to have one.

[J4CKO]

They do seem cheap, even for nice ones, nice and old tech and ripe for something a bit better than the old Ford Boat Anchor.

I hope you like Brown, Beige and Orange.

[VR6 Turbo]

you will never hear the end of this. 'princess Anne had one of those' otherwise go for it. I would imagine a LS1 v8 would fit in nicely.

VR

[Ozzie Osmond]

J4CKO said:

They do seem cheap, even for nice ones

Have you ever actually looked for one. "Nice" ones are rare and aren't cheap.

[hairykrishna]

What is there to really worry about? Other than tin worm and Lucas(?) electrics obviously....

[Oldandslow]

It's a terrible idea. They're noisy, uncomfortable and the electrics are a joke.

That's why I love mine.

Be prepared for a car that needs TLC. It'll need regular fettling to keep running well. Electronic ignition is a must. Bits need lubed. Look for one that's been waxoyled or already had chassis out riggers replaced. The essex is a simple reliable engine with loads of spares available but it's from the 60's.

[Jamirecluse]

There's an early model sitting beside a house about ten miles away from me.It's been sitting there for ages so the owner's probably refused plenty offers already.
If I could get it though, I'd quite like to put it back on the road.Not any in my area as far as I know.
Did they all have the essex engine?

[loose cannon]

I have always fancied 1,there is a guy Round my way knocking about in an early model that is painted matt black,always have a gander when I see it, one with 24v cossie power would be nice and it would carry my fishing gear nicely 2, always think bargain when I troll through the classifieds, fond memory's sitting in my friends dads blue gte when I was about 6

[Oldandslow]

Really early ones SE4's have a straight six I think. SE5 to SE6a are 3.0 essex V6 then later on and into the Middlebridges it was the 2.8 or 2.9 injection Cologne V6.

[Chris71]

I really don't like the look of the later cars; to me they lose the GT elegance of the original design and just become a rather retro estate. But I've always fancied a restored early Scimitar.

IIRC Someone on here has a mint example with considerable re-engineering and a V8 fitted. That would be good. Like a TVR with room for a few mountain bikes in the back. Maybe less appealing now fuel is £1.40 a litre, mind...

[marcosgt]

I can't imagine it being too expensive to run, either.

I used to often get 30+ out of the Marcos (same engine) on a motorway run, just don't keep booting it to hear the engine

M

[ClaphamGT3]

Apparently some posh horsey sort from up Tetbury way has got one she might part with...

[Garett]

I've seen 2 around Ashton-U-Lyne recently, within the last week, one was brown, the other a terrible shade of green.

[Gene Vincent]

hairykrishna said:

My daily shed MR2 is coming to the end of it's bangernomics life and I'm considering what I want as a fun replacement. The other day I was following an old (as in 70's model) Scimitar and it sounded awesome, checked eBay and roadworthy non mint ones are very cheap.

I don't know anything about them. Is it a really bad idea to get one? I realise it'll be thirsty with a ~3litre V6 and probably not that quick...

Had both a '73GTE and an '80GTC.

Great cars at the time, not so sure now though as I have been spoilt with reliability and longevity of parts.

Lovely handling though when in fine fettle and the GTE will drift with a control that I think would be a revelation to people who have only driven modern cars.

Mine were all Robin Rew sorted and fab fun everywhere.

[twazzock]

Do it, they're lovely.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Somebody on here had one on Chim 500 running gear IIRC. I should imagine it was no slouch.