Classic: Reliant Scimitar GTE
Posted on 21-11-2015 to 18:00 by larssb – 19 Comments”
The Reliant with just that little bit extra. A wheel, to be precise. In contrast to the Robin, you can with the Scimitar GTE, however, at speed through a chicane without 90⁰ about the chalice.
This Grand Tourer Estate was except on 4 wheels especially also a far cry from his more famous ‘stable-mate’ with only 3 copies of the most important invention ever. In any case, the best, to us. They shared their brand name, and both bodies were of the same plastic built, but that was any resemblance immediately. The history of Reliant goes back to 1935 and consists mainly of tricycles and a few four-wheelers in the order and value segment. In the early 60’s begins Reliant in addition, with the development of a serious sportcoupé and comes after the small Reliant Sabre in ‘64 with the Scimitar GT: a sports coupé on the chassis of the Sabre and with the six-cylinder engine from Ford’s Zephyr and Zodiac in the cabin. Two years later, this is replaced by the 3.0-litre Essex V6 3.0 or 2.5 liter, the body has hardly any changes.
That changes with the arrival of the Scimitar GTE in 1968. In just under a year to develop designer Tom Karen, and engineer John Crosthwaite the vierzits GTE on the basis of a study model of Karen, and this is also the first shooting brake. Later follow in this tradition the Volvo 1800 ES and Lancia Beta HPE. But that had not that wonderfully ferocious beats six-cylinder engine as the Scimitar GTE in the cabin. That was still the same Essex V6 as the GT, with a manual 4-speed (later also with overdrive on 3 and 4) or with an optional automatic transmission with 3 gears. As much as this Sturmey Archer hub on your old bike, and the GTE is just as British. For one, it is a curse, for others a relief. Crap or character, you describe but to your heart’s content.
The fact is that the GTE, at the time, best was unique. Not only in regards to the distinctive styling, for example, it was also the first car with a wiper on the rear window. With sprayer even. There you will hear never someone. Also the achterbankconfiguratie, with 2 separate seats that individually fold away were, at that time was a progressive. A number of other components of the car were precisely less, Reliant did you have many colleagues in the telefoonklapper: when Ford ordered them Cortina bumpers and Capri rear axles, Jaguar supplied the brake calipers, and at British Leyland, they sent, on request, boxes full of Mini door handles to Tamworth. Voortreinen came from Triumph’s TR6 and on these modular way built Reliant, the typical British character and appearance. Mainly for the typical British character and clientele, among others, Princess Anne drove the various palaces. But also less blue blood fell for the charms of this Reliant, and had a large share in the success that this separate model on the domestic market.
Outside the United Kingdom wanted, however, it is not so rafts with the GTE. Partly for this reason, but above all to be a throw to do to success on the business home market values and are Reliant the Scimitar quite a bit in 1975. And not with a facelift and some other liflafjes, the car is longer, wider and on a new chassis. Replaces this SE5 the previous SE6, such as the GTE intern is officially interpreted. The bodywork retains the same sporty lines and also the material does not change and remains plastic. That does not rust, such as the chassis, after some time, however, to do so. With a lot of devotion: the roestspook is, as of the Scimitar’s greatest enemy. Anyway, the brown autopest still epidemic in those years.
The engine is a lot more durable, because still of Ford. In 1979 stops Ford, however, with the build of the Essex V6 and shipped from that moment on, the 2.8 liter Cologne to the UK. It makes the power and the performance not much difference: the top is just under the 200 km/h and with the accelerator floored will appear just in 10 seconds to 100 km/h on the classic speedometer in the beautiful wooden dashboard. Moreover, stylish, British, partly leather lined. This naturally also applies to the present furnishings, the demanding customers would but disappointed with the touch of fabric.
Dust accepted the well-to-do lovers, only as the roof is concerned: in 1980 appears the SE8, a cabrioletversie of the GTE. This GTC is also designed by Tom Karen and he makes a beautiful convertible, although due to the necessary rigid – and safety is still quite a large Targa and T-barconstructie be maintained with the hood down. The whole system seemed very on that of the Triumph Stag and that was no coincidence: the Stag frame was used as the basis for the roof of this GTC. A very great success it is not, unfortunately, at the time of the introduction also breaks the crisis los and that is doing the selling of course, no good. Reliant cease production after more than 400 GTC’s. In 1986, the curtain falls finally all the way for the wayward One. After 18 years of consecutive, and from time to time, improved versions (identified by A or B as an addition to the SE-type) of the SE5 and SE6 roll the last upper-Reliant of the band. But hang on.
Two years later, in 1988, Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd. a new start with the car after this company the manufacture of the convertibles and dense version a year before had acquired. She beat wildly on the innovation, assemble a 2.9 liter EFI V6 with fuel injection and link it to a modern T9 5-speed. Both again Ford: probably was at that acquired the rights to the telefoonklapper from the former headquarters of Reliant. Also the handling is improved by custom springs, the installation of an anti-roll bar and Bilstein dampers. But that’s where the perfection is not on, the GTE is by Middlebridge to a much higher level. The cooling system, a weak point of the Scimitar, is to be improved, the chassis is now galvanized, a stainless steel exhaust under the car, halogen headlights, electrically operated and heated mirrors, a greatly improved and more luxurious interior with VDO counters and a leather Italvolanti steering wheel. The paint finish now consists of 10 layers and as icing on the cake in addition, by default, a real Alpine radio with a cassette player. Stereo even, the sky was the limit.
However, it remained for Middlebridge success, in spite of this well matured and thoroughly upgraded version of the luxury Brit. Princess Anne bought one, its 9th Scimitar now, and still 77 other lovers, but then stayed the order books are empty. However, there were 2 thick decorated Middlebridge versions sold in the Netherlands, for the immense amount of 127.000 euros. A third linksgestuurd copy was sold to Italy, but not in plate set. A few years later, this Scimitar again recovered and sold in the Netherlands. In the meantime, stop Middlebridge in 1990 forced the construction of the Scimitar and disappears this characteristic model for the 2nd time and for the good of the market.
Or wait. A real lover would still be able to ask Graham Walker Ltd, in which the rights of Middlebridge bought and allegedly to order a Scimitar GTE for your builds. If you have enough pounds cough up of course, otherwise they make a Robin of.
Gallery: Reliant Scimitar GTE classic
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