Reliant Scimitars
Discussion
Does anyone know much about these?
I've just been trawling the small ads and it seems that they would make quite an interesting long distance rally car. Ford V6 (I think Essex earlier on then Cologne), rear wheel drive, glass fibre body that won't rust, 4 on the floor, plenty of room for lots of kit and 4 wheels on the roof. All sounds pretty terrific.
Has anyone had one? Which is the best engine to go for and with a bit of tweakery I assume that the engine can be breathed on a little bit?
I'd be thinking along the lines of this:
Kitted out like this:
I've just been trawling the small ads and it seems that they would make quite an interesting long distance rally car. Ford V6 (I think Essex earlier on then Cologne), rear wheel drive, glass fibre body that won't rust, 4 on the floor, plenty of room for lots of kit and 4 wheels on the roof. All sounds pretty terrific.
Has anyone had one? Which is the best engine to go for and with a bit of tweakery I assume that the engine can be breathed on a little bit?
I'd be thinking along the lines of this:
Kitted out like this:
I wouldn't actually buy that yellow one - it is too good! I'd want a bit of a shed, no ticket, needs work. Then I can be sure that the chassis is suitably strengthened and a few more tweeks done while it is in pieces.
Surprisingly I've just done some back of fag packet figures and for those who are spanner handy I reckon you could have a competitive car for less than £2k.
I'd really like something that I didn't give a s
t about, could happily rag senseless all day long and not mind a few battle scars.
Surprisingly I've just done some back of fag packet figures and for those who are spanner handy I reckon you could have a competitive car for less than £2k.
I'd really like something that I didn't give a s
t about, could happily rag senseless all day long and not mind a few battle scars.Yertis said:
A Scimitar person might correct me but I'm not sure the roof is load bearing, at least not all the gubbins you mention. There's a roll hoop in there but not much else. Otherwise a very tough old thing and I'm amazed they're not more popular.
That's no major problem as it would be fully caged up anyway. Still very much an idea rather than a reality but the appeal of something that can be beasted like mad in return for RWD V6 fun is pretty damned appealing. As is a new project for summer.
They are excellent value. Talk to an expert about suspension. I'm fairly sure it is Triumph TR based and tends to wear quickly with the extra weight of the Scimitar so it might not like the weight of all those tyres etc on a rough road. On the other hand there are lots of bits for TR suspension so you should be able to improve it anyway. I've never seen one rallied, would be cool!
The unusualness (word!?) is part of the appeal. I like it when people see the DS turn up at a rally and get ragged like mad 
Thanks for the point on suspension. Not too worried about that either (yes, I am that blase!) as it would be a custom setup for whatever it is prepared for. Suspect it would ride slightly higher than normal with a revised exhaust system (which would be well shielded) and a fair bit of general guards.
The more I think about this the better it is sounding, especially for a couple of bags all in.
Thanks for the point on suspension. Not too worried about that either (yes, I am that blase!) as it would be a custom setup for whatever it is prepared for. Suspect it would ride slightly higher than normal with a revised exhaust system (which would be well shielded) and a fair bit of general guards.
The more I think about this the better it is sounding, especially for a couple of bags all in.
Shoestringracer said:
They are excellent value. Talk to an expert about suspension. I'm fairly sure it is Triumph TR based and tends to wear quickly with the extra weight of the Scimitar so it might not like the weight of all those tyres etc on a rough road. On the other hand there are lots of bits for TR suspension so you should be able to improve it anyway. I've never seen one rallied, would be cool!
The front has some TR6 bits but the back end is far better, I can't remember what it's called, some sort of parallel linkage. Just Googled it and couldn't find anything. I was in a reasonably heavy shunt in mine, rear-ended at some speed by an asleep van driver, and though the van was effectively written-off all we had in the Scim was a broken rear fog-light. Heavy, but very strong. That said I think that very high-energy impacts are probably a different kettle of fish so your cage is well advised.
Ben, you've made me laugh my socks off. In between re-assembly of the B', mugs of tea and chocolate bourbons yesterday, I saw the pics of Saladin's cracking Scimitar in the new Newbury car park. This got me thinking of what great value the Scimitars really are...did the usual google for sale etc, and thought, damn...the venerable 3.0ltr V6 Essex engine in a 'period' rally car...now that'd make a good project particulalrly with the Sabre 6 history. Then, lo and behold, your threading the same idea!
Came across this site for ref' http://www.sporting-reliants.com/reliant_motorspor...
Though if you get one, don't do a John Valler
And have always had an urge for one of these...if only more were made...
Came across this site for ref' http://www.sporting-reliants.com/reliant_motorspor...
Though if you get one, don't do a John Valler
And have always had an urge for one of these...if only more were made...
That coupe in your last pic is a very beautiful car. Nice lines, purposeful stance, looks terrific.
As for my general idea, I think it has legs. After a root around it seems one can pick up a structurally sound(ish) Mk6 Scim for £750 or so. I reckon £500 worth of welding and fabrication, same again in engine work, perhaps £250 on a decent exhaust system and one would be, as they say, rocking
If I did it I'd hand paint in hammerite (or some glassfibre suitable paint), cage (keeping back seats for MSA regs), recon rad, new waterpump and hoses, new dizzy and bits, bit of spit and polish and she's ready for the Kalahari!
Keeping my current car theme I'd go red body with black bonnet and roof.
Robert's your mother's brother
As for my general idea, I think it has legs. After a root around it seems one can pick up a structurally sound(ish) Mk6 Scim for £750 or so. I reckon £500 worth of welding and fabrication, same again in engine work, perhaps £250 on a decent exhaust system and one would be, as they say, rocking
If I did it I'd hand paint in hammerite (or some glassfibre suitable paint), cage (keeping back seats for MSA regs), recon rad, new waterpump and hoses, new dizzy and bits, bit of spit and polish and she's ready for the Kalahari!
Keeping my current car theme I'd go red body with black bonnet and roof.
Robert's your mother's brother
benjj said:
Robert's your mother's brother
Dear Uncle Bob,Mother sends her warmest, though is slightly concerned you've made no allowance for brake and suspension re-work. You know how much she worries and wouldn't want you to 'come a cropper' on those long overnight Kalahari stages. Have re-assured her you know what you're doing and the locals are well-versed in transporting both mad English dogs and their Blighty Barges to the local hospital. We all look forward to you displaying your newly to-be won silverware.
Your Nephew
PS Yes, the Ogle SX250's bloomin' lovely
"Some lunatic in Buckinghamshire has stuck a dinner table on a Reliant Scimitar chassis with an eye on breaking the world speed record for a piece of furniture. (Yes, there is one.) Somehow the Stig seems to be involved in it.
Apparently the thing can do 130 mph. The dishes are sitting on nifty little elevators. Headlights live under the fruits and the sweets, the driver can stick his head out from the middle of the table, under the roast turkey."
Apparently the thing can do 130 mph. The dishes are sitting on nifty little elevators. Headlights live under the fruits and the sweets, the driver can stick his head out from the middle of the table, under the roast turkey."
If you are interested, I have access to an SE4 which needs a total resto, but it is complete with a zephyr engine with triple carbs, on wire wheels but they are rusty!! It is solid I think but is a total project, not for the faint hearted but a great base to build a rally car if you have the budget to deal with it. The car is near Horsham, Sussex and £1k will probobly buy it. If it wasn't for the fact my wife would kill me i'd buy it and tuck it away. PM me if interested.
I had a lovely white SE5a , and at 10' away it was mint. Unfortunately paint osmosis had got it so up close it was covered in 0000's of microblisters. I sold it on PH about 3 years back, but had it have been a manual not auto I would have spent the £4k quoted to to a proper job on the body.
I had a lovely white SE5a , and at 10' away it was mint. Unfortunately paint osmosis had got it so up close it was covered in 0000's of microblisters. I sold it on PH about 3 years back, but had it have been a manual not auto I would have spent the £4k quoted to to a proper job on the body.
Edited by Furyblade_Lee on Monday 26th March 22:01
recalling a friends Scims
They are not that light considering the body is gf
It took a good number of us to lift the body off the chassis so he could weld it up
My ex was very sick in one on the way to Doune
The front suspension needs regular rebuilds
The outriggers and chassis rear rots as does the fuel tank or straps
Heat destroys the spare wheel
Rear window locking is a problem
They are actually very pretty in the right colour but not as cavernous as you might think
Fuel economy out of the V6 is not that good
A Rover V8 goes into the SE5 relatively easily but not into a 6 with PAS IIRC
They are not that light considering the body is gf
It took a good number of us to lift the body off the chassis so he could weld it up
My ex was very sick in one on the way to Doune
The front suspension needs regular rebuilds
The outriggers and chassis rear rots as does the fuel tank or straps
Heat destroys the spare wheel
Rear window locking is a problem
They are actually very pretty in the right colour but not as cavernous as you might think
Fuel economy out of the V6 is not that good
A Rover V8 goes into the SE5 relatively easily but not into a 6 with PAS IIRC
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