Discussion
Without mentioning Princess Anne, anybody got much experience of them?
I'm feeling drawn to an early '70s model for some reason, they sound a bit hairy chested with that Essex V6, teasonably practical, ULEZ exempt and look good.
Prices seem to have been all over the place for years, but now it seems 10-12k might get a nicely sorted one.
Oddball? British great? Can't get past the Reliant name?
Over to you...
I'm feeling drawn to an early '70s model for some reason, they sound a bit hairy chested with that Essex V6, teasonably practical, ULEZ exempt and look good.
Prices seem to have been all over the place for years, but now it seems 10-12k might get a nicely sorted one.
Oddball? British great? Can't get past the Reliant name?
Over to you...
I spent a while looking for a viable one a couple of years ago- I was inclined towards the late 70s SE6 version as it sounds like a better car all round, but I missed the boat on them being cheap enough to be a bit of fun without ever really seeing one I wanted. I'd still like one though, they're great looking things, so good luck with the search and I'm happy to join in vicariously for your Readers Cars.
I was drawn to them as well albeit many years ago. They were never cheap because they were rare and had a following.
The same is probably true today; the following will have diminished but the supply of decent cars will have decreased as well.
Btw, anyone put off by the Reliant name probably calls the 3-wheelers Robin Reliants and can safely be ignored.
The same is probably true today; the following will have diminished but the supply of decent cars will have decreased as well.
Btw, anyone put off by the Reliant name probably calls the 3-wheelers Robin Reliants and can safely be ignored.
Scimitars never quite seem to have scaled the heights of classic-dom quite as much as they were expected to back in the early/mid 80s when lots of car people raved about them.
Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
dontlookdown said:
Scimitars never quite seem to have scaled the heights of classic-dom quite as much as they were expected to back in the early/mid 80s when lots of car people raved about them.
Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
An old teacher of mine occasionally turned up in a beige Scimitar. One day, she let me sit in it. Dunno know what I was doing for the rest of the fourteen years I was at school, but I remember that.Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
Rumdoodle said:
dontlookdown said:
Scimitars never quite seem to have scaled the heights of classic-dom quite as much as they were expected to back in the early/mid 80s when lots of car people raved about them.
Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
An old teacher of mine occasionally turned up in a beige Scimitar. One day, she let me sit in it. Dunno know what I was doing for the rest of the fourteen years I was at school, but I remember that.Never driven one so can't comment on them dynamically or in comfort terms, but I have always had a soft spot for them myself. Maybe it's a form of fibreglass snobbery or something, but whatever it is puts people off the result is they look like great value these days.
A old teacher of mine had a mid blue SE6a with polished Wolfrace wheels and a moderately tuned engine. It looked and sounded ace;)
My mother had one from new in 1976 and my Dad still has it.
Brisk but certainly not fast, handle pretty well by the standards of the time, albeit the front Triumph-derived IFS struggles with the weight of the car and wears very quickly.
Expect endless electrical gremlins, poor quality trim and ancillary controls and poor earths discharging the battery.
I'd say a carefully bought one at £5-6k would be worth having but I struggle to see them as a £10k + car
Brisk but certainly not fast, handle pretty well by the standards of the time, albeit the front Triumph-derived IFS struggles with the weight of the car and wears very quickly.
Expect endless electrical gremlins, poor quality trim and ancillary controls and poor earths discharging the battery.
I'd say a carefully bought one at £5-6k would be worth having but I struggle to see them as a £10k + car
I got an SE6a as my first 'sensible' car in the early '90s. It was far from concourse condition but the intrinsic strengths of the car still shone through.
Firstly, it was nicely fast-enough, and sounded great. Fuel consumption not great but not terrible. Cruised easily above the limit if so inclined. Huge fuel tank with massive range (450 miles or something like). Tough mechanicals – Ford, Triumph and I think Jag so easy to get bits. Built like a tank. Galvanised chassis and plastic body (I wish all classics were made this way). We had a nasty rear-end shunt in London which wrote off the Escort that collided with us. The only damage to the Scimitar was a broken rear fog light. It's almost mid-engined (the V6 sits way back) and the handling is very nice. Will spin like a top however, if you over do it. In good condition they still look lovely IMO.
Downsides. The interior on the SE6 is a bit plasticky, and ours was cracked. Overheating can be an issue and was one I never really got on top of. Electrics can be a bit iffy because of poor earthing although I have to say this was not a problem I ever experienced. The Essex V6 has certain well-known issues too, although the engine is so well understood that it wasn't ever a problem and it never let us down. I recall that fitting rear seat belts was tricky and we had to fasten our daughter's baby-seat in with load straps – one of the reasons we sold it and got a Sierra
The only other problem we had, that I've mentioned on here before, was when a tramp started overnighting in it and caused it to have fleas.
We have fond memories of that car and have often mused about getting another one.
Firstly, it was nicely fast-enough, and sounded great. Fuel consumption not great but not terrible. Cruised easily above the limit if so inclined. Huge fuel tank with massive range (450 miles or something like). Tough mechanicals – Ford, Triumph and I think Jag so easy to get bits. Built like a tank. Galvanised chassis and plastic body (I wish all classics were made this way). We had a nasty rear-end shunt in London which wrote off the Escort that collided with us. The only damage to the Scimitar was a broken rear fog light. It's almost mid-engined (the V6 sits way back) and the handling is very nice. Will spin like a top however, if you over do it. In good condition they still look lovely IMO.
Downsides. The interior on the SE6 is a bit plasticky, and ours was cracked. Overheating can be an issue and was one I never really got on top of. Electrics can be a bit iffy because of poor earthing although I have to say this was not a problem I ever experienced. The Essex V6 has certain well-known issues too, although the engine is so well understood that it wasn't ever a problem and it never let us down. I recall that fitting rear seat belts was tricky and we had to fasten our daughter's baby-seat in with load straps – one of the reasons we sold it and got a Sierra
The only other problem we had, that I've mentioned on here before, was when a tramp started overnighting in it and caused it to have fleas.
We have fond memories of that car and have often mused about getting another one.
I can see the love for these, they look quite pretty, and the V6 Essex isn't too bad of a lump.
I'm following a channel on YT about resorting a Scim,The young fella got it for nothing, and is slowly restoring it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnQe1xkUY-A
I can see myself eventually owning one of these is prices remain reasonable.
I'm following a channel on YT about resorting a Scim,The young fella got it for nothing, and is slowly restoring it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnQe1xkUY-A
I can see myself eventually owning one of these is prices remain reasonable.
https://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/homepage
You'll need to join to view. Active forums with a lot of 'how tos'.
Had a 1970 SE5 in the early 80s. 3.0 litre V6 Essex. Manual 4 speed box with overdrive.
About the only car I've ever regretted selling & if it still existed I would buy it back.
I did spend some time tracing it & unfortunately I now know it doesn't.
Harder ride than the later ones but excellent handling for car of that age.
Electrical niggles due to grp body but a couple of 12' lengths of wire with a crocodile clip at each end usually made tracing earth faults easy.
Corrosion issues on chassis but the body isn't that difficult to remove. Also with reinforcing strips for hanging doors which can be awkward as it requires some cutting of the body to access. Covered in the club website.
You'll need to join to view. Active forums with a lot of 'how tos'.
Had a 1970 SE5 in the early 80s. 3.0 litre V6 Essex. Manual 4 speed box with overdrive.
About the only car I've ever regretted selling & if it still existed I would buy it back.
I did spend some time tracing it & unfortunately I now know it doesn't.
Harder ride than the later ones but excellent handling for car of that age.
Electrical niggles due to grp body but a couple of 12' lengths of wire with a crocodile clip at each end usually made tracing earth faults easy.
Corrosion issues on chassis but the body isn't that difficult to remove. Also with reinforcing strips for hanging doors which can be awkward as it requires some cutting of the body to access. Covered in the club website.
Edited by paintman on Monday 14th August 07:26
Had one in mid 80’S, only issues I recall could overheat on long journeys, drivers door kept sagging no matter how many times I tightened the hinge bolts and of course earthing faults. On the plus fibreglass body, chassis like a London bus, stainless exhaust and easily sourced parts.
Never driven one, but I genuinely often have a look through the classifieds for them. They seem a bit unique: reasonably reliable, good looking, quick, good parts availability and genuinely practical. I cart kayaks and paddleboards around and they'd fit in a Scimitar easily. Personal preference is for the later, wider SE6 shape but they all look pretty good to me, with the exception of the GTC convertible.
Did you know Princess A..., oh, wait.
Did you know Princess A..., oh, wait.
The one thing that no one has mentioned is that there is supposed to be quite a difference between the SE5, which was definitely biased towards sports performance and handling and the SE6 which was much more of a GT. I only really know the SE6, which was definitely a GT.
Also, I believe that the later, so-called Middlebridge, cars came with the Cologne 2.8 V6
Also, I believe that the later, so-called Middlebridge, cars came with the Cologne 2.8 V6
Yertis said:
We had our Scimitar as the ‘more practical’ car alongside our GT6. Not sure you’d get a kayak etc in one though, they’re not that roomy in the back.
Having said that, we sold ours to a chap in that band ‘Stomp’, and he carried his dustbin-drums around in it.
The kayak and the paddleboard are inflatable Having said that, we sold ours to a chap in that band ‘Stomp’, and he carried his dustbin-drums around in it.
Both fit in my GT6.
I've had a number, but not sine I replaced mine with the Cerbera.
My advice would be to do some research - there have been some issues over the years, mostly as a result of a lack of maintenance, and can be easily and cheaply fixed with a bit of time (and not too much money!!). Paint is expensive as it is fibreglass and needs doing properly.
I'd suggest looking at the difference between a SE5(a) and an SE6(b) as they are quite different and have both a different feel and handling characteristic.
I loved all of mine and would have another if I didn't have the Cerbera.
There are a few items you MUST check have been done if you do get one, but nothing too terrible and easily fixed. The Scimitar forums are great for advice.
For info, the early cars had the Essex 3.0, later ones the Cologne 2.8 and the Middlebridge ones the 2.9.
If you get serious about buying one, PM me if I can help.
Cheers
Rob
My advice would be to do some research - there have been some issues over the years, mostly as a result of a lack of maintenance, and can be easily and cheaply fixed with a bit of time (and not too much money!!). Paint is expensive as it is fibreglass and needs doing properly.
I'd suggest looking at the difference between a SE5(a) and an SE6(b) as they are quite different and have both a different feel and handling characteristic.
I loved all of mine and would have another if I didn't have the Cerbera.
There are a few items you MUST check have been done if you do get one, but nothing too terrible and easily fixed. The Scimitar forums are great for advice.
For info, the early cars had the Essex 3.0, later ones the Cologne 2.8 and the Middlebridge ones the 2.9.
If you get serious about buying one, PM me if I can help.
Cheers
Rob
Dad has a SE4 with the V6, brother has a SE4 with a Daimler V8, both superb cars.
I have my mum’s old SE6A, but that has a Lexus V8, Jag MK2 axle (slipper and disc brakes, albeit AP racing) and Jag front ball joints to replace the trunnions, and Fosseway Jag brakes.
Spax custom suspension (guy at Spax has a Turbo Diesel Scimitar), we did use the SE6 as a track day car, so I really need to soften it up and quiet it down, it won’t be taken on track again so can become a nice old tourer. I had it repainted as it was starting to look rough, but I’ve not got around to putting it back on the road, maybe next year.
Some pics from the bodyshop on instagram, a mate blew it over 10+ years ago when we put the 1UZFE in there, but I wanted it done properly, back to the gel coat etc.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMQHqqcA9ou/?igshid=1g...
They are a nice old thing to trundle around in, the V6 suits it fine, but they are better with a V8.
I have my mum’s old SE6A, but that has a Lexus V8, Jag MK2 axle (slipper and disc brakes, albeit AP racing) and Jag front ball joints to replace the trunnions, and Fosseway Jag brakes.
Spax custom suspension (guy at Spax has a Turbo Diesel Scimitar), we did use the SE6 as a track day car, so I really need to soften it up and quiet it down, it won’t be taken on track again so can become a nice old tourer. I had it repainted as it was starting to look rough, but I’ve not got around to putting it back on the road, maybe next year.
Some pics from the bodyshop on instagram, a mate blew it over 10+ years ago when we put the 1UZFE in there, but I wanted it done properly, back to the gel coat etc.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMQHqqcA9ou/?igshid=1g...
They are a nice old thing to trundle around in, the V6 suits it fine, but they are better with a V8.
I had an SE5a as my normal transport for a while around 1980. I came to it via several Daimler SP250s which also had the TR-type front suspension and the heavy Salisbury rear axle, but handled better than the Reliant. The heavy Ford Essex motor can't have helped the latter.
However, on the crowded roads of today, I suspect that handling is less important than it was, so if the Reliant suits you, get one!
Oh and check that the carburettor petrol pipe has been fixed in position, to avoid fires!
However, on the crowded roads of today, I suspect that handling is less important than it was, so if the Reliant suits you, get one!
Oh and check that the carburettor petrol pipe has been fixed in position, to avoid fires!
Gassing Station | Scimitar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff