Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

Something has puzzled me for years and this is why are Reliant Scimitars so undervalued now and even in the crazy sky high value days of 1989/90.

I have driven several over the years - all 3 litre and 2.8 litre cars but none of the straight six cylinder type. I always thought them to be handsome cars particularly the SE6 variants.

The one drawback I found was the terribly heavy steering and secondly the tendency for the cabin to become hot.

The rarest of all, the GTC - the convertible - is a fine looking open top, yet even this failed to sell in any quantity. There was one for sale in this area in the mid 1990s, a white V registered example at a very modest price, less than £2000 if I recall. It remained on the seller's forecourt for months until it finally disappeared.

Why are they so undervalued - does anybody know?
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[peter scott]

I don't know the answer but it might just be the general condition of those offered for sale.

Old worn out plastic interiors don't have much appeal.
The combination of cheap switch gear and no steel body tended to give unreliable electrics.
Fuel consumption wasn't too attractive.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Roger-hatchy]

One has just been bought from London by a club member in Thanet for £5 with minimal work for MOT, Not sure what model yet,

Jammy B.

Yes five pounds.



Why can I never find a bargain.

[clan chieftain]

Maybe because of the fuel consumption. I had one years ago..bright yellow, but I sold it for a good price
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The Clan Chieftain

[baconsdozen]

Didn't Princess Anne have one?.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Ellis]

[BigJohn]

I have always liked Scimitars, but my wife hates them with a passion. She cannot say why, she just hates them. I almost got a GTC past her, everything was going well, then she saw the pictures of the front.
"That's a Scimitar isn't it?"
"Yes"
"I'm not having a Scimitar."
And that was the end of the discussion. So I bought the Rover P6B 3500. Which is Almond, which is posh Rover speak for custard yellow. She said she wouldn't have a yellow car, yet she likes the Rover.
As an old farmer friend of mine said to me "Funny cattle women"

[scott_budds]

1 Because its a Reliant.

2 Because people are like sheep.

I think they are great cars. Lovely looking and maybe they have cheap electrics and are made of GRP....all positives if you ask me! I think if they came from exotic sounding parts of Italy rather than Tamworth would also help the allure.

These questions are similar ones I have thought about with my Lotus. Classic & sports car once had a Esprit V Ferrari 308GTB and although the Esprit was quicker, handled better had a better space the Ferrari won because it was a Ferrari and it had a V8. Sheep I tell you! Thats why the price of certain investor cars are so much higher than equally good and better cars!

Buddsy
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Im looking for an Elan plus 2 for my next resto project...if you see one think of me please!!

[Salopian]

Each to their own but when I test drove a GTC some years ago I thought it felt and looked rather too home made and very 70's. Nearly bought it in spite of that but then saw one on the road hood down and thought no. Actually always thought the first series the best looking externally.
Seem to recall a couple in the local scrappies years ago burnt out due to some sort of fuel leak they were prone too or is it my memory?
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Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Rick]

I think the pre-SE5 Coupes looks quite trim (there's one mouldering slightly in someone's driveway a few miles from here), but the SE5s and 6s have never really appealed. I think the interiors let them down, plus I'm not the biggest fan of GRP cars so despite them being cheap/affordable, I can't see me buying one anytime soon.

RJ
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[ajlelectronics]

Th "They all catch fire" business was a bit of a myth and not Reliant's fault. Some of the early Weber carburetters had a loose inlet pipe. With the vibration of road use, the pipe sometimes came out of the body casting and filled up the vee between the cylinders with fuel. After that it was a forgone conclusion. There were not many instances and Weber soon modified the design with a pin to secure the inlet pipe.

I am not keen on the SE5 versions, but the SE6a and GTC I think are very good looking.

As for the interiors being 70s, well of course they are, that's when they were being built. Most other vehicles on the road were awash with injection moulded plastic parts, not just Reliant.

I also like the GRP. Easy to repair, resillient, and immune from rust.
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Evans Waterless Coolants
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[Roger-hatchy]

Some would say it's not a true classic unless it rusts


I'm off

[Rick]

[ajlelectronics]

[peter scott]