Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22840 Location: UK

Just reading this article about a Rialto (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2162039/Theyre-parking-wrong-tree-Villagers-shock-Reliant-Robin-perched-precariously-branches-15ft-ground.html) got me wondering if anyone here has experiences of Reliant's tri-wheeler? Has anyone here owned or driven a Robin, Rialto or similar?

RJ
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Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 11:53 am Post subject:

I haven't ever driven any of the three wheeled Reliants but I remember in 1971/72 when the Royal Mail were considering which vehicle should replace their Morris Minor vans, a fleet of eight Reliant Robin vans in Royal Mail livery arrived here at the Post Office at Betws y Coed for evaluation purposes.

Their usefulness was in doubt straight away on rural deliveries because most tracks to farms were the width of one axle with grass or debris in the middle of the track. The only front wheel on the Post Office Reliants would hit rocks in the middle of these tracks and break the steering or the van's front wheel would get stuck or fall into potholes.

Stress cracks appeared on many of the Reliant vans due to barely roadworthy road surfaces in this area and, yes, one or two did tip over on hilly or mountainous roads.

The experiment was abandoned in less than twelve months.

Bedford HA vans soon followed and were used here until the early 1980s.

Ellis
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
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Doz · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 12:07 pm Post subject:

I've not owned one, but had a friend that had the Regal van back in the late seventies/early eighties. I was sitting in the passenger seat on an evening jaunt between pubs when he took a right hand turn a little too quickly whereupon we did the big cliche and ended up on our side on the footpath. Fortunately being so light it was easy to push upright.

A couple of weeks later the bruises had faded and we were out again, but as the friend had his girlfriend with him I was relegated to the back, where I sat leaning against the rear door. Unfortunately after stopping at a junction, the Mini behind us (driven by another friend) failed to notice the weedy brake lights and didn't manage to stop until his front bumper was a foot inside the back of the van. I ended up in the passenger footwell pretty much upside down.

I don't think the Regal or the Mini ever recovered, I certainly didn't (mentally at least!) and never felt the need to travel in one again.

D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

A friend of mine Delboy had one,
got rid when he became a mill yan aire

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

I've never owned one but a friend gave me shot of his Rialto once and I was very impressed (in some ways).

Firstly this car had quite a respectable power to weight ratio and could accelerate better than many small cars. It also had pretty long legs with top giving something in the mid 20s /1000.....but the biggest surprise was the (go-kart) directness of the steering. Within its cornering limits it felt just like my little Ginetta G15.

That said, it was all too easy to get it to lift its legs on corners which is rather disconcerting especially after you had settled into the thought mode that you were driving something quite sporting.

Peter
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Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:14 pm Post subject:

I would be grateful if somebody could correct or confirm what I read many years ago that it was the engine of a three wheel reliant that was used to power the auxiliary electrical systems in Chieftain tanks.

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

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Quote from Wikipedia:

"The engine went on to be used, with very minor changes, in the Series MM from 1948 till 1953 Morris Minor and was also adapted as an auxiliary power unit in Centurion, Conqueror and Chieftain tanks. Morris also used this engine as the basis of special Marine and Stationary power plants."

Peter
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1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Ellis · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2012 10:00 pm Post subject:

Thank you, Peter, my memory is not as defective as I thought it was!
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
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ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4287 Location: South Cheshire

I thought it was the Austin sidevalve engine that was used by reliant, not the morris?

Dave

Jason · Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Posts: 623 Location: Todmorden, Lancs.

when I passed my test (1994) my first car was a reliant fox, that had 4 wheels and it was a great little van, has it had 4 wheels, you didn't have to worry about it tipping over Laughing

Although I've never been in a 3 wheeler, let alone drive one....there used to be a bloke on the next street to us that had 2 and when they needed repairing, he used to fetch out a mattress, put it on the pavement, then proceed to roll the car over on to it......it was fun to watch and I suppose it saved him buying a jack Laughing

currently in Todmorden, there's a builder with a reliant 3 wheeled van complete with a roof rack.....when I see it again, I'll get some photos, he carries ladders on the roof rack and when its loaded up with his tools, it looks like its doing wheelies Laughing

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Uncle Alec · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 734 Location: Manchester

Yes, I owned and drove a Regal reg. no. 219 UMA. I hope I never have to drive one again. I lent it to a friend's son and as far as I know it is still in the Cheshire ditch where he left it.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4880 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
I wonder if the Regent and the earlier Reliant, the ones with M/cycle forks, were as unstable, also is the Ant more stable than the smaller models?
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D4B · Joined: 28 Dec 2010 Posts: 2083 Location: Hampshire UK

Uncle Alec · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 734 Location: Manchester

Not sadly at all. The thing should have been scrapped but I managed to keep it going as my only transport through a spot of impecuniarity.
The number plate went to a newsagent who stopped me whilst I was driving it. Apparently Uma is a common given name amongst some Asian ethnicities. As I was about to permanently lend it to a friend's son who was widely and accurately predicted to write it off, I saw no arguments against using such value as it had.
So the transfer saw me gain in the only possible way (you can't even weigh them in!) from an abject heap which was rolled and abandoned weeks later.