2553 cc I-6 (1964 - 1966) 2495 cc V-6 1967 - 1970 2994 cc V-6 (1966 - 1970). SE5s only came with black vinyl trim; SE5a brought tan and leather options; blue came with SE6, more on SE6b. They are very affordable, with basic mechanicals, easy to maintain and reliable if you keep on top of the suspension. As numbers continue to decline, its day will eventually come – we promise! The cost of parts, especially axle and engine rebuilds, outweighs their values.”. The new Scimitar GT car retained the straight-six engine from the Sabre, but with triple SU carburettors as standard it now produced 120 bhp and propelled the car to a top speed of 117 mph. Scimitar Coupe with 2.6 litre straight six engine. “I bought my ’69 SE5 12 years ago: 12 fun years. Starter classics: 14 great cars for a first-timer, 20 appreciating classics and what you should pay for them, Malcolm McKay is a regular contributor to Classic & Sports Car. Graham Walker buys rights and builds a few cars. Princess Anne famously loves GTEs: she bought the last Reliant-made car and still owns a Middlebridge Scimitar, her eighth. And it remains a triumph of British ingenuity, the world’s first series production sporting estate. 1968 Reliant Scimitar Coupe JCM833F No. High gearing was a Scimitar hallmark, making for relaxed rapid cruising with the torquey Essex V6. Glassfibre won’t rust, but impact damage and flexing cause crazing that’s expensive to eradicate unless you do it yourself, and a respray can be dearer than on a steel body. built 511 • Mpg 20-28 • 0-60mph 8.7 secs • Top speed 119mph • Price new £3342 (1975) • Price now £10,000*. It was powered by a 2.6-litre Ford straight six from the Ford Zephyr and Zodiac. Reliant's first Scimitar was a coupé based upon the styling of a Daimler SP250 prototype (renamed the SX250) and the chassis of a Reliant Sabre. The steel frame rusts and needs careful inspection; unique trim items such as SE5/5a back bumpers are tricky to source. Some subtle changes were made to the bodyshell and it was further modified to fit the Reliant Sabre chassis and running gear. built 8078 • Mpg 21-32 • 0-60mph 10.8 secs • Top speed 112mph • Price new £2623 (1973) • Price now £15-20k*. Ventilation improved but still not ideal. Reliant lintroduced their third and final version of the V6 Scimitar GT in late 1967. P.A.S, electric windows, electronic ignition... 53,200 4th Nov 2020 Light, accurate steering and first class brakes with powerful servo. It was powered by a 2.6 L Ford straight six from the Ford Zephyr / Ford Zodiac. Optional extras included a choice of De Normanville overdrive unit, electric sunroof and ZF gearbox. In order to keep cost down, many components in addition to the engine were existing ones originally designed for competitor models, a point emphasized for buyers of the early Scimitars in which unfolding the sun visor involved knocking the rearview mirror out of adjus… Ride and handling very good, and much improved over the earlier car. The lower wishbones were re-positioned, the tower structures and cross members were re-inforced and an anti-roll bar was fitted. The Scimitar GTE deserves a much better fate than the classic market has given it so far: it offers outstanding value for money, a sports hatch that is practical, innovative, distinctive and ridiculously cheap to buy. Rot is the main enemy; mechanicals are reliable if sorted. Ford V6 is durable and straightforward: look for regular servicing, excessive oil breathing and knocks or rattles. ‘Catching fire’ was always unfair, resulting from a long-cured Ford V6 carburettor failing. The aura of Royal patronage and innovative British design and engineering that surrounded the Scimitar GTE like a halo at its launch has long since tarnished and fallen away. Sadly this had to be lowered for the SE6A’s less torquey 2.8 V6. For today’s buyer, the GTE offers exclusivity, durability, practicality and a great sporting feel. It was first displayed in 1964. Costly insurance disappeared when classic policies were born. In 1966 the SE4A was replaced by the SE4B, with a V6 3.0 L Ford "Essex" engine. Sold 1971-’73 • No. Other modifications included replacing the wire wheels with wider steel wheels as standard, and the fitting of a higher-ratio rear axle (3.58:1 instead of 3.875:1). Scimitar-horned Oryx - Oryx dammah by Roger Wasley 67 10 The Scimitar Oryx, Scimitar-horned Oryx or Sahara Oryx is a species once widespread across North Africa which went extinct in the wild in 2000. I was brought up with sporty cars but I needed room for camping gear, so it was ideal. Smooth, light clutch. Chrome surrounds have been added on this SE5. Check fuel pipe to carb is secure and that cast-iron manifolds aren’t cracked. Reliant's first Scimitar was a coupé based upon the styling of a Daimler SP250 prototype (renamed the SX250) and the chassis of a Reliant Sabre. Bumpers are unobtainable so look for good, straight chrome. *All prices correct at date of original publication, 1965 Triplex Ogle GTS shown at London & Turin, 1971 Oct: SE5a; detail trim changes, electric windows, new rear light clusters (5105), 1975 SE6: wider, longer, larger doors, better cabin/soundproofing, 20-gallon tank, stronger auto, optional power steering (543), 1976 SE6a: stronger scuttle, smaller discs, larger drums, better power steering (3877), 1980 SE6b (437 built) and GTC soft-top (442): Köln 2.8 V6, new chassis scuttle hoop, improved cooling, side rubbing strip, bigger front spoiler, 1987 Middlebridge buys rights to GTE & GTC and commences production in ’89: 2.9 injected V6, 15in wheels, 5-speed man or 4-speed auto, 1990 Middlebridge fails; 77 GTEs, 1 GTC made. Try to find one that has not been neglected, and cherish it. Approximately 118 of the 2.5 litre Scimitar GTs were sold before this version was withdrawn. And unreliability results from neglect rather than any inherent weakness, and can be avoided with some intensive tender loving care. The car had been privately commissioned by Boris Forter, managing director of the Helena Rubenstein Company (UK), who later had another one built for his girlfriend. There was now an all anti-dazzle black interior (including black instrument dial bezels instead of the previous chrome versions). Engine life of 100,000 miles is normal if it’s well maintained: look for at least 40psi oil pressure at speed and no excessive leaks or breathing. Unlike Jaguar, Reliant fitted its autos with longer diffs than the manuals (giving direct top closer to the manual’s overdrive top). It was powered by a 2.6 L Ford straight six from the Ford Zephyr / Ford Zodiac. This meant that Reliant had to do a good deal of development work to the existing Scimitar GT to enable the new more powerful engine to fit and obtain best performance and handling. SE6/6a cooling systems should be uprated to SE6b spec. body off restoration done in 2017, thousands spent on resto and respray with less than a 1000 miles since.S/S fuel tank and exhausts, tubular manifolds. Inspect for evidence of frequent lubrication. Look for signs of overheating (slow warm-up indicates no thermostat – a warning sign) and leave ticking over after driving to check that the electric fan cuts in when hot. Fuel and range very good". Ford auto gearboxes on SE6s are more durable than earlier BW 35s, which need rebuilding by 60,000 miles; check for smooth changes and kickdown without excessive slipping. Reliant's first Scimitar was a coupé based upon the styling of a Daimler SP250 prototype (renamed the SX250) and the chassis of a Reliant Sabre. Reliant Scimitar GTE Auto 1976 in bright orange 53200 miles on replacement engine, auto g/box recently overhauled. The engine differed from the one fitted on the Ford Zephyr 6 in that the Reliant engine came with an alternator whereas Ford buyers had to be content with a dynamo. In order to keep cost down, many components in addition to the engine were existing ones originally designed for competitor models, a point emphasized for buyers of the early Scimitars in which unfolding the sun visor involved knocking the driver's mirror out of adjustment. Overdrive is vital for relaxed cruising: ensure it cuts in and out and does not slip. It was first displayed in 1964. The West Brom firm made its -Healey into a luxury coupé when the fuel crisis killed Interceptor sales. Front suspension is a weak spot: TR6-derived parts are overloaded, notably with wider wheels/tyres. Behind all of that, the car’s true character shone through and a surprisingly high proportion of the 18 years of Reliant-built GTEs are still with us, showing the Scimitar’s durability and appeal. These lights are shared with Hillman Hunter, SE5a/6 with Aston and TVR; both are £96 each. The padded fascia board had crash pads at the top and bottom and improvements were made with the ventilation by fitting directionally variable ventilator jets, as used by Ford. As the Sabre 6 began looking a bit dated, Managing Director Ray Wiggin started looking for a new design. Reliant produced approximately 296 straight-six Scimitar GTs. I started sporting-reliants.com and am really into them.