Reliant Scimitar SS1 - possibly the shitest sports car EVAH?

[Guest Breadvan72]

Ugly, unpopular, made of knobpaste and pipe cleaners, and I assume completely shit to drive, is the SS1 the ultimate shite sports car?

 

Here's one you could probably get for a bag, but why the fuck would you?

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/reliant/scimitar/reliant-scimitar-ss1-1986/2175434

 

 

[barefoot]

Because it would never rust?

[Sloth in a bowl]

It looks overpriced until you consider it as a Seven with some basic comforts and then it becomes a bargain.

 

They are meant to be a rather fun steer and would at least be entertaining within the UK speed limits.

[RedSparrow]

I think they look ok apart from the front end and headlight arrangement that looks really clumsy.

Otherwise, I would.

[320touring]

I know of at least one fellow who uses a fleet for 'look,he dun gon sidewayz'

 

Personally they always remind me of a mini skip..

[Station]

Think they look great.

 

 

Some of them came with the CA18DET.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I think that photo flatters, as in the flesh they look yuck, and the hood is a thing of awkward bodge terribleness, as on most British soft tops.  There is a white one parked up near me that hasn't moved for ages.  It is parked next to a Matra Djet ('kinnel!) in a similar state of decrepitude.  

[Station]

They still look nice - I think these would suit being sold by a French or Italian manufacturer where they would be considered a 'masterpiece'

[Guest Breadvan72]

The interior makes me want to commit ritual suicide live on the public telly.  At least if it was French or Italian it would have a fookin' whack interior,

[inconsistant]

Havz it got metro buttonz m8?

[Partridge]

I always think they look like kit cars. The later ones looked much cooler, but did they even get into double figures?

[Sigmund Fraud]

I reckon they are far better than the sum of their parts... Some proper trick bits, like the on-board front coilovers, as well.

 

The bodywork is Michelotti's last design - and I certainly won't criticise the work of a true master like him.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I am a Michelotti fan, but I reckon that he got his secretary to phone this one in.  See also Guigiaro (I think it was) and the Bristol 412 aka OMG my eyes, my eyes!    Did Pininfarina ever fuck up?  I am not sure that he ever did.  

[Junkman]

They just can't be worse than an E-Type, which is the ugliest and miserablest piece of shit ever.

[Rocket88]

They drive far better than they look, although you always end with a collection of small washers / self tappers / other unidentified mechanical detritus in the footwells after an extended period of use. Reliant build quality not being quite what it should have been.............

[Guest Breadvan72]

I agree re the E Type. What an overrated pile of crap!  

[Guest Breadvan72]

Not a sports car, but sporty ish: I sooooooo want an XJS with a straight six in either 3.6 or 4 litre guise, but they are mucho spenner if  in good nick. V12, no thanks, engine too much like a chemical refinery on Mars, and offers twice the amount of potential broken-ness.  Also makes an Interceptor seem like an econo-box.

 

Another megashit Brit sports car that ought to be miles better: the Jensen Healey.  Didn't anyone tell them that sports cars are supposed to be pretty?

[NorfolkNWeigh]

 Did Pininfarina ever fuck up?  I am not sure that he ever did.

 

This

 

Was attached to this

 

 

Whereas,with this one they let the style* speak for itself

 

Although,to be fair I can't think of a bad Farina sports car.

[Junkman]

Although,to be fair I can't think of a bad Farina sports car.

 

I can.

 

[coalnotdole]

As others have said the ss1 supposedly drives much better than they look, personally I've always struggled to get past the awkward styling. In addition to looks early cars had rust issues the chassis were built in Germany and sat in an open yard once finished completely unprotected they were transported as deck cargo to the uk... Later cars were galvanised which mitigated the problem to an extent.

 

There were also problems with panel fit, for the ss1 reliant strayed from their traditional approach of making a single piece bodyshell and instead made conventional panels which bolted on to a steel sub frame that was integrated into the chassis. The aim was to keep repairs and insurance down making the car cheap enough for younger drivers to run. In reality this way of making body panels was new territory for reliant and it took a long time to get right. one ex-factory employee told me that on the early cars they made the equivalent of 4 cars worth of panels just to get some that would fit together!

 

The whole project nearly bankrupt the company later cars were generally regarded as much better in terms of styling performance and standard of finish but by then the damage was done.

 

Verdict: megashite

[Rocket88]

Ref the E type.................wheels always look too small, whole edifice looks like a giant dildo mounted on 4 cotton reels.

[trigger]

I had a E-Type over take me on the A12 the other day, I was doing 80mph and it went past me like i was standing still! Weird looking car though, tiny narrow tracked rear wheels and too much over hang.

 

The SS1 on the other hand, I would.

 

[dollywobbler]

I like E-Types. Stupidly overvalued though. Scimitar SS1s I find more difficult to like, even if they are good fun (apparently) to drive.

[Inspector Morose]

 

[Junkman]

I had a E-Type over take me on the A12 the other day, I was doing 80mph and it went past me like i was standing still!

 

Did it not break down 2 miles later in a cloud of steam? Mine made more miles at the rear end of a tow rope, than it did under its own power. Was good for the OMGMPG though.

 

Re. the Scimitar SS - I find they are crisply styled and not having driven one yet, would assume they are driving quite nicely, going by what I see on a technical data sheet.

Like with most Reliants, build quality and details finish might be a different story though.

[drum]

I would. And I like e types too, so there.

 

This one is clearly owned by a member of the local authority executive as evidenced by

it would form the basis of rolling improvement programme.

[mouseflakes]

Thisimage.jpg

 

Was attached to thisimage.jpg

I like the Matrix - profile looks like a squashed-up XM. Awkward, therefore they will be autoshite one day (soon?).

 

SS1 doesn't appeal to me at all.

[Guest Breadvan72]

 

I would. And I like e types too, so there.

This one is clearly owned by a member of the local authority executive as evidenced by

 

 

it would form the basis of rolling improvement programme.

 

 

 

Local Govspeak for "it's right fooking beshaggered".

[Skizzer]

I'd love to have a go in an SS1 but I can't imagine actually owning one. (Ditto E Type, come to that.)

 

The styling was a mess at the time, but then the Alfa 75 came along and somehow it now makes more sense. Almost.

 

'Rolling improvement programme' = so hideously expensive it has to be spread out over multiple budget periods.

[plasticvandan]

i had an 88 1400 SS1, drove very nicely,very good handling. build quality was no worse than any other low volume car of that sort of age.cons were in 1400 spec it felt slower than my Rialto van,and fuel economy wasnt that good either. Hood was easy to pop up,and the optional hardtop was lovely too.simple ford mechanics,pretty much all the underpinnings are nicked from other makers so easy enough to keep going.i found it very hard to park and smacked the nose cone a few times,you just cant see where it ends.