Tiny shite

[wuvvum]

I A-framed this back from sunny Essex behind the Rover last night.

 

 

 

It's a Ligier Ambra GLX diesel. I'd wanted to try one of these things for ages - since I was about 6, in fact, and saw them bimbling around rural France, usually driven by ancient alcoholic farmers.

 

Being a top of the range GLX, it has electric windows, central locking and a leather interior.

 

 

The engine is a 505cc 2-cylinder Lombardini diesel, which makes about 8bhp.

 

 

I've just been for my first drive in it, and it's just as rubbish as I'd hoped. Top speed seems to be about 40 on the flat; it actually gets off the line reasonably well but after that the acceleration is leisurely in the extreme. I had half contemplated driving it to work occasionally, but I think trying to pull out onto the by-pass in it at rush hour would be more than my nerves could stand. It's also extremely noisy, with assorted rattles and bangs adding to the racket created by the engine. And the footwell is extremely narrow, so it's quite easy to mash both pedals at once, not that either of them does a great deal. Engine braking is fierce though. Steering is incredibly light, it'll turn on a sixpence and actually feels more stable than I'd anticipated, although that could be helped by the previous owner having fitted wider (145 section) tyres to it.

 

I can't see myself keeping it overly long to be honest. I'll probably use it for local pottering for a month or two and then sell it on. It comes with an A-frame that bolts onto the front bumper bar, and the rear lights have been wired to a trailer lead, so it's GR17 4 towing behind a ludicrously oversized camper van. I am seriously glad I didn't try to drive it back from Canvey Island though - I think the experience would have killed both me and the car. And I can now say I've done A-framing, joining the hallowed ranks of Bo11ox, Bickle et al.

[scooters]

is that Variomatic? - that lever looks awfully Daf like and would explain the engine braking - top buy though - never seen one in the flesh before

[wuvvum]

is that Variomatic?

Yup, it's variomatic - you can just about see the drive belt to the right of the engine pic.

[Angrydicky]

That looks dreadful, well done!

 

I know the Classic Car Centre at Rettendon well, they used to have the Reliant franchise and sold all kinds of weird and wonderful Microcar shite. The stuff they sell these days is so disappointing in comparison.

[maxpower]

are those rover metro rear lights?

[Cheggers]

Jesus Wuv, does your car buying addiction know no bounds. That is beautifully, wonderfully, gloriously grim. I didn't know you could get one with leather trim & leccy windows

[wuvvum]

are those rover metro rear lights?

Yup. Rover 100 fronts too. Ignition key is Citroën AX; door key is Fiat Uno. It's a proper bitsa.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I've always wanted one of these (with the leather seats, of course!) as a local runabout...GR9 purchaseage.

[freebird]

Would these pass all the stringent safety tests now?

Just dont hit any rabbits with it, you will kill yourself.

[Lord Sterling]

Wow wuvz. That looks absolutely terrible. Some comedy shite there for sure. I want one! Particularly after learning that these come with full leather

 

You can always say you've got yourself a 2 seater with full leather interior.

[scooters]

oil burner of that tiny size with a Variomatic transmission is an interesting combo! -

 

the flat 700/800CC engines in the Daf varios are pretty nippy - mind you - that thing probably does 900 miles to the gallon

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Is it suitable for vegetarians?

[nigel bickle]

I do hope it was cheap.

 

Bet its done more miles on the A frame -than driven. Variomatic gearbox oK for towing-is it?

 

Heroic -well done

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Terrible! I don’t know how these things are still being made, theyre like a 1980’s DIY effort. I would rather listen to ‘Gardeners Question Time’ non-stop for a week than drive round in one of these.

[OwdChina]

Variomatic ehh......in my experiance variomatics will do nearly the same speed in reverse.....great fun conditions permiting, but it shags the correct function of the drive system and the engine ends up running faster than needs be for a given speed/load etc.

[theorganist]

This is a new one on me - never ever seen one before - well done, nice find.

 

It does look fun!!

[lovejoy]

Wuvvum - its says " FOCS " on that black cam cover, shouldn't that be followed by " SAKE ' in similar large script ?

 

Bring it down to Penzance, I'd be happy to putter about in that down narrow Cornish lanes....

[Felly Magic]

It looks like it was sold new by either Michaels of Selby, or Cockrofts of Leeds, judging by the reg number. Both former Reliant dealers

[retrogeezer]

You can always say you've got yourself a 2 seater with full leather interior.

 

 

Made by an ex Formula One team as well!

[Pete-M]

Fantastic! That has to be the best example of microshite I've seen in a long time.

 

Needs a Fireblade engine or summat.

[ashmicro]

There's a giffer-owned blue on of those in my town.

 

 

Here's a Ligier with only 1 seat:

 

[OwdChina]

 

Needs a Fireblade engine or summat.

 

 

YES.....rear mounted......with a turbo.......and a great big whale tail glued on the back

[worldofceri]

Are there any actual advantages to these over here apart from (presumably) miserly economy and ease of parkingness? Are they cheap to tax and insure, for example?

[lovejoy]

I believe, in France, you don't need a car licence to drive one, I see dozens of micro-car variations whenever I vist normandy or loire,

they sound like washing machines on fast spin at they pass, but very practical. also loads in southern Spain, and bournemouth !!!

[wuvvum]

Are there any actual advantages to these over here apart from (presumably) miserly economy and ease of parkingness? Are they cheap to tax and insure, for example?

Not particularly - they cost the same to tax as any other sub-1549cc car. Don't know about insurance because I've just stuck it on my traders, but from what I hear they're more expensive to insure than you'd think. Main advantages are teeny size, up to 100mpg (allegedly), and the fact that they're below 750kg gross weight so legal to A-frame without worrying about brakes. And you can drive one on a B1 license, for what it's worth.

[wuvvum]

I believe, in France, you don't need a car licence to drive one

This is true, although the ones that you can drive without a license are even slower, as they are governed by law to 4kw (5.4bhp). You can drive one at 14 over there though.

[wuvvum]

I do hope it was cheap.

 

Bet its done more miles on the A frame -than driven. Variomatic gearbox oK for towing-is it?

It seems to be - when you stick it in neutral it just disconnects everything at the diff end so nothing is spinning. It was cheap enough that hopefully if I can avoid killing it I should get my money back easily enough when I sell.

[Negative Creep]

Seen a few of them knocking around here. One of the very few things I'd rather travel on a bus than drive

[DSdriver]

As I understand it, in France, if you get banned from driving say for consuming a tad too much vin ordinaire you can legally drive one of these because as noted above, you don't need a licence. So nobody bothers about the drink drive regs. Allegedly.

[Shep Shepherd]

In my area, cars like the Ligier (and the Axiam and Microcar) seem to be driven by very old people, people who can't drive properly, former Reliant owners or a combination of all three. As such, I give them a wide berth.