Reliant Scimitar SS1 - possibly the shitest sports car EVAH?

[hairnet]

ss1s are ace - turbo = vroom wouldnt touch the 1400 tho

 

they look ace when theyre not red - that grey is lovely

 

what the austrian said about e types - never seen the point

 

the only car at a show i wont take a pic of (and mgb)

[plasticvandan]

Just found a pic of it:

 

yes,wish i had kept the plate lol

[Jim Bergerac]

I like the SS1. Quite fancy one, to be honest. There was a decent looking one not far away from me for something like £750 a few months back. It was a 1300 but I was still sorely tempted.

[anonymous user]

I've had two 1600cc ones, but can offer little ownership experience; the first I only drove on and off the trailer, it was an early one but had a rotten chassis whilst looking good on top. The second I drove home and took to work once, then left until the MOT ran out, re MOT'd and sold.

[gary_davidson]

I spotted this at a car show last year, apparently this was a prototype that reliant rejected for the SS1, I prefer how this looks.

 

[New POD]

1972 Guyson E12 1.JPG

 

 

 

What the FUCK is that ? No don't tell me, I don't ever want to know. Did the designer only have a ruler ?

[bub2006]

I dare bet the 1.8 turbos are fun. I do like them and as a few folk here and dan know i used to own a robin which left a hole in my life which needs to be filled!

[anonymous user]

What the FUCK is that ? No don't tell me, I don't ever want to know. Did the designer only have a ruler ?

It's what you can do with a V12 E type and a few pieces of hardboard stylish body kit

[plasticvandan]

That prototype was the Stevens cipher,based on kitten running gear and a space frame chassis adapted from the kittens,7 were built iirc,and I think all survive,few in the hands of reliant enthusiasts.this was around 1979-80,and was offered to reliant who built 2 themselves,then decided to go down the ss1 route.another missed opportunity. Also,what have the espace and the Citroen bx got in common? Both were originally designed for reliant,in the case ofthebx actually built,but they either couldn't afford to build them or changed their minds and the designs were sold off.

[Skizzer]

Not wishing to start a pub argument, but wasn't the BX based on Bertone's Volvo Tundra and the Espace on Giugiaro's Lancia Megagamma?

 

 

[Guest Breadvan72]

Pub pub pub!

[robinmasters]

Someone, or more likely a committee, at Reliant looked at this:

 

 

And decided their customers would prefer the styling of this:

 

 

It's like they were trying to maximise future shite potential rather than contemporary sales.

[plasticvandan]

I give you reliant prototype fw11:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_FW11

 

My bad re the espace,what I meant was reliant had designed a 7 seat people carrier in 1977,and had the ownership of the company not changed,would have beaten the espace by a good few years.

[Skizzer]

I give you reliant prototype fw11:http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_FW11

 

My bad re the espace,what I meant was reliant had designed a 7 seat people carrier in 1977,and had the ownership of the company not changed,would have beaten the espace by a good few years.

 

I like that we're both right 

 

So it looks like the BX was a cross between the two - well I live and learn.  There's a piece about it over on AROnline.

[dugong]

I'd love one - if it had the S12 Silvia engine. 

[Ratdat]

I'd love one - if it had the S12 Silvia engine. 

 

Same here. Having driven a handful of lightweight cars with a CA18ET swapped in I bet the 1.8 turbo SS! must go like shit off a shiny shovel. Plus there'd be huge room for upping the go even more or even  popping a CA18DET in to make it insane. I don't mind the styling of them. It's awkward for sure but I reckon I could live with it if it went well enough.

 

 

 

The problem with this thing is, like the similar looking MX5,l it's a bit to 'safe' as regards styling so it ultimately ends up looking a bit uninteresting and bland. 

[RichardMoss]

The later variants of the SS1 (Reliant Sabre) actually look OK. All suffer from an over-tall front screen, though, which throws the proportions out of whack.

 

http://sporting-reliants.com/images/Owners%20Gallery/JConnoly1.JPG

 

 

I prefer the original Sabre though - both the roadster (1961) and coupe (1962) pre-date the somewhat similar looking MGB

[Junkman]

I'd love one - if it had the S12 Silvia engine. 

 

I'd love one - if it had a Chevy LS9 engine.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I'd love one, if I had a flame thrower handy.  

[DSdriver]

mmmm I like that - never seen it before

[dollywobbler]

Very rare. Only 77 of those Sabre Sixes built IIRC. Beautiful styling.

[Junkman]

I prefer the original Sabre though

 

I prefer the Scimitar. Did you know that Princess Anne...

[RedSparrow]

Someone, or more likely a committee, at Reliant looked at this:

 

 

 

As much as I prefer this to what they decided on, I guess in the 80s this design would've been considered a bit too 60s looking, so they went for the wedge.

[face]

I had a trip as a passenger in a 1300 one back in the early 90s and liked it.

 

Wasn't quick, but it held on around the corners very well.

 

The Nissan propelled 1800Ti must be a hoot.

[Anglevan]

I have one of those nissan engines fitted in my anglia. Been a long project but getting very close to starting it. When I went to the nec classic car show a guy on the ss1 stand gave me a few pointers and some cds with instalation info . Very helpful chap.

[406V6]

Useless fact for extra sh*te points. The SS1 uses an instrumentation pack from the MG Metro

[Junkman]

Useless fact for extra sh*te points. The SS1 was the last design of Giovanni Michelotti, the crown of his career, so to say.

[RichardMoss]

Chevette based front suspension, I think.  Originally 1.3 and 1.6 CVH engines, then the Nissan turbo and finishing up (as the Sabre) with Rover K series.  So, one decent (Japanese) engine amongst that lot

[inconsistant]

Useless fact for extra sh*te points. The SS1 uses an instrumentation pack from the MG Metro

See post 10. I claim my £5.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Ruling:   Objection upheld.  Junkman, pay up.