What's it worth: 1994 Reliant Robin edition

[Matt]

I found this Robin in a lockup last year and the owner is up for selling it. I have no idea what it's worth and he seemed like he wanted an offer more than having a number in mind.

The trouble in valuing it is that it suffered a small engine fire and needs a new bonnet, maybe some other bits, and it has sat unused for at least three and half years. The odometer looks to have been stuck at 20k since sometime between 2008 and 2010.

I suspect that in it's current state it's really not worth much but I'm not going to say scrap m8 20 quid 2nite because it'll just stay there. What do we reckon?
 

[strangeangel]

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for these things, but without seeing the damage wrought by the fire it's hard to say. As well as the bonnet, the wiring is most likely fried, and then there's the thorny question of just how torched the engine is.

 

Based on what I can see in that picture I wouldn't be offering more than a hundred notes.

[Matt]

I've always had a bit of a soft spot for these things, but without seeing the damage wrought by the fire it's hard to say. As well as the bonnet, the wiring is most likely fried, and then there's the thorny question of just how torched the engine is.

 

Based on what I can see in that picture I wouldn't be offering more than a hundred notes.

 

Thinking back he did say it was put out quickly and the reason the bonnet needs replaced is because it was ripped open in a hurry rather than using the key. It apparently happened at the sign writers who put the stickers on and I do have a photo of it being driven on the road stickered up so maybe it is just a bonnet it needs.

[vulgalour]

Ask Shumarialto, he probably knows.

 

What I know from trying to buy one as cheap transport recently is that they're worth far more than you'd ever expect, even for knackered ones.  Entry price seems to be £300 for one that needs everything and £1000 for one that's running and usable.  They hold their value and are worth far more than they have any right to be.

[Christine]

My mum said they're more dangerous than motorbikes so i couldn't have one 

 

[dollywobbler]

Sadly, there's a racing demand for these, so an awful lot went the way of the oval. Means there's no such thing as a cheap Robin these days.

[twosmoke300]

 

Had to be done

[Matt]

What I know from trying to buy one as cheap transport recently is that they're worth far more than you'd ever expect, even for knackered ones.  Entry price seems to be £300 for one that needs everything and £1000 for one that's running and usable.  They hold their value and are worth far more than they have any right to be.

 

To be fair they are a unique and very recognizable car so they are bound to be worth a bit more than a similar condition and age hatchback. The prices being asked for the late Corsa headlight models is silly though, £3k+ in some cases.

 

S'cuse me while I use this post as a notepad market research.

 

 

Projects

Spares or repairs

Sold for £250

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232678293420

 

Spares or repairs

Sold for £178

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202238079000

 

Spares or repairs, "CHEAP" "very good condition", heater box is removed.

Sold for £605

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/302638620615

 

Abandoned project, engine removed.

Sold for £310

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222825659785

 

No engine

Sold for £155

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292430090595

 

"Ideal restoration"

Sold for £375

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/132476191345

 

No MOT, electrical problems

Sold for £425

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182949030425

 

Runs and drives

Sold for £310

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182951880011

 

Former daily driver but blown head gasket

Sold for £300

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182941482459

 

Min = £155

Max = £605

Average = £325 (£290 excluding the £605 one)

 

-----

 

Runners

<1 month MOT, drivers door doesn't open from outside

Sold for £520

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/332525798757

 

No V5, 4 months MOT, no reserve auction

Sold for £440

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263493269253

 

11 months MOT

Sold for £1,076

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273054075608

 

Full MOT

Sold for £999

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352284748016

 

31k miles

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142623948771

Sold for £2,127 (am I missing something?)

 

Shabby cosmetics, <1 month MOT

Sold for £600

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253292164359

 

Min = £440

Max = £2,127

Average = £960 (£730 excluding the £2,127 one)

 

So eBay's sold listings say that the prices aren't all that consistent. Not that many listings granted but still not too useful. Considering this one has been on fire and out of use for quite a long time I guess £150-£200 isn't terribly unreasonable. Still paging shumarialto though.

[Mally]

I may be wrong but, If it runs £300 minimum.

If not £200. The engine, gearbox and axle  are worth that to some. You can pay £60 for a prop.

Not for me any more sadly.

[bub2006]

My friend bought an early Rialto 1 a few months back those in the know will know which one,no sidelights I think?. Saloon boot and40k from new with father and son owners. All it's history and a single digit reg plate on a y reg (82 I think,metal plates with raised digits ftw!). No mot in it but a good runner, bodywork ropey due to crazing and Faded paint. He paid 500 for it. I bought a running taxes and tested robin 5 years ago with 20k on clock and immaculate condition for 600 so that's an idea of how much prices have come on in past 5 years. Engine fire damage is hazard a guess to around 200-300 mark depending on damage.

[plasticvandan]

Don't add any value to it being a "special edition" all Robin SLX models were stickered as such from 1994-1998.

Axle is £150,box £100,engine £300+

 

As it sits £200.incidentally these have a different bonnet to earlier cars and don't have a key,they have a decadent interior pull release.

Your main worry will be the fire damage (most likely caused by the fuel pipe splitting over the manifold). Aside from the obvious you need to check wiring,heater hoses,bulkhead grp damage,possible dash meltage.

L reg is a Beans era car,so check the chassis as the galv in this period was poor.

[oldcars]

Just seen this. As Dan has said looks like an slx model. You would need to see what the fire has damaged. Could be costly to fix. I was going to say about £250. Need to check headgasket, kingpin play. If you get it for £250 and it needs a lot you won't lose. As Dan and others have said you will see that back if you need to break it for spares. I think scb newbridge also has one in with the correct bonnet for this. Wrong colour but was ok last time i was in.

[oldcars]

My friend bought an early Rialto 1 a few months back those in the know will know which one,no sidelights I think?. Saloon boot and40k from new with father and son owners. All it's history and a single digit reg plate on a y reg (82 I think,metal plates with raised digits ftw!). No mot in it but a good runner, bodywork ropey due to crazing and Faded paint. He paid 500 for it. I bought a running taxes and tested robin 5 years ago with 20k on clock and immaculate condition for 600 so that's an idea of how much prices have come on in past 5 years. Engine fire damage is hazard a guess to around 200-300 mark depending on damage.

Nice, sounds just like mine. I love the saloon boot early ones. I paid £450 about 5 years ago for mine with a mot and ropey paint.

[Eddie Honda]

[catflap Rialto saloons] I hate them!

[Squire_Dawson]

If you want it offer a hundred and a good home and see how you get on. It is a car on my 'to have' list.

[Mally]

I know how to cut the body up with a jigsaw, into pieces small enough to fit it into black bags for the tip.

[oldcars]

[catflap Rialto saloons] I hate them!

Most folk seem to dislike them. I like them but would love a Rialto van.

[RayMK]

I prefer the catflap Rialto saloon and had one for a couple of years.  The body is a lot stiffer than the estate rear door type.    

[plasticvandan]

The cat flap came about because at the time Reliant wanted to fit a hatchback but couldn't get the strength into the body at the time.Best one I had was an 88 catflap SE,due to the boot they generally got looked after better than the van shape ones.

[oldcars]

Banger racers like the catflap ones, must be because the body is a more rigid.

[alcyonecorporation]

 

I've driven several Rialtos and have three abiding memories:

 

1. The engine was surprisingly torquey 

2. The gearchange was really short throw and slick - it actually made the cliched sports car 'click' as you moved it through the gate 

3. No weight over the rear meant you ended up doing a one wheel peel really easily regardless of whether you wanted to or not. I was told by a former Reliant exec that LSDs were ruled out because tax weight classification and cost. 

 

Also, when stripping MM5's Rebel:

 

1. The chassis is really light

2. The body is not. The body needed four blokes to move it. 

[oldcars]

Love the gear change on them. They drift well in snow too 

[plasticvandan]

gear change is nice because its a 5 inch straight stick going straight down into the gearbox,no linkages,bushes,rods etc

[Squire_Dawson]

Don't forget Reliant had a significant racing pedigree.

[Cavcraft]

The best way to turn a few quid out of it is to buy an accident damaged Kawasaki 400, an old computer chair and six hundred metric tonnes of chequer plate, then put it on eBay as an unfinished trike project and watch some spazz hammer bid it to £3,000.

[MorrisItalSLX]

[catflap Rialto saloons] I hate them!

 

I'd love to turn one into a convertable, or perhaps a boat?

 

*scampers off to eBay*

[oldcars]

I'd love to turn one into a convertable, or perhaps a boat?

 

*scampers off to eBay*

Top Gear butchered a mint one from Joe Mason a few years back 

 

There was a white roofless one on Gumtree for years, on a Y plate. Think Top Gear used that one too.

[MorrisItalSLX]

 

These?

 

I agree that what they did was in poor taste, but a well executed convertable could be quite a fun* thing

[plasticvandan]

its been done,but they generally look shit.there was one done at the factory for one of the directors thats still floating about. I always wanted one of the chassis cab pickups that one or two were made,along with several other new commercial variants in the late 90s,until mr vosa told them to stop.

[oldcars]

 

These?

 

I agree that what they did was in poor taste, but a well executed convertable could be quite a fun* thing

That's the ones. The Y plate was sold like that but the little C plate one was chopped up. Shame in my eyes it was mint.