Tom Karen of Ogle was asked to submit some body designs based on the Ogle Design GTS estate car experiment for a new four-seater Scimitar, the SE5 Reliant Scimitar. Numbers dropped steadily throughout the 1990s as the distinctive four-seater fell victim to astronomical insurance premiums and a dubious – some say undeserved – reputation for unreliability, but the downward trend appears to have plateaued and there are now around 900 Scimitar GTEs in the UK, according to howmanyleft.co.uk. In fact, it’s reckoned that half are so equipped and the GTE has historically been put to work more than a Range Rover! Check for worn-out bushes, which can be easily replaced with modern poly items, and any signs of fatigue on the drop links. Cast-iron manifolds rust and are commonly replaced with tubular stainless steel items, which are more resilient but cause heat build-up that can damage nearby wiring. Keep it polite and on topic. 31.1. Reliant Scimitar (SE5A), 1975/N-reg, 45,000 miles, £12,000: At £12,000, this late SE5A sits near the top of the market for clean Scimitars. 16.9. £2000-£3999: Drivable Scimitars that need some attention. And as the article suggests, not particularly reliable even when new. 106. If the Scimitar has an Achilles’ heel, it’s the TR front suspension, which is prone to wear in numerous places – some specialists reckon its due to the greater weight and cornering forces employed. Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club of Glamis are selling this 1969 Scimitar GTE by online auction. With its Ford running gear and Triumph front suspension, modifications and improvements are easy yet, most owners prefer to keep them standard apart from fitting a tow bar. Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd acquired the manufacturing rights and all tooling for the GTE and the convertible GTC version in 1987. September 1972 saw the uprated 138bhp Ford Capri V6 engine (SE5a). Wiggin told Wood to proceed with a proper master. Also another shooting brake that I liked. In contrast, a similar aged standard SE6b with modded engine is offered at £5500, so there’s something for everybody it appears. Rust isn’t an issue, naturally. We do not stock or supply any of these products, we independently review these products. Unperturbed by the atmospherics, one of the earliest arrivals to the event was a gorgeous Reliant Scimitar GTE in British racing green, which we couldn’t help but notice as it parked up within the Paddock. Monthly Car asked way back in 1971 “Is this [SE5] Britain’s most underrated car?”. Torque lbft . Scimitar gearboxes (fourspeed with or without overdrive) are tough enough, but prone to oil leaks. The car has had a body off chassis refurbishment. Within a year the production rights had transferred to specialist Graham Walker, although production was never resumed. This review has 0 comments - Be the first! The rear suspension mounting points on the axle, you’ll be able to see better by removing each rear wheel. the Lancia Beta HPE seemed a easier prospect to own. The first sign of old age is jumping out of second or fourth gears. Find your perfect car on ClassicCarsforSale.co.uk, the UK's best marketplace for buyers and traders. 900: That’s how many – or few – Reliant Scimitar GTEs are around now, but you can still join this exclusive club for less than £1000. I've always liked the Scimitar GTE, shooting brakes tp be precise. See 8 results for Reliant Scimitar gte for sale at the best prices, with the cheapest car starting from £1,750. For a long while, the Reliant Scimitar GTE was a maligned oddity to be avoided at all costs, but this distinctive-looking shooting brake has finally come of age and now is the time to buy. £199.99 + £10.00 . I had a 75 model for a while. The GTE entered its second generation in 1975 with the launch of the substantially modernised SE6, which had larger doors, improved soundproofing, a bigger fuel tank and – crucially – optional power steering, which vastly improved the driving experience. However, cracks, crazing and poorly repaired accident damage are all too common and causing lots of grief and expense to properly make good. Engine, overdrive and brake overhaul. Power-assisted steering now made available, a new 20-gallon fuel tank along with Girling dual-circuit brakes plus a stronger automatic gearbox. Production stopped in 1986, but the Scimitar story didn’t end there, with Nottinghamshire-based Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd acquiring the production rights and building its own version of the model. Ensure the fuse box – in the engine bay for SE5s and the passenger footwell for the SE6 – has not melted, test all switchgear in the cabin and see that the heater gets up to temperature. The cheapest – although not by a great deal as condition counts the most – are SE6s although Middlebridge cars can command £20,000. Used car buying guide: Reliant Scimitar GTE, Driving the legends of the secret Mercedes archive. Prone areas are the corners of the bonnet, the base of the windscreen pillars, the panel below the window on the tailgate. Huge choice. However, that's a car that is virtually non existant now thanks to shocking quality issues. Top Speed (mph) 122. 1987 Specialist Middlebridge buys production rights to the GTE but it wasn’t until 1989 that a relaunched car became available. Looking for more cars? The German Cologne unit doesn’t suffer these problems but certain engine bits are fast becoming hard to source; you can fi t 2.9 pistons to 2.8 block but only after skilled machining work. Subscribe to Classic Motoring Magazine and save over 20%, Available at all good newsagents including WHSmith, Landmark classic that’s still seriously undervalued in every sense. Strathmore Vintage Vehicle Club of Glamis are selling this 1969 Scimitar GTE by online auction. Motor’s view started off with the original SE5,”A strong favourite among the Motor staff”, thought the SE6 lost a lot of its fun factor (“Marred by understeer and heavy, low speed gearing”) but reckoned it a better buy than the similar in concept MGB GT V8. GTCs are coming on strong and priced slightly higher over an equivalent SE5 – say around £12,000 for something really nice. Triumph 2000 vs. Volvo P1800 vs. BMW 5 Series Review, Rolls-Royce Shadow vs. Bentley Mulsanne vs. Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, MGB vs. Looking for a classic Reliant Scimitar Gte Auto? Fibreglass-bodied, there’s no rust worries although shell still deteriorates; chassis was galvanised after 1982. Overdrive really gives this Reliant a magnificent longer stride, however most came as autos. 8.9. Hairy. I was always put off though by the high insurance grouping and the low fuel economy. The Triumph TR suspension was said to have been compromised by the damper choice by Reliant and the SE6 went through several changes to make it handle more like the SE5. Pathfinder Models 1/43 Scale PFM5 - 1972 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5a 1 Of 600 Blue.