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| Lot number | 89 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £5,800 |
| Description | Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5 Manual Overdrive |
| Registration | EGX 32J |
| Year | 1971 |
| Colour | Burgundy |
| Engine size | 2,994 cc |
| Chassis No. | 451325 |
| Engine No. | OD115C2082 |
Popularised by Princess Anne in the 1970s (she owned at least eight, all with the registration number 1420 H), the Reliant Scimitar remains one of the most practical classics that money can buy.
Clothed in a handsome glassfibre body and powered by the trusty Ford 3.0 V6 engine and box, this sporting estate offers a huge amount of style and versatility for very little money. Launched as the SE5 in 1968, the car was replaced by the SE5A in September 1972 which had a revised interior fascia, different rear lights with integral reversing lamps and indicators, and a slightly more powerful engine which made it good for 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 121mph. In 1976 this was in turn replaced by the wider and heavier SE6 which continued in production until 1982.
The car on offer here started out in life in January 1971 as an SE5 automatic but has long since been upgraded to SE5A spec and fitted with a manual overdrive gearbox. It comes with a fair amount of history showing regular improvements and upgrades and has recently been fitted with new wire wheels, hubs and tyres which lend it a particularly sporting look. The sportiness isn’t just skin deep either, as the suspension is polybushed and it has recently had new springs and adjustable shock absorbers.
The engine has been converted to run on unleaded and is said to run well with good oil pressure and temperature, and was last serviced shortly before the sale. Many new parts have been fitted in the recent past and the interior has also been retrimmed in tan vinyl with new carpets, new window rubbers and attractive chrome-bezel instruments.
The chassis is said to be solid and the whole car presents very nicely with good brightwork and good paint that has none of the usual crazing that often affects this model. MOTd until September and free to tax, it certainly cuts quite a dash on the road and attracted many admiring looks when we took it out for these photos.
