Reliant Scimitar GTE SE6B Automatic x 2

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Up until the early 1960s, Reliant Cars had only been associated with the production of their famous three-wheeler.

Later on, there were a couple of four-wheelers, the Rebel and the Kitten, but these didn’t stand much of a chance against the brilliant Mini which sold for less, yet offered so much more. It therefore came as rather a shock when Reliant (quite out of character and in collaboration with a company called Autocars in Israel) launched a small high-performance two-seat sports car called the Sabre in 1961, which was built in Tamworth until 1964.

Its replacement, the handsome Reliant Scimitar GT SE4 Coupe, had a 2.6-litre straight-six engine and remained in production until 1970, but the elegant Tom Karen-designed GTE SE5, which came out in 1968, is the car that really put Reliant on the map. It’s not often that a four-seat derivative of a sports car is regarded as aesthetically more pleasing than the original design, but this was the case with the GTE which had elegant ‘shooting brake’ bodywork.

The original SE5 was replaced by the SE5A in September 1972 which had a revised interior fascia, different rear lights and a slightly more powerful engine. The new model was good for 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 121mph. In 1976 it was replaced by the wider and heavier SE6, the SE6A arriving in 1977 with improved brakes and suspension, the final iteration, the SE6B using Ford’s latest 2.8-litre Cologne engine. Production of all models came to an end in 1986.

This lot is the only one in the sale today to feature a BOGOF deal – Buy One Get One Free. Yes, two Scimitars for the price of one! Both SE6B Autos in Ivory White, the better presented of the two dates from 1976 and appears to have last been on the road in 2001 (NAC 276P). The interior is clean and tidy and it retains its handbook and service book. The engine runs, although we are advised that it will need recommissioning having been off the road for 14 years now.

The second of the two cars on offer dates from 1977 and has been used on the road as recently as 2011 (TPA 64S). It shows three previous owners, changing hands for the last time in 2001. There are six old MOTs on file along with a number of bills and invoices and an old style log book.

Their fibre-glass bodywork and straightforward Ford mechanics means that either of these cars could be brought back up to scratch with relative ease. Offered at no reserve, they both have a V5C and offer plenty of scope as projects for the Scimitar enthusiast.