Reliant Scimitar SS1 1300

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Reliant had some pretty ambitious plans for the SS1 when the idea was given the green light at their modest factory in Tamworth.

They were convinced that they had spotted a gap in the market after the demise of the MG Midget. Hindsight shows that they were spot-on, although it was to be the might of Mazda that took control of that segment with the MX5 a few years later, rather than the plucky chaps from Tamworth.

The maths were calculated on a run of 2,000 cars per year and Reliant approached the big guns to style their new sports car, the SS1 (Small Sports 1). The contract was awarded to Michelotti and was to be the great man’s last design.

The chassis was inspired by the much more expensive Lotus Elan and consisted of a space-frame backbone chassis onto which removable fibreglass panels were attached. Engines and gearboxes came courtesy of Ford, with 1,300cc and 1,600cc options from launch. An 1,800cc turbocharged Nissan Silvia engine appeared in 1986 which gave the car somewhat alarming 127mph potential!

Simple pop-up lights and judicious rumaging in other maker’s parts bins kept costs down and reliability up. Sadly the complications of volume production, the continued scepticism about fibreglass bodywork and the somewhat rickety sales network hindered its success and in the end, total production barely scraped past the 1,500 mark during the next ten years.

This well-preserved SS1 dates from circa 1985 and has the entry-point 1,300cc CVH engine mated to the four-speed gearbox. It has spent much of its life on Jersey and as a consequence has accumulated just 30,000 miles.

It comes with a comprehensive history file, including the original handbook, service book and sales brochure plus a factory optioned hard top which is a rare find these days. It has spent the last few years in storage on the mainland and has yet to be registered with the DVLA and will no doubt need some light recommissioning before use.

This fun and economical low mileage example has great potential and looks like a perfect starter classic. It is offered here at no reserve so the highest bid takes it.