Reliant Regal 21E

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The Reliant Company can trace its roots back to the 1930s when, following the decision of the Raleigh Bicycle Company to cease production of their three-wheeled vehicles, Works Manager TL Williams and his colleague ES Thompson decided that there was still a market for this kind of transport and set about building their own version in the garden of Williams’ home in Kettlebrook, Tamworth.

It’s hardly surprising that the resultant machine resembled the Raleigh Karryall Van with which both men would have been familiar. Derived from motorcycle engineering practices, it was indeed little more than a motorcycle fitted with a box body and the fledgling Reliant Company was soon in business, operating out of a disused bus depot in Fazeley, Tamworth. The latter half of the 1930s saw a variety of simple three-wheeled vehicles produced, using either JAP motorcycle engines or the 747cc four-cylinder 7hp Austin side-valve engine as found in the popular Austin Seven.

Following the war years, Reliant introduced a slightly modified van called the Regent. Still visually similar to an oversized motorcycle, the first Regent was completed in March 1946, just ten years after the first twin-cylinder van was built. This simple three-wheeler was developed into a number of different models throughout the 1950s together with a four-seater car, but the most significant innovation came in 1956 with the introduction of glass-fibre body panels to replace the aluminium ones.

An updated Regal version was launched in 1953 and rapidly progressed through various revisions until the Regal Mk VII of 1962. This version featured a new OHV Reliant engine, a new steel chassis and bonded glass-fibre shell (now without the wooden frame) for the body. Offered in a variety of specifications, the Regal 21E 700 (as here) was fitted with the 700cc version of the Reliant engine that produced 30bhp.

The 21E versions were fitted with 21 extras as standard (hence the name) which included a spot light, a fog light, chrome plated bumper over-riders, sun visors, an oil gauge, outer wheel trims and metallic paint. After a production run of 20 years, the Regal was finally replaced by the Reliant Robin in 1973.

First registered in August 1971, this Regal 21E joined the Stondon Collection in 1997 and was last issued with an MOT in 1992 at which point it was showing just over 34,000 miles on the clock. Barely used these past 23 years, it will doubtless require thorough recommissioning before being put back into service.