RELIANT REBEL
Saloon: £776 (incl. P.T.)
Estate: £843 (incl. P.T.)
Rebel owners are proud of the economy of their tough little cars, and reckon it has been a poor trip if they manage less than 50 miles to the gallon. The engine is a 700 c.c. light-alloy unit, made by Reliant themselves in their factory at Tamworth, and quite a lively engine it is too with a top speed approaching 70 m.p.h. The body of the Rebel is made in glass fibre, with a choice of saloon or estate car styles, and despite its size, the Rebel is quite a light car (much less than a Mini, for example). Interior fittings are modest but neat, and there's a livety Reliant owners' club for enthusiasts. Simple to maintain and easy to mend if it runs into trouble, the Rebel could be the kind of car we shah have to turn to if insurance premiums, service charges and repair costs go on rising. Powered by an economical light alloy engine in a separate steel chassis, it has a glass fibre body like ils stable mate, the Bond Bug threewheeler. Mechanical parts are simple accessible and easy to work on.
London report
RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE
Overdrive: £2,379 (incl. P.T.)
Automatic: £2,464 (incl. P.T.)
An exclusive shape, and a pretty exclusive sort of motor car, with a beefy, 120 m.p.h. performance and a dual-purpose character. The three-litre 128 b.h.p. engine is a V6 that cornes from Ford, and there is a manual model, with overdrive on top and third and an automatic version with the Borg-Warner 35 box. For 1972 the GTE has a new look, including a one-piece chromed grille and a new rear light cluster. Inside the hand-built glass fibre body there are more changes including a redesigned facia with hooded antiglare instruments. Ventilation is greatly improved.
London report
RELIANT SCIMITAR GT/E £2,398
Everybody's doing it since Tom Karen and the Ogle design team set the fashion with this sporting coupe that has station wagon versatility. You can fold away just one or both rear seats and use them as luggage platforms if required. The latest Ford V6 Capri 3000 engine gives 135 b.h.p. against 128 and still more torque. Interior trim and instrument panel were recently redesigned.