1981 Reliant Scimitar GTC SE8

For sale by auction on Saturday 08 March 2014 with Historics at Brooklands. Brooklands Motor Racing Circuit. Weybridge. Surrey. Call 01753 639170
Reliant began planning a convertible in 1977 and commissioned
Ogle Design to create a proposal. Tom Karen adapted his earlier GTE
design and created a beautifully proportioned four-seat convertible
with a good sized boot. From the doors back. all of the panels were
new. with extra bracing introduced between the rear side panels and
door hinge plates running under the dash board. The roll hoop from
the GTE was retained and. for additional support. was linked to
extra tubes running around the front screen creating a T bar that
would ensure the rigidity of the new body design. Due to the
separate chassis and extra bracing it did not suffer from the
scuttle shake that monocoque convertible's typically experienced.
The hood was designed in house by adapting the hood frame from a
Triumph Stag. with a bespoke cover made of mohair. A prototype car
was produced in 1978 (still in existence today). powered by a 3. 0
Essex engine which Reliant later replaced with a 2. 8 Cologne
engine. because Ford had withdrawn their Essex engines from the
European market. This was slightly down on torque compared to the
Essex engine. so to improve performance Reliant changed the final
drive ratio in the rear axle from 3. 31 to 3. 54. The GTC was
launched in March 1980 and was well received by the motoring press.
However. in 1980 the country was heading into a recession and
Reliant struggled to sell their £11. 60 convertibles in great
numbers. As a result many cars were left sitting at the factory for
months until owners could be found. Today the GTC is a very rare
sight on our roads and is possibly the most desirable of the
Scimitar models.


This 1981 Reliant Scimitar GTC SE8. with automatic gearbox. is
finished in yellow and was subject to a repaint between three and
four years ago; at the same time the mohair roof and carpets were
also replaced. About ten years ago the engine was replaced with
another Ford 2. 8 Cologne engine and we are informed by the vendor
that this engine has slight oil and water leaks but runs and drives
superbly and the car is used regularly. The black leather
seats are in original condition. This Scimitar GTC is supplied with
a V5C registration document. an MoT test certificate which expires
at the end of July 2014 and a large box file containing old MoT
test certificates and invoices mostly from the last sixteen years
during the current ownership. This is a rare opportunity to
purchase a 1980's classic luxury convertible; the perfect entry to
the classic car world. Price guide £3. 00 - £5. 00.

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