'The Cars That Made Britain Great' Series

[Richard A Thackeray]

I was watching the latest episode of the series; 'The Cars That made Britain Great' last night, & one of the vehicles featured was Reliant 3-wheelers (& the one driven around the streets wasn't too far from where I grew up


During it, a thought struck me.
People often talk of them as 'Robin Reliants' (no matter which model it is, even the Kitten, & Regal)

An iconic (but over-rate?) 60's car is referred to as the 'E-Type Jag'

There can't be many other cars that are known by the model designation, & have it spoken as a suffix to the manufacturer, can there?
After all, we don't refer to a "Mondeo Ford"

Is it just that the Robin & E-Type are so deeply ingrained in the British psyche??


Of course, during the series, there's been some cracking motors on it

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

During it, a thought struck me.
People often talk of them as 'Robin Reliants' (no matter which model it is, even the Kitten, & Regal)

An iconic (but over-rate?) 60's car is referred to as the 'E-Type Jag'

There can't be many other cars that are known by the model designation, & have it spoken as a suffix to the manufacturer, can there?
After all, we don't refer to a "Mondeo Ford"

Is it just that the Robin & E-Type are so deeply ingrained in the British psyche?

Another one; Range Rover
Land Rover is the company, or was, when it was first produced, & was such a brilliant vehicle (& not the blingy social climber it is now)

 

[Sharky]

Model T

 

[steve50]

Reliant were probably better known for producing the three wheeled Regals and Robins that we all know of though they do seem to be getting to be a rare sight on the roads these days. I owned at least two regals and three or four robins in the distance past due to being restricted to three wheels by my full motorcycle licence, they were great little motors as long as they were driven carefully, too fast round corners could easily see you on two wheels with the potential to flip the car completely over which I managed to do on one occasion.
Reliant also produced a rather smart (in its time) sports car, the reliant scimitar powered by the ford three liter v6 engine, lovely car and great fun to drive with it being rear wheel drive and with a fibreglass reinforced body shell it was extremely quick though it could come "unstuck" easily if pushed too hard.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

During it, a thought struck me.

I hope you were wearing your helmet

 

[midlife]

Reliant were probably better known for producing the three wheeled Regals and Robins that we all know of though they do seem to be getting to be a rare sight on the roads these days. I owned at least two regals and three or four robins in the distance past due to being restricted to three wheels by my full motorcycle licence, they were great little motors as long as they were driven carefully, too fast round corners could easily see you on two wheels with the potential to flip the car completely over which I managed to do on one occasion.
Reliant also produced a rather smart (in its time) sports car, the reliant scimitar powered by the ford three liter v6 engine, lovely car and great fun to drive with it being rear wheel drive and with a fibreglass reinforced body shell it was extremely quick though it could come "unstuck" easily if pushed too hard.

Didn't Princess Anne get done for speeding in a Scimitar GTE?

Shaun

 

[Cycleops]

Another one; Range Rover
Land Rover is the company, or was, when it was first produced, & was such a brilliant vehicle (& not the blingy social climber it is now)

Rather it must be the original LandRover produced after the war and exported worldwide. A real design icon. The Range Rover was always a tarted up utility vehicle.

 

[steve50]

Didn't Princess Anne get done for speeding in a Scimitar GTE?

Shaun

Yep, http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/car-reviews/reliant-scimitar-princess-annes-first-292859

 

[Cycleops]

The reason for the rise of the reliant 3 wheelers was the fact you could drive them on a motorcycle licence as @steve50 says. Perversely you could ride a motorbike and sidecar without a helment as it was classified as a three wheeler, and the three wheel road tax was cheaper too.

The Bond Bug was considered cool unlike the Robin which was always a bit cloth cap.

 

[ufkacbln]

 

[steve50]

The original Reliant three wheeler

 

[ufkacbln]

... and in the same way that TV promoted and made the Reliant Robin a cult icon, The Caterham....

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Rather it must be the original LandRover produced after the war and exported worldwide. A real design icon. The Range Rover was always a tarted up utility vehicle.

Granted, it was produced alongside the cars of the day, but adverts of the day did describe it as by 'The Rover Company'

I've owned several Land Rover vehicles (3 90's, 2 110's, & a Discovery Tdi)
Sadly, even though I've driven a few, I've not owned a Range Rover - I'd still love a 100"/200Tdi/5-speed 'Classic', as it later got referred to (ie; the 1970-1995 model)

They (Rover) were at the forefront of engineering too, 'Auntie Rover' could move like buggery at times

Plus, they did start off by making bicycles

they were great little motors as long as they were driven carefully, too fast round corners could easily see you on two wheels with the potential to flip the car completely over which I managed to do on one occasion

As evidenced/promoted by that buffoon Clarkson
Conversely, they did try & launch one into space too.............


Morgan 3-wheelers on the other hand................

Reliant also produced a rather smart (in its time) sports car, the reliant scimitar powered by the ford three liter v6 engine, lovely car and great fun to drive with it being rear wheel drive and with a fibreglass reinforced body shell it was extremely quick though it could come "unstuck" easily if pushed too hard.

This is one quite near me, that has, apparently not moved for several years

 

[Levo-Lon]

I changed a starter motor in situ on a GTE..what a bloody task..cool car back in the day..
were they the Ford v6 ? I cant remember

 

[steve50]

I changed a starter motor in situ on a GTE..what a bloody task..cool car back in the day..
were they the Ford v6 ? I cant remember

Yes and with a twin choke webber you could get real performance out of them.