Reliant Scimitar was a series of British sports cars and GTs from Reliant. This was available in multiple body styles like shooting brake, coupes, and convertibles. Launched in 1964, the Reliant Scimitar was available till 1986 in different generations. The first two generations were the best among all. Here is everything about the 1968 Reliant Scimitar.
Engines
This Reliant Scimitar was built with Ford’s Essex V6 engines with OHV. The estimated top speed was 125 MPH. With these engines, the vehicle became one of the fastest British sports cars of the 1960s. It was a lightweight vehicle made with fiberglass. The engine was placed in the front end and this gave the vehicle great acceleration. Triple-carburetor was the other technology which helped the vehicle up its performance.
Technology
The Reliant Scimitar was a performance package. It featured technologies like independent front suspension with coil springs and rear axle. Both disc and drum brakes were available. Another advantage was the 4-speed manual transmission which helped in handling. The other notable mechanical features were electric sunroof, ZF gearbox, and charging system.
Interior Features
The British sports coupe was designed with premium and luxury features. It was a 4 seater vehicle with adjustable bucket seats, vinyl upholstery, speedometer, tachometer, and ammeter. There were comfortable features like ventilation vents, padded dashboard, heater, sun visors, and instrumentation. These features stood out and made Reliant Scimitar a comfortable vehicle. People bought it for the comfortable features and great mileage. This was the preferred vehicle of families who bought the Scimitar especially for long drives.
Fiberglass Vehicle
The 1968 Reliant Scimitar model was made using fiberglass parts. Most of these models were made using fiberglass as well. The advantage of this over steel was it completely removed the rust issues. Fiberglass components ensured Reliant Scimitar was a lightweight car which resulted in great acceleration and control. Because of this, the vehicle’s fuel efficiency was great.
Racing Appearances
Reliant Scimitar was not a big name in racing, but not many knew it was part of racing events. This was not part of NASCAR or 24 Hours of Le Mans events, but the vehicle featured in car races like rallies, club racing, and hill climb racing. The vehicle’s appearance in racing events was possible because of its fiberglass components, Ford engines, and technologies. Though it was not an ultra sports vehicle, the Reliant Scimitar made its mark in local club races. It was the favourite car of youngsters.
Limited Production
The Reliant Scimitar was not a regular sports car. It was manufactured in the UK, and sold to countries like England, Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Canada, USA, and New Zealand. The second-generation models sold around 4,400 units at a price of $4,500 USD. Overall, the production of Reliant Scimitar was not more than 20,000 units for all years. Some units are available in secondary markets. The restored Reliant Scimitar costs around $25,000 USD.
