1974 Reliant SCIMITAR GTE SE5 / SE5A (2024)

• Vehicle Overview
• Technical Specifications

Background:

Reliant’s most famous product is probably the yellow three-wheeled Supervan III, as driven by Delboy Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, but the Tamworth-based manufacturer should rightly be remembered for some equally distinctive vehicles, such as the futuristic Bond Bug, the SS1 sportster and – perhaps most of all – the Scimitar GTE.

Formed in 1934, Reliant was a large manufacturing concern which mainly produced road cars for niche markets, such as three-wheelers and sportscars. It was very successful - indeed for a period from the 1970s to the 1990s, Reliant was second only to British Leyland as Britain’s biggest volume vehicle manufacturer!

The Scimitar name was used on a range of sportscars from 1964 until 1986, developing from a two-dour coupé (the GT) into a sports estate (the GTE) with a convertible (GTC) launched in 1980.

The SE5 GTE made its debut at the 1968 Motor Show, less than 12 months after Tom Karen of Ogle Design was asked to rework his GTS Estate Car design study, with Reliant’s fibreglass body expert Ken Wood.

Based on a lengthened and revised chassis from the SE5 coupé and powered by the 3-litre Essex V6 from Ford’s Granada range, driving through a Ford 4-speed gearbox, the distinctive sporting estate was capable of a claimed top speed of 120mph. A BorgWarner 35 automatic gearbox option was added in 1970, with overdrive added to the manual ‘box from 1971 onwards, though most buyers specified the auto option, to benefit from the V6’s ample torque.

A raft of revisions, internal, external and mechanical were introduced in 1972, the GTE now officially named the SE5A, with a 7bhp boost in power, bringing the 0-60 time down to a very spritely 8.5 seconds.

Famously, Princess Anne was gifted a GTE as a joint 20th birthday and Christmas present (even Royals have those, it seems) by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. Anne subsequently owned eight more GTEs.

The car:

This 1974 GTE has a very interesting history, having originally been purchased from London-based sporting car retailer Chequered Flag by the5th Viscount Gough and delivered to his estate at Dingwall in Ross-shire, Scotland, the car first being registered on 11th September 1974. In Capricorn Blue, with a contrasting tan leather interior the car came – as so many did – with the BW35 automatic gearbox option.

In Viscount Gough’s hands, the Scimitar covered just 13,000 miles before being stored in the basem*nt of his home in South Kensington, London, where it remained, unused, until his death in 2023. Since his Estate sale, the car has been partially refurbished, with some detail work remaining to be completed by its new owner.

The car has been restored to its original deep blue paint colour and the chassis – having avoided half a century of wet, salty winter roads – is in superb condition. The original alloy wheels have been refurbished and fitted with brand new original-spec tyres. The leather interior has no marks or tears and will look as good as new once it has benefitted from a good leather clean and feed. The original Webasto sunroof is with a trimmer being restored and rebuilt and will go to the new owner.

While the Essex V6 engine runs, it hasn’t been serviced since new and will require inspection and a thorough service before use. A new front screen will also come with the car but will require fitting. A replacement brake servo, plus discs and pads, will be required, as will two exhaust back-boxes. There is an 8-track tape system awaiting fitment, complete with a number of suitable cartridges, for truly living the mid-1970s dream.

In the eclectic history folder are documents confirming purchase and the sole ownership of this SE5A, along with confirmation of its re-registering by the DVLA, on its original number. While there is no service history (it was never driven far enough to require a service) there is an assortment of personal correspondence to Viscount Gough, including an invitation to visit friends at the Moët cellars in Epernay in the heart of Champagne.

Summary:

A time-capsule slice of 1970s motoring brilliance - with extremely low mileage and in remarkable all-round condition - which requires only the final 10% to complete its awakening from half a century of slumber.

Location: Buckinghamshire

Seller: Private

Photography: Professional