Looking for a classic with a touch of prestige? Want to join the 'GTE" set? If you’re after a good all-rounder, with a sporting spirit, a Scimitar could be the perfect car for you … and the Reliant Scimitar GTE Essential Buyer’s Guide is the ONLY book you need to get yourself the perfect example!
From dreams of classic driving, to driving a dream of a classic, this jargon-free, heavily illustrated buyer’s guide is your first stop. With Veloce’s unique step-by-step evaluation with points marking system, this guide takes the guesswork out of appraising a used Scimitar, no matter what the model.
Prestige and performance in classic form
Finding a classic car that has prestige and performance can be hard, and few would expect a marque more famous for its three-wheelers to be included in such company. Yet few cars meet these criteria better than the Reliant Scimitar Grand Turismo Estate. When the GTE arrived on the scene in September 1968, it heralded the world’s first sporting estate car, was lauded by celebrities of the day, and even found favour with the UK’s Royal Family: Princess Anne received a manual overdrive SE5 in Air Force Blue as a present from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. She liked it so much, she went on to own a further eight GTEs.
The GTE offered the perfect blend of day-to-day practicality, sporty performance, and automotive innovation. As Reliant themselves once advertised, it was like strapping a cart to a racehorse. From the original roomy interior of the SE5, perfect for carrying your country gear, to the open-topped experience of the GTC SE8, these cars are still enjoyed today, as much as they were when they were new, and many good examples can still be found.
The GTE sprang from the Scimitar range of sports cars, with production spanning 22 years. With a body shape designed by Ogle’sTom Karen, and mounted onto a new, longer wheelbase chassis designed by John Crosthwaite, and constructed of non-rusting fibreglass, the sport estate hatchback body, with it’s waistline rising towards the rear, was an automotive first, and one that has since been copied by almost every other manufacturer. It was also the first car to included rear windscreen wipers.
The original GTE SE5 was powered by a sporty 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 engine, and with over 4000 cars produced, it was an instant success. The model went on to receive a number of updates and improvements during its life, with the SE5A model of 1972 outselling all other models.
Should I buy a Reliant Scimitar GTE?
The lure of a classic with such history, style, and performance can be too hard to resist, but is a Scimitar GTE the right car for you? If you’re torn between an SE5, an open top GTC, or a rarer Middlebridge model, this book reveals if which – if any of these models – would be best for you. From the day-to-day practicalities of owning and living with a Scimitar GTE, to what real world ownership entails – from tall drivers, interior space, and running costs, to keeping then running smoothy – discover what owning a classic Reliant is really like. You’ll also discover what you should expect to pay for everything from replacement parts and spares, to servicing, and even if a restoration is possible.
No matter which model you’re considering, information from a marque expert is the only way to go when purchasing a classic car, and that’s precisely what this compact, informative guide provides. Everything you need to know before you go and view a Scimitar, from which model is best suited to you, to what you can do to make sure you don’t fall foul of less scrupulous sellers, is included. You’ll find all the essential information that you need to decide if these Reliants really are your dream drive.
I’ve found my dream Scimitar … what now?
Every one of our Essential Buyer’s Guides includes two unique chapters dedicated solely to viewing and assessing a car. The first chapter – a Fifteen Minute Evaluation – covers quick-fire checks that you can use for a speedy appraisal, letting you determine if a car is worth a more detailed look, or whether you should walk away now.
A marque expert … in your pocket!
If a fifteen minute evaluation piqued your interest, and you want to take a closer look, what next? Assessing a Reliant Scimitar GTE is the most important part of the purchasing process – but what if you don’t have the skills or knowledge to do it? No problem: our detailed 60 minute evaluation chapter sits at the heart of every Essential Buyer’s Guide.
This unique walk-through chapter breaks down your assessment into bite-sized chunks, each with an easy-to-use four point scoring system, and with each step clearly illustrated and thoroughly explained.
In the Reliant Scimitar GTE Essential Buyer’s Guide, Elivs Payne covers 36 separate checks, and, with our point scoring system, you can assign a score to each check, so you can view, record, assess, and compare multiple vehicles: now you can you get the very best example of these sporty, practical classics.
The sum of the parts
When it comes to classic car buying and ownership, it’s about much more than the metal, glass, rubber, and fibreglass that go to make a Scimitar. Our Essential Buyer’s Guide not only gives you the expert technical knowledge you need to find your dream Scimitar, but also the practical aspects of buying and owning a GTE, GTC or Middlebridge – such as how to buy from an auction, the paperwork that you’ll need to complete for a sale, and some of the crucial things you should consider should you be thinking of buying a Reliant Scimitar to restore.
You’ll also find chapters on vital statistics, paint problems, and issues that can arise when these classic cars are left without being driven for a time … but that’s not all …
Join 'the it crowd'
Reliant Scimitar GTEs are long-lived cars, with their non-rusting fibreglass bodies, and the lifestyle that drivers of these cars aspired to during their heyday is still as a relevant today. An important, if perhaps lesser known, icon of social and driving history, these cars are about so much more than just the parts, and owning a classic car with such a social history opens up a whole new social scene. With contact details of owners clubs, parts suppliers, and more, you’ll soon be part of 'the it crowd!'
What models are covered?
Reliant Scimitar GTE – The Essential Buyer’s Guide covers all Scimitar GTE models produced between 1968 and 1986, including SE5/SE5a, SE6/SE6a, SE6b, GTC/SE8b, and the Middlebridge Scimitar GTE produced between 1989 and 1990.
Don’t buy a Reliant Scimitar without this book
Packed with expert advice from a marque authority
See where and how to buy a good Reliant Scimitar
Covers all the GTE models from 1968 up to the Middlebridge models of 1990
Includes key checks - how to spot a bad car quickly
Choosing the right model for you and your budget
Includes Veloce’s unique evaluation system for assessing a potential purchase
Advice on whether a car Is worth buying as a restoration project
Get advice on paperwork, relative values, and buying at auction
Details of club backup, parts suppliers and support organisations
