Getting Gwenn home from Kerry & Marion’s house in Telford was amusing to say the least. Gwenn had a poorly battery and a faulty ignition switch.  Geoff, (my brother) bypassed the ignition switch using an old switch and after jump starting Gwenn with some jump leads, we set off on our way with Caroline (my girlfriend) following us is her car. Sadly we had to remove a large “Reliant Owners Club” banner at the top of the windscreen as being a taller driver it was partly obscuring my view. As soon as we set off the curtain of night suddenly dropped around us and the rain started to pour down. As it did we had drove no more than a few hundred yards and the car suddenly chugged to a halt ... she was out of fuel. Luckily we were by a petrol station and my automatic-starter (Geoff) jumped out of the car and pushed it to the garage, much to the amusement of a lady filling up with fuel who proceeded to burst out laughing and then stop and apologise. The site of two men, especially one the size of Geoff, pushing a bright pink Reliant Robin was just too much for her. (I didn’t push and sat inside and did the clever bit - steering)

After filling full of fuel, Geoff pushed the car a short way until she fired up and in he jumped - now exhausted and drenched from the rain.  As the car was wet and cold no sooner the engine slowed down it would stall and so again Geoff had to jump out and push again.  I soon mastered the art of braking and accelerating at the same time when ever I came to a junction.  Braking to slow down and accelerating to keep the engine revs up.

I soon discovered that as the battery was dead and not charging (despite the healthy input reported by the voltmeter), lights and windscreen wipers were a luxury I could not afford as no sooner did I have both then the power drain would stall the engine. Instead we kept on side lights and then just flicked the windscreen wiper on and off every now and then.  We had planned to avoid the motorway going home but figured stopping at every junction for 44 miles on side roads would be a nightmare so we decided to risk the motorway.  At speed Gwenn ran superb and soon found her way to 70 mph, much to the shock of Caroline following in the car behind.  I knew that the wire had broken off the thermostat though and so the temperature gauge did not work and so I cruised at 60 mph to put less strain on the engine.

For 24 miles she cruised without effort and then on the M6 Toll road, I heard a strange howling sound. Geoff immediately recognised it as pressure pushing passed the radiator cap and so we pulled over. Geoff took off the radiator cap and the radiator appeared empty. Luckily a 2 litre bottle of water came with the car and it was just enough to top the radiator back up. Geoff gave Gwenn yet another push and she fired into life, this time taking us all the way home with no problem.

The next day I bought a new battery and got a new ignition switch from e-bay. Geoff fitted the ignition switch whilst I fitted the new battery and we turned the key and once more Gwenn fired into life. I checked the water and she had lost about a litre and a half over 20 miles.

A few days later we went back round to the garage for Caroline to take her out for a spin.  The car fired up on the second turn of the key though didn’t seem too happy until she warmed up a bit and then she was off and Caroline took Gwenn out and enjoyed it no end ... especially once she mastered where reverse gear was.

Gwenn also went for a photo shoot with Ole Blue and then down to the housing estate where the Reliant factory once stood to have her photo taken next to the Robin Close sign. One end of the street there was Gwenn, a Reliant Robin in Robin Close and on the other side of the street was Ole Blue, a Regal in Regal Close.

Gwenn is losing water from somewhere though and so needs constantly topping up, I shall have to investigate this. Also the oil pressure seems very low but then I discovered there wasn’t much oil in her. Having said that she doesn’t smoke and drives along nicely so I don’t think the fluid loss is anything drastic like the head gasket. (Famous last words).

There are a few more jobs that need to be done in 2008 to get her back in good shape:

Replace the heater motor. (The current one has siezed)

Passenger side door not opening from the outside. (Maybe a safety feature).

Replace Thermotstat. (One of the lugs to the temperature gauge has broken off).

Paint chassis. (It’s in fine shape but could do with a sanding down and a good coating of Tetraseal).

Steering column seems loose. (A lot of play up and down so need to check why, though it did pass the MOT like it at the end of October 2007).

Cosmetic:

The car was apparently involved in an accident a few years ago and the owners paid to have the body repaired. I am wondering if this is why the car is two shades of pink. The last owners must have been gutted when the saw that the paint colour didn’t quite match. At a later date I may therefore try and get the car re-sprayed so that it is all one colour. In a certain types of light is isn’t really noticeable but in others it is.

Prior to the journey home, Geoff makes a temporary ignition switch as Kerry looks on.

Back home - Front view with a collection of badges that will remain on the vehicle.

Parked in “Robin Close” where the old Reliant factory used to be.

Caroline (with matching scalf) enjoying her drive.

Caroline treating Gwenn to a bottle of “Casillero del Diablo” Sauvignon Blanc left over from Christmas.

Super Robin badge on the back.

My thanks to Graham Hodgson for this caricature of Gwenn..The attention to detail with the pink & black seats, wheel trims, screen heater, sunroof and reversing lights is superb!