Reliant Archives

Reliant Newspaper Articles 1935 - 1975

Fazeley’s New Works. (Saturday February 2nd 1935)

A new works for the production of 3-wheeled motor goods vehicles is shortly to commence operations in the Midland Bus Companies old depot on Watling Street, Fazeley. The works is being opened by Mr T.L.Williams, of Bro Dawel, Kettlebrook, and it is hoped that it will provide employment for a number of men in the district. A filling station and facilities for general repairs will also be provided. The vehicles that will be produced are of a type that has proved very popular recently, mainly because of maintenance compared with four-wheeled vans of a similar capacity, and also because of the ease of handling.

The “Reliant” as the new vehicles will be known, will have an enclosed cabin and sprung seat for the driver, who will have adequate protection in any weather, and a special springing system has been designed by Mr. Williams. The general design is a well-tried capacity of seven hundred weight, and will be powered by a six horse power engine with three speeds and reverse. They will be marketed by “The Reliant Engineering Co, Tamworth” at eighty guineas.

Back to main page

A Tri-van driver fined. (Saturday July 6th 1935)

John Grenville Holmes, van driver, xx City Road, Beeston, Nottingham, was summoned for driving a motor tri-van above 30mph at Ashby Road, Seckington on June 6th. PC Clarke said the defendants speed varied from 38 - 43 miles an hour. Defendant who said his speedo had not been tested was fined 10s.

Back to main page

An Attractive Offer. (Saturday August 3rd 1935)

The newly formed Reliant Engineering Co, of Two Gates (for which Messrs Ford and Rowly are the local agents) secured 3rd prize in the manufacturers exhibits class with a display of their light weight vans in the Tamworth Carnival. These 3 cwt 3-wheelers can be purchased from £84 with an annual tax of £4 with an insurance of £3,10s, these commercial vehicles should prove particularly attractive to the tradesman who wishes to combine economy with reliability.

Back to main page

Reliant Prices down. (Friday May 8th 1953)

Following the budget reduction in purchase tax (April 14th) , the Reliant Engineering Company, of Two Gates, announced revised prices for all the vehicles. It is particularly interesting to note the effect of re-grading light 3-wheeled cars to be the same rate as motorcycles, resulting in a reduction in price of the Regal Coupe by nearly £105.

Details: 6cwt, basic price, £250 + purchase tax £31 2s 9d - total £281 2s 9d: Prince Regent basic price £257 10s + purchase tax £31 2s 9d - total £288 12s 9d: Regent basic price £295 + purchase tax £32 2s 9d - total £327 9s 5d: Regal Coupe, basic price £299 10s + purchase tax £62 19s 2d - total £362 9s 5d.

The Regal Coupe on this basis it is claimed provides by far the cheapest form of gamily motoring in this country, and although at the moment all available production is for export, notably the USA, deliveries to the home market will commence within the next few weeks.

Back to main page

New Reliant “Hard Top” Coupe. (Friday November 11th 1955)

Making its debut at this years cycle and motorcycle show, which opens on Saturday, is the latest addition to the Reliant Engineering Company range of 3-wheeled cars and commercial vehicles; the Regal “Hard Top”. The new version of the Regal four seater coupe is available is a pleasing range of colours and for the one on show a gay combination of Opaline green and tangerine has been chosen. The model embodies fibre glass detachable top and fibreglass body panels. More head and leg room is provided for rear passengers. The price is £413 including tax. Other vehicles the company will be exhibiting include two Regal four seater coupes in stand colour finish, metallic blue and light green respectively. (Price £403 including tax); and one 5 cwt van finished in red and grey, incorporating fibreglass side, roof and bonnet panels (price £358 including tax). A chassis as used for the Regal “hard top” and 5 cwt van will also be shown. The Reliant’s popular range of 3-wheeled cars and commercial vehicles are all fitted with four cylinder water cooled engines, four speed and reverse gearbox, hydraulic brakes and shock absorbers to all wheels and torsion bar suspension on the front wheel. All are fitted with tubeless tyres as standard.

Back to main page

You’ll get sick and tired of your Reliant Regal 3/25. (Friday June 4th 1965)

You’ll get sick and tired of your Reliant Regal 3/25. The tough all aluminium engine has a tiresome habit of going on and on and on. (We expect a life of 100,000 miles before the cylinder liners need to be replaced.) You cannot boast to your neighbours about the revolutionary construction methods. (We mount our bodies on ridiculously old-fashioned steel chassis, in the belief that some timid soul like this kind of protection.) The glass-fibre body work will show no interesting signs of rust. (It will last for thousands of years and we haven’t yet found a satisfactory way of destroying the stuff.) You will never enjoy the status of big spending motorist. (The Regal 3/25 returns 65 mpg and some miserable folk do their motoring on as little a two pence a mile) Not widely exciting is it? But if you are the sort of wretched fellow who is interested in complete economy, reliability and durability, arrange a test run.

Back to main page

Reliant’s new Regal 3/25 Super. (Friday September 10th 1965)

Tamworth’s Reliant motor company announced yesterday their new Regal 3/25 Super, a restyled, more luxurious version of “Britain’s most popular 3-wheeler car” which will cost no more than its predecessor. Simultaneously, Reliant are cutting by £18 the price of the existing Regal Saloon, which will now be known as the 3/25 standard. Reliants Regal 3/25 5cwt van continues unchanged in styling and price. New streamlined frontal and rear styling and exterior features of the 3/25 Super, modernise the general lines of the saloon both aesthetically and aerodynamically. The sturdy, rust-free glass fibre body work has been further strengthened by the new design. A much reduced recessed frontal grille matches the generally simplified styling of the car. Finish is in a new range of 6 striking colours.

Refined trim. a new attractive fascia, a repositioned hand brake, and enlarged door pockets are interior features of the 3/25 Super which enhance its appearance and increase convenience and comfort. The Regal 3/25 Super combines with its new looks all the proven virtues of previous vehicles in the range. The 600cc all aluminium engine remains unchanged giving up to 65 miles per gallon with proven reliability and performance. The vehicles statutory advantages; which include a low £8 annual road tax and the fact that it can be driven by a motorcycle licence holder are also unaltered by the changes. Prices will be:

Regal 3/25 Super £486 14s 2d (including purchase tax)

Regal 3/25 Standard £468 11s 8d (Including purchase tax)

Regal 3/25 Van £386 10s 0d

Back to main page

Fire Damages Reliant Paint Shop (Friday November 19 1965)

Production is not affected by a fire which damaged a paint shop at the Reliant Motor Company Two Gates works late on Tuesday night. Four workmen in the shop escaped without injury but two cars were burned out, spraying equipment and paint supplies were destroyed and the roof of the 50ft by 15ft building were severely damaged. Brigades from Tamworth, Lichfield and Burton-on-Trent were called to the fire which was brought under control in thirty minutes. Firemen prevented the blaze from spreading to the main assembly plant. A spokesman for the firm said that production would not be affected by the fire. The cause of the fire is believed to have been a fault in the extractor unit.

Back to main page

Restored Regal becomes a museum piece. ( Friday September 7th 1973)

An example of Reliant’s first passenger vehicle, the 1953 Regal Mk1 convertible, is now on show at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieau, Hampshire. The vehicle, built of aluminium with wooden frame was one of the first batch of Regals to leave the Tamworth factory. It was restored by Reliant this summer after being purchased by the Raleigh Safety Seven and Early Reliant Owners Club.

(The article then included a picture of Reliant’s marketing director, Roger Musgrave, presenting the keys to Micheal Ware, the curator of the museum.

Back to main page

Reliant’s new Robin. (Friday November 2nd 1973)

The most practical small car in Britain. In its own field as revolutionary as the mini was at the beginning of the 1960’s.” This is the claim of Tamworth’s Reliant Motor company, ushering in a new era of 3-wheeled motoring this week with the intro of the 750cc Robin economy saloon/estate. The 3-door, four seater Robin achieving 60 miles to the gallon is offered in standard, super saloon and van versions. It joins 100,000 Reliant 3-wheelers on Britain’s roads as a replacement for the Regal, introduced 11 years ago. Reliant invested more than £1 million building and equipment in preparation for Tuesday’s launch of the vehicle long hidden under the code name TW8.

The Changes: Dramatic changes went ahead at all three Reliant factories - Two Gates, Ketlebrook and Shenstone - ready for Robin production. Fresh manufacturing techniques and new buildings erected. Mr Ray Wiggin, the company’s Managing Director, said The changes are all designed to increase both the quality and quantity of glass-fibre vehicle production. We now have Europe’s largest and most modern plant for vehicles of this type, with by far the largest capacity outside the United States. One of the most striking innovations has taken place at the Kettlebrook body moulding plant. The entire internal organisation was changed during their July holiday fortnight and employees returned to make car and van bodies in a new fashion. Previously all glass-fibre panels were made by traditional hand lay-up process. Now only the inner and outer body shells of the Robin are made in this way and all other panels, including doors and bonnet lid, are produced by hot press moulding.

At Two Gates, chassis frames are welded by flow-line techniques and are double paint dipped to protect them against corrosion. In the new paint hall, six coats of paint are applied to vehicles in a three stage finishing area. Hand assembly is on a high level production line which marries modern mass production techniques to Reliant’s special requirements for comparatively low volume glass-fibre cars. Reliant say that the Robin, styled by Ogle Design Ltd, is a completely original vehicle in every respect, with a more powerful version of the well proved Reliant light alloy engine, and a new chassis, wheels, gearbox and back axle. This has been achieved without affecting the Robin’s claim to the lower Road Fund Licence. Tax of only £10 a year is payable, compared with £25 for a conventional vehicle with similar passenger and luggage capacity. But the biggest selling feature of the Robin is expected to be its saloon / estate capability. As a four seater, luggage is loaded behind the rear seat and there is a capacity for 8.5 cubic feet of luggage. Folding the back seat forward gives 30 cubic feet of luggage space, all accessible from inside or outside the vehicle.

The Robin saloon sells for £801, the Super Robin £848. The Robin van is priced at £697 and the Super Robin van cost £59 more.

Back to main page