1 comments — live from bluesky
Andy · 22 · 2d ago While best-known for its Regal three-wheeler, Reliant had branched out to create the related Rebel in 1964, originally with just 600cc. The car's unique selling point was its rust-free fibreglass body, but it was otherwise quite conventional, with rear-wheel-drive and understated looks.
Andy · 14 · 2d ago The Rebel brochure channeled the 'I'm backing Britain' campaign, a drive to encourage people to choose home products to help the struggling UK economy. The Union Flag-draped text certainly embraced this theme, but it was to little avail: only 2,600 Rebels were sold over a decade in production.
Phillip L · 1 · 1d ago A bit cheeky referencing a “left hand drive leviathan“ when they’d taken its name. Presumably AMC didn’t bother to get the lawyers in.
Jan Clevering · 0 · 2d ago As per some sources, Reliant itself didn't produce many - from what I read there was a larger demand?
Andy · 1 · 1d ago It's puzzling if there was. I guess Reliant's priority was three-wheeler sales. The 1970s Kitten wasn't a big seller either.
Papillon19 · 1 · 1d ago en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant...
Papillon19 · 1 · 1d ago As per wiki ,
Management more interested in 3 wheeler numbers and lacking foresight.
The part about the engineers racing against Scimiters ,they could have had 1st hot hatch ?
Andy · 1 · 1d ago It's strange if production capacity was so limited that Reliant bothered with quite elaborate brochures exhorting people to buy one, but perhaps the marketing and production departments weren't talking.
Papillon19 · 1 · 1d ago Quotes of shutting down the P/L to build Rebels , seems the ££
Ironically the 1st Rebel was built in Turkey and driven to the 🇬🇧, to at least Durability was tested
Andy · 0 · 1d ago It would have been a good car for Turkey, sloting beneath the Reliant-designed Anadol, but I guess Otosan wasn't ready for a two-model range then.