Scimitardriver Product 3

The new model of G.T.E. was longer, wider and sported new rubber bumpers. It was aimed at the young executive market and the changes regarding bumper height and impact were to comply with the American market. The car still retained the classic rear window and rising body line of the original models. The new car was actually derived from the earlier cars with the original moulds being quartered and an additional 4" added to the length with 3" added to the width.

The SE6 was only made for a short time during 1976 before Reliant brought in the SE6a. Main differences being to the braking system which had been changed from Girling to Lockheed. Power steering had become an option by this time and with the increase in size and weight this was considered a good thing. The 3.0 litre 'Essex' engine had been the mainstay of Scimitar production, but in late 1979 Reliant introduced the final variant of the G.T.E. theme, that of the SE6b which was essentially a 6a but with 'Cologne' Ford V6 2.8 litre engine and detailed body and interior changes.

Production of the Reliant Scimitar G.T.E. ceased in November 1986, over 20 years after the company first introduced the name. Just 437 6b's were produced.

At the same time as they introduced the 6b, Reliant also started production of a convertible Scimitar. This was called the G.T.C. and it was in production for over 6 years with just 443 cars being produced. The convertible concept fitted the car very well although the original idea of a sporting estate was not possible with this model. The rear seats of the G.T.C. were still individually folding and so the car could still carry a reasonable luggage load.

Very little strengthening had to be carried out to the chassis, testimony to the excellent design and rigidity of the original chassis. The G.T.C. was only available with the 2.8 litre Ford V6 engine.

The manufacturing rights for the G.T.E. were sold to a company called Middlebridge. They produced a small number of cars, which were essentially SE6b's, but with updated interiors and colour matched bumpers. They were fitted with the new Ford Scorpio injected engine of 2.9 litres. These cars were also fitted with air conditioning. The body was very well prepared and the finish of these cars was to a higher standard than that reached by Reliant. With a price tag of £25,000 it should have been!

This car started life as a SE6b with the 2.8 litre engine then was totally stripped and was both rebuilt and resprayed in PPG pearlescent paint by Middlebridge Engineering as the pre production prototype.

Over 400 improvements were made over the SE6B and having driven both a SE6B and Middlebridge it is very different.The improvements included revised front and rear suspension with Bilstein shockabsorbers and springs and incorporation of an anti roll bar at the rear following work by Harvey Bailey Ltd.(the suspension specialists ) Installation of the lighter and more powerful 2.9 EFI engine and 5 speed gearbox with a larger radiator to cope with cooling ( Ford insisted on this ) a two stage cooling fan which is rarely on,a revised fuel tank for the EFI fuel system, angled exhaust pipes to reduce noise resonance off the rear glass and reduce rear screen dirt, an aluminium plate for the parking position of the rear wiper,better instruments and steering wheel,a relay protected wiring loom, two high performance blower motors to improve heating and ventilation, a modified front bib spoiler to increase air flow through the engine bay,extra sound deadening, 15 X 6J Performance alloy wheels with 195x65x15VR tyres,pearlescent paint, a stainless steel exhaust system,larger and safer tail lights and a high performance sound system.

Copyright © 2000 Peter Harper