By Classic Yorkshire contributor Tony Lofthouse
There can be few British cars with such royal endorsement as the Midlands-built Reliant Scimitar GTE.
HRH Princess Anne reportedly took delivery of eight models over 52 years and a young Prince Charles enjoyed his own GTE. Their father, Prince Philip, also ‘borrowed’ a prototype Scimitar – the GTS – as a ‘run around’ in 1965.
The fibre-glass made GTE can trace its roots back 60 years with the launch of the SE4 Scimitar GT coupe.
The GTE was a sports estate, designed by Ogle Design Ltd, which stretched the GT to offer more space and four seats. In 1968 the GTE went into production.
The move aimed to take Reliant in an exciting new direction and challenge the likes of MG, Volvo and Rover.
Over the next 18 years the car’s design and mechanics would evolve. It was originally fitted with a 3.0 litre V6 Ford Essex engine and later models used a Ford Cologne 2.8L V6 unit surrounded by a galvanised chassis.
Reliant ended Scimitar production in 1986 only to see the GTE revived by a new company, Middlebridge Scimitar, who acquired the manufacturing and tool rights from Reliant.
They went on to produce a more refined GTE, powered by a Ford 2.9 litre fuel injected Scorpio engine with a choice of a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic unit.
Princess Anne would take delivery of a high-spec GTE from the company in 1988.
Sadly, production of Middlebridge-made Scimitars was short-lived, ending in 1990.
Looking back the GTE was something of an underrated car. It had great style and tested innovative construction for the time. The Ford V6 engines made it a durable performer, whilst the interior offered ample space for driver and passengers.
As a potential classic car buy, prices for a good example can start at a modest £7,000, but note the later more refined Middlebridge-built models tend to start at more than double this.
Always a car I liked and admired but never one I wanted to own strangely….
Having loved the design of the GTE since day 1, I finally became an owner of one earlier this year and can confirm that they are a grossly underrated and undervalued classic car. Great styling, great handling, rust free bodywork and bulletproof mechanicals. An ideal classic to own.
With a fibreglass body, 4 seats and well known mechanicals it does seem to be an ideal classic. If only I had a bit more garage space!
I remember with great affection owning a Black SE5 from 1978 – 1981. The only problem I had during that time was replacement trackrod ends and hard to restart (carb problem) once the engine was hot.