Highlights

Ground-up historical restoration and subsequent upkeep
Comprehensive files of invoices and documentation
Eye-catching presentation

The Appeal

The Reliant Scimitar GTE has to be considered as one of the most stylish and innovative cars of its era, yet true greatness has always eluded it. Using the sound foundation of the Scimitar GT, the three-door shooting brake design originated from a novel Triplex Ogle GTS prototype. Realising its potential, its creator Tom Karen made the concept a reality and this resulted in its debut in 1968 as the Scimitar GTE SE5.

Its Ford-powered V6 engine was housed within a sturdy box section chassis and stylish glassfibre body, fulfilling a role as a practical and modestly priced long-distance tourer for four people and their luggage.

Helped by a certain royal endorsement, the narrow-body SE5 continued into the 1970s, as other manufacturers realised the potential of a roomy sports estate design. This SE5 version of the Scimitar appears to have been registered in April 1972 but has seen several useful upgrades without upsetting its originality. It retains its wind-up windows and original style rear lights but is fitted with the more stylish SE5a dashboard, as well as a series of nice-to-have features including a rebored Essex V6 engine coupled up to a 4-speed manual gearbox with overdrive.

This well-documented Scimitar has an extensive record of restoration, maintenance and upkeep. Well known within the owners club, this beautifully presented example in red is finished off with period wolf race alloys. Sold with the reassurance of a recent service and an MOT to December 2023, it appears that thousands have been spent on this car over the last 40+ years.

The History and Paperwork

First registered in April 1972
V5c Present
Consistently MOT'd, despite exemption and has one to December 2023
Photographic evidence of a ground-up restoration in 1994
Comprehensive files of invoices dating back to the 1970s
Documented notes on its upkeep and maintenance up to 2021
Difficult to ascertain the total spending, but appears to be a considerable amount
Scimitar owners club car owned previously by several enthusiasts
Club magazine featured
Handbook and various guides, magazines and clippings included
Regularly serviced, with the most recent one carried out less than 100 miles ago
Documentation suggests it has been used and enjoyed over the years
Consistently garaged
Being sold due to lack of use

The Interior

Interior appears to have been subject to a complete overhaul and presented in great overall order
Lavishly appointed tan leather seats notably lacking in wear or blemishes
Good quality carpeting throughout, all bone-dry and free of damage
Rubber mats also included
The dashboard and centre console are in great form, with gentle patina in places and a crack noted by the switchgear
Switchgear and controls are in excellent shape, and all are said to function
An interior boot release is fitted
Functional period Sanyo tape/radio player
Dials are all fully legible
LED warning lights fitted
Headlining, trim and door cards free of any distracting blemishes or scuffs
Rear lap belts fitted
Boot space in very good shape, with light signs of age noted on the trim

The Exterior

Stripped and refurbished chassis part of the 1990s restoration
The current owner had requested a Scimitar specialist to check over the car prior to purchase with a positive verdict
Steel tubular chassis and outriggers appear to be intact
The doors hang straight with a flush fit, with no issues with opening and closing
The glassfibre body is in decent order with no fractures or poor repairs noted
Minor cracking was observed on the off-side door
The inner and outer wheel arches, front, back and the roof of the car look solid
Mild colour miss-match noted on the nose of the car
Otherwise, the gel coat has a decent lustre with chips in places
A heated windscreen fitted with a new rubber seal in 2017
The rest of the glass is in decent order, commensurate with the restoration date of the car
The chrome trim appears to be in very good shape
Both bumpers are documented as new in 2017 and therefore in lovely condition
Its boot struts are up to the job
Decent door seals all around
Lights and lenses are in a healthy state with no significant signs of age
The pop-up sunroof appears to be leak-free
Rear wiper delete
Wolfrace alloys in excellent condition with a full set of Tiger tyres from 2017

The Mechanics

Ford derived V6 engine reconditioned in 1982 and bored out to 3093cc
4-speed manual gearbox with Overdrive
Fires up with no hesitation and idles smoothly
Regularly serviced
The engine presented very well, confirming its diligent maintenance
No reports of engine temperature issues or poor oil pressure
Said to drive well, with no outstanding faults to its ride or performance
Kenlowe fan fitted
An extensive body of engine maintenance including:
- Wiring work 2020
- The water pump and coolant parts were replaced in 2019
- New fuel lines in 2017
- Brake work documented in 2013
- Fully Spax adjustable dampers and Superflex poly bushes fitted in 2018
- Rear suspension overhauls in 2019

Summary

The car stands out thanks to its meticulous records of maintenance and like all of the best classics, it has been in the hands of those who know these cars inside and out. A criminally underrated car, the Scimitar's time must be very close and this could be a perfect opportunity to grab a highly cherished and useable example before it's too late.

Notice to bidders

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