79 Scimitar GTE MOD

[Rob M]

Finally, at long bloody last, I have found something that I actually want to own and drive.








I pick her up later in the week, she has a stack of history/bills/ spares, she sounds the testicles and I'm feckin terrified of the reputation of unreliability!
Excuse the pic, its wibblepoo and,probably, makes the car look better than it actually is, mind you I couldnt care a less as I want to drive her and not enter here for concourse competitions.
At the age of 42 I feel like I did when I was a young boy on Christmas Eve, awaiting Father Christmas, a feeling that can only be matched but never beaten.
I live in Kings Lynn so, hopefully, I may be able to get down to the next local(ish) meet where I'm sure I will feel that I "belong".
Happy days!

[coggers]

doesn't look too bad

there's one of these in the next road to me and the chap doesn't seem to have any problems with it , he's been blatting around in it for years ...

good luck with it

[Mr K]

OOOO another reliant! looks like a good-un, cant say i agree with the un-reliability bit? never heard that one before.

whats the MOD in the title stand for?

[Lewis]

Make sure you've got a steel timing gear instead of the fibre one that's standard and it should be nigh on bulletproof! Not much else to go wrong! ;D

Looks tidy! Glad you're happy with it

[Mr K]

lewisk78 said:

Make sure you've got a steel timing gear instead of the fibre one that's standard and it should be nigh on bulletproof! Not much else to go wrong! ;D

i will second that, one of ours lunched one, only time we have ever had a break down. luckily a few bent push rods and some missing teeth was the only damage.

[Neil]

nickyboi said:

whats the MOD in the title stand for?

Manual Overdrive?

[Rob M]

500tops said:

nickyboi said:

whats the MOD in the title stand for?

Manual Overdrive?

Yep, a lazy way to say it!!!
I suppose, being an old git, I remember from long ago the problems regarding cooling and electrical problems. I would think that, pretty much like the Triumph Stag, a lot of the old issues have been overcome whether that be through modification or just a greater knowledge.
I know that shed loads of money has gone into this car from a full recon lump 20,000mls ago to a stainless exhaust system and fuel tank so I'm not anticipating problems, I just havent owned an "old" car for a very long time!!!
I shall certainly investigate the timing gear, thanks for the tip and thank you all for the very positive feedback,just what I needed to reaffirm that I made the right decision in taking the plunge and going "Retro".
Many thanks.

[Skip_Rat]

Lovely looking car. ;D

I've had a SE6a Scimitar as my daily driver in the past and had no problems with reliability. Just the usual things you expect from an older car.

[Rob M]

.........my confidence grows by the day!!!
Why oh why is this effing week dragging?

[Philj]

Always loved these, they PIMP.

[scimmie]

Hiya Zeb,

Good choice, it looks like a nice car. I look forward to seeing more pictures!

Scimitars are very underated cars! I am sure you will very much enjoy it. Keep on top of some basic maintenance and they can return many years of pleasure!

All the best

Dave from www.sporting-reliants.com ;D

[Rob M]

Dave,
One of the first sites I found was yours when I was doing some research and it was the content within which inspired me to take the plunge and go for it!!
Thank you!!

[dollywobbler]

Fantastic! Another possibility for reliability issues is poor earthing - a problem in pretty much any plastic bodied car.

But these cars rule - and are incredibly good value I think! Maybe I should get one...

[scimmie]

zeb said:

Dave,
One of the first sites I found was yours when I was doing some research and it was the content within which inspired me to take the plunge and go for it!!
Thank you!!

Hiya Zeb,

I am glad my website was of use to you. I am simply an enthusiast for the enthusiast! When you pick up your Scimitar send me some pictures and I will add them to the "Owners Gallery" on my site.

All the best

Dave

[XJR 40]

Scimitar, unreliable? Nah, like any car that's 'different' from the crowd, there are some things about them that the general motor traders/back street bodge brigade don't understand, but think about it; that 3 litre V6 has been fitted in many other cars and seldom falls to bits, though the earlier suggestion about fitting a steel cam gear is a good one, even if it does make some extra mechanical noise.

If the engine sounds like it has a bearing rattle, but happening when it is under load, then it would definitely be time to change that gear, the steel crankshaft gear obviously won't cause any trouble, but it's a good idea to fit both as a new pair so then they will wear at the same rate.

Dodgy electrics on grp shelled cars? Not necessarily, as the earths all attach to a solid chunk of something a good bit more substantial than the average steel body anyway, and I for one would rather chase bad connections around a Reliant than, say, a 1980s Alfa (much as I loved my old 75) or anything Ford.

Just remember that you have to oil the trunnions every once in a while, my Rebel gets his done weekly, but that is a touch obsessive (do not use grease whatever you do, it lacks viscosity and will dry out and seize the trunnions by leaving its carrier fat behind in the flutes), check the suspension bushes as these are prone to going soft, fit a polybush kit for durability.

Then just get out and enjoy the car, the chassis are pretty durable and generally it's the interiors that show their age long before other areas.

Nice car, good choice!

[reanimation]

Nice choice, I have really got the hots for these, cant wait to get my grubby mitts on one. looks forward to pics of your beasty!

[Mr K]

gjr11l said:

though the earlier suggestion about fitting a steel cam gear is a good one, even if it does make some extra mechanical noise.

If the engine sounds like it has a bearing rattle, but happening when it is under load, then it would definitely be time to change that gear, the steel crankshaft gear obviously won't cause any trouble, but it's a good idea to fit both as a new pair so then they will wear at the same rate.

i don't know which gear you fitted, but on one car i fitted a quaife steel gear, and on another a burton item, and neither sounded very loud at all, infact, after a few 1000 miles its not even noticeable until you start to push it and even then its not very pronounced.

the bottom gear was left alone on both cars, they had been running against fibre, and therefore had no signs of wear.

watch out for the strait cut setups, they realy do make a load of noise (and obviously need the bottom gear changeing to match!

we realy should combine the two SE6s in the barn into a sprint car, but too many projects at the moment.

[stealthstylz]

If the motor has been reconned recently i'd imagine they changed the gear anyway as I can't imagine any engine builder who knows the essex v6 would recommend fitting a new fibre gear.

Matt

[Rob M]

Little did I realize just how positive the response would be when I posted the first pic and text, to say that I'm bowled over would be an understatement!
A massive thanks to you all for your words of wisdom, encouragement and sound advice that has made me feel so confident that I have done the right thing.
The car is all bought and paid for, just a delay in picking her up means that that little boy waiting for Christmas day feeling carries on just that much longer.
The car, as ive said, looks better in the photo than in the flesh, thats not to say its an old poggler, it is still a gorgeous, quick, comfortable cruiser that I will lovingly and very slowly bring up to scratch in good time.
Ive realised that what I saw in the engine bay ( having seen an original exhaust manifold on Flea Bay ) was a set of performance manifolds, I'm now very curious to find any further evidence that the rest of the lump has been "tweeked".....................
Photos etc to follow asap!!!
Thanks.

[Rob M]

Finally picked her up last Saturday.
TBH She isnt the fastest thing on four wheels, you need arms like Popeye to manouvere her (no PAS) she will never do 40mpg............and I LOVE HER!!! ;D
I have finally rediscovered what its like to enjoy driving again.
She has to be driven, she responds to your imput, balls it up and she will bite you on the bum, modern cars tend to be so forgiving, Id forgotten what driving was all about.
When this baby hit the road for the first time I was the ripe old age of 14, out buying the very first issue of Street Machine magazine and dreaming........
In a roundabout way I have fulfilled my dreams with a car from an era that I would have believed was anything but Retro.
She feels more sports car than tourer, more TR2 than Ford Cortina and the grin factor is brilliant. ;D
I can highly recommend it!

Some pics: