1972 Reliant Scimitar SE5a GTE Overdrive for sale - heavy patina!
NO RESERVE on eBay starting at £SOLD....
I have a history of under-pricing cars I'm selling... I'm in the dark on this one, so will let the market decide. There's no reserve, so it sells for what it makes - an appropriate discount plus warm cup of tea will be offered to any RR member who ends up winning the auction
Here for sale and offered with no reserve is my 1972 Reliant Scimitar GTE Overdrive in full working order and in regular use. It drives really nicely, has undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration work and remains fantastically original with a fascinating history and only 2 prior owners - the first of which was purported to be legendary chansonnier Charles Aznavour.
Sold new on the 10th August 1972, this Reliant Scimitar SE5a GTE was finished in the superb combination of metallic silver coachwork with black interior and delivered with manual transmission equipped with overdrive. Purportedly purchased new by famed singer Charles Aznavour, it was only used for 7 years, being withdrawn from the road in 1979 and consequently remains amazingly original, right down to the toolkit, stainless steel 'Speedblade' Trico windscreen wipers and even the original Radiomobile radio.
The car remained off the road for 40 years, during which period the Scimitar benefitted from extensive restoration and refurbishment work, begun by the second and prior owner in the late 1980s. By the early 1990s the restoration was virtually complete, with the car having enjoyed refurbishment of all the suspension including new ball joints, bushes, trunnions, bearings, brakes, an engine rebuild, a full repaint in the original silver, upgrades to numerous parts with stainless steel components like the exhausts and fuel tank and significant additional work. However, for personal reasons, the prior owner was forced to temporarily halt work and the car was placed in storage. Unfortunately these temporary reasons became more serious and the car remained in storage, later being moved outside to reduce storage costs.
After several years the owner accepted that the restoration he so nearly completed was never going to be finished and he reluctantly offered it for sale in 2018.
I was the person lucky enough to become this Scimitar's next custodian, with news of the famous original owner being passed on by the vendor. Regrettably all paperwork for the vehicle and that supporting the restoration and original ownership had been lost in the years of difficulty experienced by the vendor and I had to take the vendor's word over the ownership history and work completed. My faith was justified, however, when we began recommissioning the car and found new components wherever we looked and evidence supporting the claims of the work undertaken, though I have not tried to verify the Charles Aznavour history. Not only was the car's chassis completely solid, but it was in excellent condition and there was evidence of refinished components throughout.
I focused on returning the car to the road to use and run as a 'rolling restoration' and the Scimitar passed it's first (voluntary) MoT since the 1970's in 2019 - 40 years after being taken off the road!
I have enjoyed using the Scimitar, it's a properly classic, fun, competent and surprisingly rapid machine that handles incredibly well for a car of such age and I have been entirely confident jumping into it and taking it on journeys of any length - happily using it for a daily 50 mile commute when desired. As an MoT and Road Tax exempt classic car it is eminently usable in modern traffic, the working overdrive even making motorway journeys relaxing. I am now at a crossroads with the car - I'd like to carry on and repaint it in it's original silver, but everywhere I go people approach me and marvel at the condition, urging me to leave the car exactly as is....
I've concluded that I've had my fun with this Scimitar and achieved the original objective of returning it to the road - it's time for the next owner to enjoy it as is or complete the restoration journey if they wish....
Condition description:-
Running gear. In mechanically excellent condition having benefitted from extensive work - no known issues. Brakes (including original Girling servo) all having been rebuilt with new seals and components as necessary. Gearbox good, overdrive working as intended, seals replaced and serviced. Rear axle good, Salisbury diff audible but believed to have been rebuilt. Engine believed to have been rebuilt - shows excellent oil pressure, is lovely and quiet and provides stout performance with no nasty smoke, noises or rough running. Maintains steady temperature under all conditions. Benefits from upgraded stainless steel coolant pipes and full exhaust - sounds fabulous. Starts well hot or cold. Suspension tight and compliant with evidence of extensive refurbishment - drives really nicely. Full set of new tyres (2019) on original steel wheels. Stainless steel fuel tank.
Electrics. New battery. Original wiring loom in excellent condition, all electrical components, lights, fans, gauges, overdrive etc. working as intended bar the rear screen wiper. Heated rear screen untested. Starts and charges as expected, original radiator fan working well.
Interior. In original and amazingly good condition, if a little grubby. Original black headlining in superb order; dash excellent, no cracks, splits or notable damage; original vinyl seats very good, showing only minor wear. Carpets, rear 1/4 trims, boot lining and rear seating currently removed in anticipation of repaint, but included together with new boot carpet, floor mats, floor carpet, door seals etc. Centre console very good, cubby box lid detached at hinge. Heater, fans, ram air and controls all working. Front door trim boards are water damaged and deformed, requiring new backing boards, but with the vinyl covers likely transferable. Instrumentation very good. Original radio present and working.
Exterior. Heavily distressed finish to paint, with lifting, fading and chips evident throughout. Areas of primer and undercoat showing. Some surface stress cracking evident to areas of the gel coat, but no notable damage and no losses. Chromework all present, with rust spotting to the rear bumper and a small dent to the top surface on the front LH 1/4 bumper. Window surrounds decent and lights good. Original steel wheels still wear original plastic hub caps all in very good condition but with distressed paint finish. Original number plates.
Elsewhere there is a current V5C, a file of history with some invoices and DVLA correspondence, one ignition key, plus door key which operates all exterior locks. The valuable registration number is transferable, though potentially important to the history of the car. The car retains it's original jack and wheel brace in original vinyl bag.
Condition Summary:- In fabulously original, unmolested condition and mechanically excellent having enjoyed extensive work, though with distressed coachwork. Excellent running gear, no known issues - drives really nicely. Interior all original, with excellent dash and black vinyl seats in great order. Rear interior and carpets currently removed in anticipation of respray but included. Door panel boards water damaged, though vinyl covers sound. Exterior finish poor - paint heavily distressed, some superficial cracking to gel coat but no notable damage. Chromework fair. Wheels good with new tyres all round. Please view the detailed pictures for an accurate guide to condition.
In summary, a fabulously unmolested, road tax and MoT exempt Scimitar GTE manual overdrive with fascinating history in sound mechanical order and ready for immediate use, but with plenty of scope for further improvement.
If you're interested, drop me a line via PM...
NO RESERVE on eBay starting at £SOLD....
I have a history of under-pricing cars I'm selling... I'm in the dark on this one, so will let the market decide. There's no reserve, so it sells for what it makes - an appropriate discount plus warm cup of tea will be offered to any RR member who ends up winning the auction
Here for sale and offered with no reserve is my 1972 Reliant Scimitar GTE Overdrive in full working order and in regular use. It drives really nicely, has undergone extensive refurbishment and restoration work and remains fantastically original with a fascinating history and only 2 prior owners - the first of which was purported to be legendary chansonnier Charles Aznavour.
Sold new on the 10th August 1972, this Reliant Scimitar SE5a GTE was finished in the superb combination of metallic silver coachwork with black interior and delivered with manual transmission equipped with overdrive. Purportedly purchased new by famed singer Charles Aznavour, it was only used for 7 years, being withdrawn from the road in 1979 and consequently remains amazingly original, right down to the toolkit, stainless steel 'Speedblade' Trico windscreen wipers and even the original Radiomobile radio.
The car remained off the road for 40 years, during which period the Scimitar benefitted from extensive restoration and refurbishment work, begun by the second and prior owner in the late 1980s. By the early 1990s the restoration was virtually complete, with the car having enjoyed refurbishment of all the suspension including new ball joints, bushes, trunnions, bearings, brakes, an engine rebuild, a full repaint in the original silver, upgrades to numerous parts with stainless steel components like the exhausts and fuel tank and significant additional work. However, for personal reasons, the prior owner was forced to temporarily halt work and the car was placed in storage. Unfortunately these temporary reasons became more serious and the car remained in storage, later being moved outside to reduce storage costs.
After several years the owner accepted that the restoration he so nearly completed was never going to be finished and he reluctantly offered it for sale in 2018.
I was the person lucky enough to become this Scimitar's next custodian, with news of the famous original owner being passed on by the vendor. Regrettably all paperwork for the vehicle and that supporting the restoration and original ownership had been lost in the years of difficulty experienced by the vendor and I had to take the vendor's word over the ownership history and work completed. My faith was justified, however, when we began recommissioning the car and found new components wherever we looked and evidence supporting the claims of the work undertaken, though I have not tried to verify the Charles Aznavour history. Not only was the car's chassis completely solid, but it was in excellent condition and there was evidence of refinished components throughout.
I focused on returning the car to the road to use and run as a 'rolling restoration' and the Scimitar passed it's first (voluntary) MoT since the 1970's in 2019 - 40 years after being taken off the road!
I have enjoyed using the Scimitar, it's a properly classic, fun, competent and surprisingly rapid machine that handles incredibly well for a car of such age and I have been entirely confident jumping into it and taking it on journeys of any length - happily using it for a daily 50 mile commute when desired. As an MoT and Road Tax exempt classic car it is eminently usable in modern traffic, the working overdrive even making motorway journeys relaxing. I am now at a crossroads with the car - I'd like to carry on and repaint it in it's original silver, but everywhere I go people approach me and marvel at the condition, urging me to leave the car exactly as is....
I've concluded that I've had my fun with this Scimitar and achieved the original objective of returning it to the road - it's time for the next owner to enjoy it as is or complete the restoration journey if they wish....
Condition description:-
Running gear. In mechanically excellent condition having benefitted from extensive work - no known issues. Brakes (including original Girling servo) all having been rebuilt with new seals and components as necessary. Gearbox good, overdrive working as intended, seals replaced and serviced. Rear axle good, Salisbury diff audible but believed to have been rebuilt. Engine believed to have been rebuilt - shows excellent oil pressure, is lovely and quiet and provides stout performance with no nasty smoke, noises or rough running. Maintains steady temperature under all conditions. Benefits from upgraded stainless steel coolant pipes and full exhaust - sounds fabulous. Starts well hot or cold. Suspension tight and compliant with evidence of extensive refurbishment - drives really nicely. Full set of new tyres (2019) on original steel wheels. Stainless steel fuel tank.
Electrics. New battery. Original wiring loom in excellent condition, all electrical components, lights, fans, gauges, overdrive etc. working as intended bar the rear screen wiper. Heated rear screen untested. Starts and charges as expected, original radiator fan working well.
Interior. In original and amazingly good condition, if a little grubby. Original black headlining in superb order; dash excellent, no cracks, splits or notable damage; original vinyl seats very good, showing only minor wear. Carpets, rear 1/4 trims, boot lining and rear seating currently removed in anticipation of repaint, but included together with new boot carpet, floor mats, floor carpet, door seals etc. Centre console very good, cubby box lid detached at hinge. Heater, fans, ram air and controls all working. Front door trim boards are water damaged and deformed, requiring new backing boards, but with the vinyl covers likely transferable. Instrumentation very good. Original radio present and working.
Exterior. Heavily distressed finish to paint, with lifting, fading and chips evident throughout. Areas of primer and undercoat showing. Some surface stress cracking evident to areas of the gel coat, but no notable damage and no losses. Chromework all present, with rust spotting to the rear bumper and a small dent to the top surface on the front LH 1/4 bumper. Window surrounds decent and lights good. Original steel wheels still wear original plastic hub caps all in very good condition but with distressed paint finish. Original number plates.
Elsewhere there is a current V5C, a file of history with some invoices and DVLA correspondence, one ignition key, plus door key which operates all exterior locks. The valuable registration number is transferable, though potentially important to the history of the car. The car retains it's original jack and wheel brace in original vinyl bag.
Condition Summary:- In fabulously original, unmolested condition and mechanically excellent having enjoyed extensive work, though with distressed coachwork. Excellent running gear, no known issues - drives really nicely. Interior all original, with excellent dash and black vinyl seats in great order. Rear interior and carpets currently removed in anticipation of respray but included. Door panel boards water damaged, though vinyl covers sound. Exterior finish poor - paint heavily distressed, some superficial cracking to gel coat but no notable damage. Chromework fair. Wheels good with new tyres all round. Please view the detailed pictures for an accurate guide to condition.
In summary, a fabulously unmolested, road tax and MoT exempt Scimitar GTE manual overdrive with fascinating history in sound mechanical order and ready for immediate use, but with plenty of scope for further improvement.
If you're interested, drop me a line via PM...