1976 Reliant Kitten....updated

[oddified]

I've been looking over cars on this forum for a while now and thought I may as well post a few pictures of my not quite standard Reliant Kitten

I origanaly built it about 11 years ago, and it was in Car and Car Conversion about that time, came 3rd in their converted car of the year at Castle Combe. The cars been changed quite a lot since then though









Engine
Normally aspirated Cosworth 230 bhp @ 7500 rpm + 100bhp Nitrous system(Wizard of nos)
Accralite 93mm forged pistons, Kent cam’s L1 inlet BD3 exhaust, vernier cam pulleys, 1mm oversize stainless steal valves, colsi bronze valve guides, crane double valve springs, group “A” solid lifters, SK 45 carburettors, MBE speed/throttle mapped ignition system, Twin Facet red top pump, filter king pressure regulator. Fabricated exhaust manifold and system. Helix Clutch, and aluminium flywheel.

Gearbox
Ford type 9, Magnesium bell housing, 3inch shortened tail housing, modified gear selector rod, Quaife gear stick, hydraulic slave cylinder (Vauxhall Vectra, modified). Trans-X straight cut close ratio gear kit.

Rear axle
Ford atlas, narrowed 34mm each side, ZF limited slip diff, Quaife group “A” half shafts/flanges and diff gears, 4.63/1 diff ratio, rose jointed 5 link suspension, spax coil over shock absorbers, disc conversion with mintex 1144 pads, standard kitten front roll bar modified to fit on rear, very short prop shaft (32 inch).

Front suspension/brakes
Fabricated arms, modified stub axles (ford hubs), modified kitten steering rack, modified steering column, 285 mm vented/cross drilled discs, Willwood callipers/pads, spax coil over shock absorbers. Custom made roll bar.

General modifications
Body extensively modified, Ford Escort mk2 rally arches, modified Cosworth replica front bumper, fabricated bonnet, inner wings, foot wells, transmission tunnel and rear wing.
Extensive modifications to chassis, peddle box and interior. Electrics completely rewired, electric windows, central locking. Reliant Scimitar rear lights, VW Golf front indicators, Race tech gauges and Stuart Warner speedo and rpm gauge. Vauxhall cavalier SRI seats.
Wheels are 7/15 inch with 195/50/15 tyres.

Well that's my little toy, always puts a smile on my face
Best 1/4 mile is 12.3 @ 109mph

Ian

[berendd]

completely mad, I love it!

[captainwow]

Now thats cool!!!!

[B-8-D]

madder than a box of frogs....
well done!
si

[Ruki]

That is my kind of conversion LOVE IT

[BenzBoy]

INSANE! Welcome to retro-rides!

How come you made the Cosworth NA? I'm not familiar with these engines so don't know if it's a regular thing to do, etc.

[oddified]

Glad you like it, it's not the normal choice of car to modify, but it weighs nothing and there's no rust! ;D

Making the cossie engine into N/A is quite common really, makes the pinto engine into what it should have been to start with!. Also put's it into none turbo classes for competitions.

Ian

[grizz]

WOW WOW WOW and WOW !!!!

That is awesome.

I need some of that clerness in my bus, that would give me a serious woody.

Awesome toy/car.

[Siert]

It's mental! :-)

[paulmi16]

I like that a lot, must be a good larf to drive, and suprises a few folk I bet.

[hbturbo]

iv seen this car run up the pob and boy it shock`s a few quick car`s........

[alan105]

Absolutely insane,however there was something even more mad around during the 80s, It was a Reliant Robin 3 wheeler with a 7 litre ! lump in it. the rear wheels were massive and the driver sat at the back, it had permanent wheely bars as the thing used to try and back flip whenever you accelerated in it ! I think it was used for drag racing a few times but havent seen anything about it for years, couldn't tell you the spec etc as it was so long ago, if I remember rightly it was painted pea green, anyone else remember this beast?

[BenzBoy]

oddified said:

Making the cossie engine into N/A is quite common really, makes the pinto engine into what it should have been to start with!. Also put's it into none turbo classes for competitions.

Ah, I see. I figured it might have been for competition regs or something, but I'd never seen an NA Cossie before. But then I'm not all that up on Cossies...
Thanks for clearing that up!

What plans have you got for it?

[mull]

alan105 said:

Absolutely insane,however there was something even more mad around during the 80s, It was a Reliant Robin 3 wheeler with a 7 litre ! lump in it. the rear wheels were massive and the driver sat at the back, it had permanent wheely bars as the thing used to try and back flip whenever you accelerated in it ! I think it was used for drag racing a few times but havent seen anything about it for years, couldn't tell you the spec etc as it was so long ago, if I remember rightly it was painted pea green, anyone else remember this beast?

I remember it it was featured on the telly a few times but for the life of me I can't remember where.

[hardassfunk]

Love this car! heres a video on youtube

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_dH1PHDJ0qc

[oddified]

Nothing really planned for it, i just do bit's and bobs to it all the time (line lock fitted a few weeks ago). Changing the rear 3 windows to polycarbonate is probably next on the list. Other than when the roads are covered salty %$it, i use the car quite a bit. Whilst the car is a bit radical, i've always tried to keep it practical/useable so it's got sound proofing/carpets, ice, and it's 100% reliable.

Over the years i've done quite a few track days at Castle combe and croft but for the last few it's been mainly rwyb at York and Santa Pod....and embarrassing expensive 'fast' cars on the road ;D

The vid on you-tube is from last year(retro car show i think and no nitrous), no idea who filmed it or posted it.

Ian

[hardassfunk]

Have you kept the original seating position,can you carry passengers? hows about loads more pics ;D

[mgbv8]

A very nice conversion with shed loads of attention to detail and performance. I wish mine looked so nice close up.

OH! I only take one sugar in my Coffee by the way

See you on the 9th March eh??

Signed
The Black Phantom.....Grip!!

[oddified]

The seating position has been changed slightly from original, the 2 front seats are slightly further back now and there's no rear seats.

A few more pictures:-
Body, arches, foot wells and trans tunnel modified







Before being painted-


Heater, peddle box, master cylinders and some sound proofing-


Interior now-


Nitrous bottle installation




It's been called many things over the years by passers by, but one of the neighbours young daughters just calls it the "banana" car! ;D

Ian

[oddified]

mgbv8 said:

OH! I only take one sugar in my Coffee by the way

See you on the 9th March eh??

Signed
The Black Phantom.....Grip!!

Hmmm......i don't take suger in my coffee ;D
I'll be there, i can't wait
Looks like i won't have the 4.1 cwp fitted that i was hoping to have done, seems i've been shafted on e-bay

The yellow peril