Stylish 1977 Reliant Scimitar GTE Parading in County Leitrim | Season 5 – Episode 30
Wheels Apr 15, 2025
The Reliant Scimitar SE4 debuted in 1964 as a sharp 2-door coupe, hinting at the potential to come. With just around 1,000 built, it laid the groundwork for the 1968 Scimitar SE5 GTE—completely redesigned for the bold 1970s as a high-performance estate. Long, low, and stylish, a pristine example was captured in County Leitrim by the Ireland Made film crew.
RELIANT IS FORMED
Our story begins in 1934, when Tom Williams—Chief Designer at Raleigh—foresaw the demise of three-wheeler production and boldly set out on his own. That summer, he left Raleigh, secured a loan, and set up a design office in his garden shed in Tamworth.
By autumn, he had built the first prototype: the ‘Reliant’, a simple van using Raleigh parts and a 600cc JAP engine. Originally with chain drive, handlebar steering, and a central seat, it was later refined with a steering wheel and aluminium body over a wooden frame—offering 62 cubic feet of space and a 7cwt payload.
The company grew steadily, expanding its range of three-wheelers—including the strikingly radical Bond Bug, designed by Ogle Design and launched in 1970. Reliant also developed a line of fiberglass economy cars, culminating in the Reliant Robin, introduced in October 1973 as a direct replacement for the light-commercial Reliant Regal three-wheeler.
NEW CAR RANGE
In 1964, Reliant set its sights on a different market segment, aiming to enter the two and then four-seat passenger car market. The first step was the launch of the Reliant Sabre, soon followed by the innovative Scimitar. Over its 22-year production run, the Scimitar evolved from a coupe (GT) into a distinctive sports estate (GTE), with a convertible version (GTC) introduced in 1980.
OGLE DESIGN SX250
The Scimitar’s roots go back to the 1962 Ogle SX250, a short-lived two-door luxury coupé designed by David Ogle of David Ogle Associates (later Ogle Design). Reliant purchased the design and, after significant redevelopment, launched it in 1964 as the SE4 Scimitar GT—a 2-door booted coupé powered by a 2.6-litre Ford straight-six from the Zephyr and Zodiac. Its success, with 1,000 cars sold led to the next major step in the Scimitar story: the all-new SE5, introduced in late 1968.
RELIANT SHOOTING BRAKE
The idea of a shooting brake version had been explored, but it was the one-off Triplex Ogle GTS show car of 1965—styled by Tom Karen of Ogle Design—that truly convinced Reliant of its potential. Originally conceived by David Ogle to demonstrate new “modern glazing techniques” for glassmaker Triplex, the GTS (Glazing Test Special) was based on the Reliant Scimitar GT coupé. Impressed by the concept, Reliant asked Ogle to develop it into a full production model: the Scimitar GTE (E for Estate), known internally as the SE5.
Karen was tasked with adapting the design for production, and within two years the SE5 was born—a stylish, sporty estate with fold-flat rear seats and a hinged sloping rear window for easy access to generous luggage space. With its fiberglass body and strong chassis, it stood out from anything else on the road. The only comparable car was the Volvo P1800ES, which wouldn’t arrive until 1971.
Beneath the surface, the SE5 featured a newly engineered chassis by John Crosthwaite, longer gearing for effortless cruising, and a larger fuel tank ideal for long-distance travel. Engine options included a straight-six and a more powerful V6—the latter proving more popular and eventually becoming the standard. With the V6, the GTE delivered strong performance: 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 121 mph (195 km/h).
REVISED SE5A
In 1972, Reliant introduced the revised SE5a model, featuring a more powerful 138bhp V6 engine and a redesigned dashboard for a fresher, more refined interior.
A more significant update followed in 1975 with the launch of the SE6. Aimed at moving the Scimitar further upmarket, the car grew in size to offer true four-seat comfort. Visually, it gained a bolder 1970s look with larger bumpers and new headlamps, while suspension and braking systems were also improved.
LEITRIM SCIMITAR
This 1977 Scimitar, spotted by the Ireland Made – Stories of Irish Transport film crew cruising through County Leitrim, was owned by Leitrim man John Walshe from 2018 to 2021. John recalled that, compared to other cars on the market at the time, the Reliant Scimitar GTE was surprisingly advanced in terms of comfort and equipment. He pointed out features such as electric windows, a Philips cassette player and radio, and a generally well-appointed and comfortable interior. It was a practical car too — being an estate, it offered plenty of space, and John regularly drove it to car shows locally in Leitrim and in Dublin, Enniskillen, and Galway, as well as using it for his daily commute.
Despite its fibreglass bodywork, the Scimitar wasn’t without rust issues. John noted that parts of the chassis, particularly the steel outriggers and the steel components bonded into the fibreglass — such as the roll-bars — were prone to corrosion. He also clarified a common misconception: although people often assumed fibreglass meant the car was lightweight, the panels were actually quite thick (around 5–6mm), which made the car relatively heavy.
In John’s opinion, the Scimitar hasn’t held its value as well as other classics like the Ford Capri or the Mk2 Escort. He attributed this to the fact that Scimitars are generally more affordable and therefore often end up in the hands of budget-conscious buyers, who may not always be able to give the cars the attention they need. While the Scimitar has a reputation for unreliability — particularly issues with overheating and electrics — John believes this is often due to neglect over time. His own car, for example, never overheated, as he had properly maintained the radiator and plumbing. As for the electrical problems, John wryly blamed them on Mr. Lucas — known in classic car circles as “The Prince of Darkness.”
All in all, John thoroughly enjoyed owning the Scimitar. He appreciated it for being different and felt it never quite received the recognition it deserved — a car that was often overlooked but had plenty to offer.
THE FINAL SCIMITAR
In 1979, the SE6b version finally delivered the performance the larger, heavier Scimitar needed, thanks to the introduction of the 160bhp 2.8-litre Cologne V6 engine.
Ogle returned in 1982 to help create the convertible GTC, but it struggled to attract buyers, and Reliant ended production in 1986. A year later, Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd took over to continue the name, building just seventy-seven upgraded 2.9-litre, five-speed models before shutting down in 1989.
If you have an idea for a story, please email Kevin Reid [email protected]
Sources of Information and Photo Credits:
501 Must- Drive Cars – Bounty Books
Bonhams
Hagerty
Iconic Auctioneers
Octane Magazine
Ogle Models
Story Cars
