The
Reliant Robin (often incorrectly referred to as a Robin
Reliant) is a small three wheeled car manufactured by the Reliant Motor
Company in Tamworth, England. Being a three-wheeler with an official weight
below 453.6 kg (1000 lb), the Robin can be driven by holders of a B1
category licence or car licence in the United Kingdom, and can be registered
and taxed at motorcycle rates, which gives considerable savings over a
conventional car. The single wheel in the front steers, while the engine
(also in the front) drives the rear axle.
3.5 litre V8 Reliant Robin
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The Robin was first manufactured
in 1973 and the final original Robin rolled off the production line in 1981.
The vehicle was also produced under licence in Greece by MEBEA between 1974
and 1978. In 1989, Reliant produced a new and totally revamped Robin
featuring a new fibreglass body, and increased engine power. This Robin was
face lifted again in 1999 when the final version was launched that had its
biggest change since originally launched with completely new panels, and
Opel Corsa front lamps. Designed by Andy Plumb (now of LA:UK Design Ltd)
this hatchback-only model lasted until February 2001 when Reliant announced
the end of production. The final sixty-five Robins designed in 1999
manufactured by Reliant formed a Special Edition known as the Robin 65,
featuring leather trim, walnut interior, and a numbered plaque, and sold for
approximately £10,000. Manufacturing of the Robin resumed under licence by a
company called B&N Plastics in April 2002, but stopped in October of the
same year.
Reliant three-wheelers enjoy a special place in British culture, often as
the butt of jokes, such as when Patsy Stone dismissively refers to Edina
Monsoon's isolation chamber as resembling one in the TV series Absolutely
Fabulous. The Reliant Robin is staple material for comedian Jasper Carrott.
However, perhaps two of the best known Reliants in British comedy are
actually Reliant Regal Supervans — the dirty yellow van owned by the Trotter
brothers in Only Fools and Horses, and the light blue which always
ends up getting tipped over, crashed into, bumped out of its parking space
etc. by a British Leyland Mini in Mr Bean.
Robins are raced. During races several cars usually overturn. The driver
can return the car onto its wheels unaided from inside the car by rocking it
and pushing down on the track through the window.
In the February 18, 2007 episode of Top Gear, a Reliant Robin was
used by Richard Hammond and James May in an attempt to modify a normal K-reg
Robin into a reusable space shuttle.[1]
Steve Holland, a professional radio-controlled aircraft pilot, helped
Hammond to work out how to land a Robin safely. The craft achieved a
successful launch, flew for several seconds into the air and managed to
successfully jettison the solid fuel rocket boosters on time. This was the
largest rocket launched by a non-government organisation in Europe. It used
6 x 40960 NS O hybrid rocket motors giving a maximum thrust of 8 metric
tons. However the car failed to separate from the large external fuel tank
due to a faulty alignment between the Robin and the external tank (10
thousandths of an inch out), the Robin subsequently crashed and exploded.
In the June 18, 2007 episode of Fifth Gear, Tom Ford and Johnny
Smith both modified a Reliant Robin, to compete against each other in a
speed challenge and a destruction derby.
In the UK, the Reliant Robin is sometimes affectionately nicknamed the
"Plastic Pig" because of its distinctive shape and fibreglass bodyshell.
A Reliant Robin is featured in the Golden Earring's video of "Radar
Love."
Reliant Robins make semi-regular appearances on Scrapheap Challenge,
often stripped down to a light three-wheeled chassis. One team converted the
car into a wheelie-racer.[2]
The Reliant Robin had a sister model of car also made by Reliant called
the Rialto. Both look similar and have the same chassis.
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Source. |
Reliant Rialto Saloon Car
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References
In the popular book series Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging
by Louise Rennison, Georgia Nicholson's family purchases a Reliant Robin.
Georgia refers to it as a "clown car" and is embarrassed at the thought of
even being seen riding in it. In one of the books, Georgia's family goes to
Memphis, Tennessee to go to a Reliant Robin convention.
The Reliant Robin is also mentioned in cult 1980's British sitcom The
Young Ones by Jerzy Balowski, the Young One's landlord.
On an episode of Junkyard Wars. a blue Robin was converted into a Steam
powered racecar. it won the race against a steam powered Jeep Cherokee.
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Source. |
Reliant Robins and Reliant Regal
Super Vans Racing |
