Used car buying guide: Reliant Scimitar GTE

In 1980, the Scimitar ditched the Essex motor for its 2.8-litre Cologne successor and a year later finally made the switch to a galvanised chassis, making run-out SE6B models the most reliable and expensive on the market.

Production stopped in 1986, but the Scimitar story didn’t end there, with Nottinghamshire-based Middlebridge Scimitar Ltd acquiring the production rights and building its own version of the model.

Powered by a 2.9-litre Ford Scorpio engine and with various chassis upgrades, it could have been a worthy rival to newcomers like the Jaguar XJ and BMW 840, but the company folded just two years later, having built only 78 cars.

How to get one in your garage

An expert's view

Will Sparrow, ex-Reliant dealer and restorer: “The people who have them now look after them. These cars needed sorting out – and I did that as a dealer and then I moved on to restoring them for people. The engines are Ford, so nothing was too difficult. The early ones had chassis problems and the axles used to whine – you could rebuild them and they’d still whine, so that was something you had to live with quite often – but you never had body rust.

Buyer beware...

â–  Body: Glassfibre bodywork means that panel rust isn’t a concern, but damage repair is a specialist job. Focus your attention underneath – especially on non-galvanised pre-1981 cars – where corrosion is known to eat away at the bumper mounts, wishbone brackets, outriggers and seatbelt anchor points.

â–  Engine: Burbling Essex V6 is a durable lump but make sure all fuel lines are solid and securely fixed to avoid the risk of fire. Cast-iron manifolds rust and are commonly replaced with tubular stainless steel items, which are more resilient but cause heat build-up that can damage nearby wiring.

â–  Steering, suspension: Front suspension shares components with the much smaller and lighter Triumph TR6, making it a weak spot. Check for worn-out bushes, which can be easily replaced with modern poly items, and any signs of fatigue on the drop links. Non-assisted steering is extremely heavy so seek out cars with power steering.

â–  Electrics: As with any British car of this era, the Scimitar’s electrical systems are fragile and troublesome, and its glassfibre body makes earthing an issue. Ensure the fuse box – in the engine bay for SE5s and the passenger footwell for the SE6 – has not melted, test all switchgear in the cabin and see that the heater gets up to temperature.