Reliant RIALTO GLS SALOON RED MOT ECONOMY MOTORING WITHOUT ROBIN YOU

Item Features Reliant RIALTO:

Seller notes:

Used : An item that has been previously used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.

“The most enduring of Micro-Cars, the three wheeler is a design classic which has survived 6 decades. This 80's example is nigh on 30 yrs old and inspection shows it must have been gone through from top to bottom at some point. Now just detail work to make it an eye catching practical classic.”

Year:	1987	Mileage:	70,000
Reg. Mark:	D*** *** Get the Vehicle Status Report	Manufacturer:	RELIANT
Previous Owners:	5	Model:	RIALTO GLS SALOON
Doors:	2	Type:	PASSENGER TRICYCLE
Colour:	RED	MOT Expiry:	07/2016
Transmission:	Manual	Reg. Date:	22/05/1987
Seats:	4	Engine Size:	848 cc
Drive Side:	Right-hand drive	Fuel:	PETROL
Safety Features:	Rear seat belts

vehicle description:

Here we have a Plastic Pig. Runs on the smell of an oily rag Something to get Snout & About in! Well, that"s the cliches over, lets see what we"ve got here...
There is no rhyme or reason why folk have spent tens of thousands on Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Mercedes,just for most of them to have rotted away by the time they"ve reached the age of this humble Pig.
The brilliance of a rot proof GRP body is one thing but fastening it to a galvanised chassis accounts for the longevity of these little cars. From the RIALTO model onwards, Reliant used a galvanised chassis. The fact that they do continue in daily use for so long makes these cars, even now, not an uncommon sight on UK roads. Really they should be regarded as classic cars as the enthusiast movement for so called Micro-Cars has always been very active. As the RIALTOs are now disappearing from the roads all the while, their Collector"s Car status is definitely assured. Many have succumbed to conversions to Trikes by our Biker friends. The recently relaunched Top Gear Show featured two RIALTOs and ensured my 16 year old son who has no particular interest in cars, could recall their name. Pity they had to saw the roofs off though, that was two more wasted ☺
This car which I believe is a RIALTO 2 GLS is the so called saloon version which features a separate boot as shown in the photos. Soon after they made this model into a hatchback. The GLS version included luxuries such as a leather rimmed steering wheel, clock, voltmeter & radio cassette. All the instrumentation still works fine but the radio/cassette has been removed at some time. She also has the proper Triplex integral heated rear window but I have not tested it to see if it works.
At some point this Pig appears to have had a pretty much, from scratch, rebuild.I have a hunch and it is only a hunch with no foundation whatsoever that the car may have been the subject of one of those student technical college type projects.
The paintwork is clearly a respray and not the original. On the whole it has been well done and retains a good shine, something often absent with these little cars.There is an insignificant amount of overspray on the window rubbers, all of which are in very good condition. There is also no sign of the crazes or cracks often associated with GRP vehicles but of course you would expect any of this to have been rectified in the course of the respray. The nearside corner of the rear bumper is cracked to the point of almost being in two pieces and would require a repair (or replacement bumper) to make good again. The nearside of the car has also suffered from some rubbing marks which you can see from the photos. These have perhaps been caused by catching junk when driven into an overcrowded garage. The worst is over the nearside wheel arch which is apparent from the photo. It has not broken the plastic. Generally these marks could be touched up or sprayed with a hand aerosol and are only cosmetic. The driver"s side is free from any major scuffs. You will note from the photo,the nearside front indicator lens is smashed and needs replacement.
Other signs of the rebuild include an indication that the car may have originally been Green. This is only evident when you lift up the carpets. All the engine compartment, inner wings, inside door frames, inside boot etc look original Red. Also the interior has black passenger & driver seats but the bench rear seat is grey as you can see from the photos. Incidently,lap type seat belts are present in the rear with inertia reel belts to the front. Oddly the centre console is a cream colour. The passenger side wing mirror is missing from the door but included with the car.
I see this car as a real opportunity for an enthusiast to effortlessly make this a very nice pig indeed. Another cliche would be An investment that can only increase in value When you look at the price of other Micro-Cars such as Bubble Cars, I really think that will be the case. With the paintwork touched up, perhaps a black or gold coach line down each side (or even some Reliant 2 decals if you can find some)this will become a smart pig. Replace the missing Reliant badge from the front grille and add some nice Minilite style alloys for the rear wheels and you will be surpised at how good this will look.
Mechanically, the Pig starts on the key with the help of manual choke. Once warmed up she ticks over happily enough, the engine is not particularly quiet but no doubt characteristic of a typical push rod engine of the period for the mileage. It sounds sweet enough when reved. I believe it is the engine referred to as the Red Top which was the engine Reliant returned to after experimenting with the engine known as the Yellow top. Out on the road, the clutch & gearbox works well. There is a bit of a whine in third, which again may be characteristic of the breed, but she is quiet in Top gear. Driving experience out on the road takes a little getting used to with any major undulation causing the pig to change direction. Pot holes are a problem because you tend to be psychologically geared up for 4 wheels, think you"re straddling it and end up driving right through it! Brakes are not that reassuring compared with a modern car but the Pig does come to a halt when you want it to, if you press hard enough.
Besides,being a bit of a play thing there is the practical side of this Pig to consider. These cars have been good at being practical for decades! This Pig seems to have driven circa 4,000 miles since last yrs MOT showing it to be a credible form of transport perhaps for a local commuter. For me, this is something you wouldn"t drive miles & miles in, but handy for trips to the supermarket or from village to village or one end of town to another. For most who have a full motorbike licence you can drive this vehicle without having a car licence. Road tax for 6 months is £ 45.00. £80/yr.
Currently she has circa 1 months MOT remaining which should be enough for you to get her home legally without needing a trailer. However, if you are purchasing from distance you would be brave to drive it home considering its age/type/condition. Clearly you should inspect the vehicle prior to bidding as I cannot be held responsible for any oversight as to the condition of the car which I may have missed.Consequently the vehicle is Sold as Seen with no warranty given or implied. You are welcome to come and inspect/drive the car at any mutually convenient time. Call me office hours 01723 891981 or evenings 01262 470770 or mobile 07889 286559 to arrange an appointment.Realistic Start Price & No Reserve. £100 Paypal deposit within 24hrs of fall of hammer. Balance in Cash on Collection. There is no service history with the car. Thank you.

Want to buy this Reliant RIALTO car?

Contact the seller for the description of the cars listed

Also published at eBay.co.uk