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Post by paulatukcamera on Jul 24, 2006 17:43:48 GMT -5
For the benefit of those who have never seen one - behold a Reliant three wheeler (Regal Supervan 111 of about 1969) Fibreglass body and a small all alloy 750cc engine descended I believe from the original pre-war Austin 7 If you're US based, think Crossley! This one has been done up as a replica of the car "Del Boy" used in Only Fools & Horses. (Notice in windscreen refers) Taken, I'm afraid, on a modern digital! (Panasonic FZ20) last Saturday. (Yes I did take 8 films the week before at a wedding on the Nikons, so I hope I can be excused!) Paul P.S. Owner's Club www.reliantownersclub.co.uk/enter.html
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Post by kamera on Jul 25, 2006 10:23:12 GMT -5
Paul,
That is "cool man"...to emulate today's youth. But I seriously would love to have something unique to just tool around in.
Big thanks for that post!
And, yes, I do recall Crossley.
Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jul 25, 2006 14:44:58 GMT -5
Hi Paul, I remember the Plastic Pig, alias Hedgehog Killer, well. I road tested one many years ago and on the ride and handling circuit at MIRA (Motor Industry Research Association) it was lethal on the adverse camber bends; it would lift a rear wheel at anything faster than 25mph! By comparison I could coax a bog-standard Escort 1600 round there at 50mph ... admittedly with a few busy moments on the steering wheel, but it kept all four wheels on the ground. Also, on the wet smooth tarmac braking test the front wheel of the Pig locked up and completely lost directional stability, you could spin the wheel from lock to lock and still keep going straight. And, with that glass fibre body, if you've ever seen one that's been in even a fairly minor shunt with another vehicle you don't want to speculate on what happened to the occupants. Nah, I didn't give it a very good report, so Reliant invited me to the factory at Tamworth, not far from MIRA, to show me what their test driver could do with one. He showed me. He took it round the ride and handling circuit faster than I did ... and turned it on its side. I helped him out and made sure he wasn't hurt before I started laughing. He had enough sense of humour to laugh with me, but their PR man who was with us didn't see the funny side of it. Peter W. PS edit. Maybe the heat's getting to me, but I can't see the relationship between Reliant and Crossley.
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Post by paulatukcamera on Jul 25, 2006 16:42:55 GMT -5
I think there are parallels (though I did spell it wrong) Prototype was a three wheeler. Small unconventional ultra cheap motoring Crude but effective. I just thought it would have appealed to the same sort of people in the US, that the Reliant did in the UK and the 2CV did in France and the Goliath in Germany. In UK many ex-sidecar people bought it because you could drive it on a motorbike licence. See what you think: www.ggw.org/~cac/SS-Cobras-part2.htmlPaul
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Jul 25, 2006 18:25:48 GMT -5
I like it. But why "pig"? It looks like it should have been a boat.
Mickey
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jul 25, 2006 18:27:05 GMT -5
Sorry Paul, I was thinking of the Manchester firm Crossley (cars, trucks, buses, oil and gas engines etc as I'm sure you know). Must admit I'd never heard of the Crosley. Interesting little car. Seems to have sold quite well till the US attitude on motoring changed from economy to gotta-have-it-all. It reminds me somewhat of a little car in the late-ish 1930s called Rytecraft (I think), or maybe it's the Scootacar I'm thinking of.
The ability to drive a 'car' on a motorcycle driving licence goes back to the old licence listing of motorcycle which included 'non-reversible tricycles', intended to cover a bike and sidecar. A lot of so-called bubblecars, Heinkel, Trojan, Messerschmitt etc, in the early post-war years came into this category. Remember them?
Peter W.
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Post by kiev4a on Jul 25, 2006 22:04:51 GMT -5
Remember the BMW Isetta? Two-cycle engine and you opened the front of the car to get in.
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Jul 25, 2006 22:15:36 GMT -5
Hi Peter, In some circles in the US and Canada they take a Crosley or a Henry J and stuff enormous V8 engines in for drag racing. Back in the day, I was participating in a little cruise night street drag racing in Minnesota and as I lined up at the stoplight a guy drove up in...yep, a Crosley. Only this Crosley had no front fenders or hood due to the supercharged 426 Hemi and straight zoomie style exhaust pipes. Needless to say I didn't do very well.
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Post by Randy on Jul 25, 2006 22:47:42 GMT -5
There was a Messerschmit three wheeler also, but I'd be hard pressed to get into any of them.
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Post by kiev4a on Jul 26, 2006 8:44:18 GMT -5
If I remember correctly the Messerschmit had a buble canopy that opened and you had to get in like you were climbing into a fighter cockpit.
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Jul 26, 2006 11:13:47 GMT -5
That's the kiddie, Wayne. It also had tandem seating on some models, and a sector 'steering wheel' that looked like the top half of a bomber control column with about three quarters of a turn from lock to lock. They were quite fast as I remember, though I never drove (flew?) one. I imagine they were great fun, provided no-one ran over you.
Silly story: An airline captain bought one and first time out drove into the back of someone. His excuse? 'I pulled back on the control column but nothing happened' ;D ;D
Peter W.
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Post by kamera on Jul 26, 2006 17:00:41 GMT -5
And I thought the Messerschmidt was an airplane...darn I learn a lot from you guys!
Not just about our hobby...but cars, airplanes, boats motorcycles, history, etc. Really helps make the forums interesting.
Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by Rachel on Jul 28, 2006 5:08:34 GMT -5
Reliant also made a small 4-wheeler; the Robin I think. As a complete contrast they also produced the Scimitar, a very sporty car.
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Post by kiev4a on Jul 28, 2006 11:46:53 GMT -5
And I thought the Messerschmidt was an airplane...darn I learn a lot from you guys! Not just about our hobby...but cars, airplanes, boats motorcycles, history, etc. Really helps make the forums interesting. Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI Here's the real thing. I read an account by a woman who owned one who stated you had to get out of it every 60 km. or so to get the circulation going again! Doesn't look quite as deadly as an ME 109 does it?
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Post by wolves3012 on Sept 6, 2006 17:06:45 GMT -5
I like it. But why "pig"? It looks like it should have been a boat. Mickey Because it was pig-ugly (a phrase I think may be peculiarly English and meaning particularly ugly)
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