Page 30 - April 2023

The Reliant Robin, conintued from page 29
For all its peppy uptake and its four speed manual Here' s some things you may not know about
transmission that made driving the Robin fun, there was a the Reliant automobile company:
major flaw in the design, the placement of its three wheels.
From the 1970s to the 1990s Reliant, that began
Although a triangular shape is considered to be the most
its life as an offshoot of the Raleigh bicycle
stable shape, by placing the single front wheel at the point
company with its first prototype automobile
of the triangle and coupling that with the Robin's high center
receiving a license in 1935, was the UK's biggest
of gravity, the Robin abandoned the principles of geometry
British owned car manufacturer.
and violated the laws of physics. In short the car was not
altogether stable. Although the Robin is arguably the best known
of the Reliant models, in actuality the company
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson poked masses of fun
built a variety of cars during the company's
at the car demonstrating that while it was stable on two
period of manufacture, selling about 2 million
wheels, staying on three was rather difficult. To be fair,
cars in total. Reliants were sold not only in
Clarkson later admitted to tinkering around with the car,
England but in 9 other countries.
including installing three different size wheels , to make it
more easily tipped over for comic relief on the program. There are presently 674 Robin Reliants still
licensed in the UK and, although the company
Even Mr. Bean got in on the act with a blue Robin kitted
itself no longer produces cars, a Reliant
out as a trade van being constantly tipped over by Bean
partsworld produces spares for all the Reliant
driving his Mini in the movies.
vehicles produced.
In reality, the Robin when properly driven managed to stay
The Robin was an economical car. In its first
horizontal quite nicely , earning it the title of 'not the safest
years it got up to 70 mpg. Later versions like the
but not the worst, either'.
MK3 ranged between 60-100mpg. In 1999 the
How successful and well accepted was the Robin-- the proof first Robin designed by a computer came off the
is in the numbers. The last Reliant Robin, looking more production line.
aerodynamic than its previous versions, was the Robin 65,
Today, Robin owners still take their cars off to
painted in metallic gold to honor 65 years of car production.
the races in England, a combination of
It came with every optional extra and sold for an
demolition derby and NASCAR, with a good time
eye-watering 10,000 pounds. The company produced 65 of
being had by all and the occasional tip over. He
these vehicles , ending production on Valentine's Day,
who oinks last, laughs loudly.
2001.

Above: A peppy family car, the Reliant Robin image by Dreamstime by license.
30