Reliant Rebel
| Manufacturer | Reliant |
|---|---|
| Production | 1964-1973 2600 made |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | Reliant Kitten |
| Body style | 2-door saloon 2-door estate car van |
| Engine | 598 cc/700 cc/748 cc Straight-4 |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual |
| Wheelbase | 89 in (2,261 mm) [1] |
| Length | 138 in (3,505 mm) |
| Width | 58 in (1,473 mm) |
| Height | 55.5 in (1,410 mm) |
| Curb weight | 1,200 lb (540 kg) |
| Related | Reliant Regal |
The Reliant Rebel was a small car produced by Reliant between 1964 and 1973, conceived as an alternative to the Austin Mini and Hillman Imp. It was produced in saloon, estate and van variants.
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[edit] Body
The Rebel had a body made of fibreglass. Because of this, the car's body did not rust, and it was proclaimed in advertising to be "its own garage".
[edit] Engines
The car was launched with a 598 cc engine which was increased to 701 cc in time for the October 1967 London Motor Show[2] and at the 1972 Motor Show to 748 cc (although sometimes later 848 cc Reliant engines are retro-fitted) and the maximum speed was around 70 mph (110 km/h).
Even the 748 cc engine introduced in 1972 offered only a claimed power output of 35 bhp (SAE) and published fuel consumption figures also indicated a car significantly more frugal than similarly sized metal bodied contemporaries.[3]
[edit] Chassis, suspension and steering
The chassis was similar to that of the three-wheeled Reliant Regal, but the Rebel featured a conventional four wheel configuration which involved a significantly larger section to its rails and conventional steering. In the Rebel's case this used the steering box from a Standard Ten with wishbones, trunnions and ball-joints from the Triumph GT6 / Vitesse. The standard 12" steel wheels have a PCD of 4x4" (4x101.6mm).
[edit] Gearbox
The car was introduced with a four-speed gearbox which featured synchromesh on the top three ratios. By 1972 synchromesh had been extended to all four forward speeds. The light-weight body material and the aluminium engine block meant that the car was some 15% lighter than the (slightly shorter) Mini and 35% lighter than the early Renault 5 introduced in 1972.
[edit] Production numbers
Only 2,600 Rebels were made in saloon, estate and van variants.
[edit] References
- ^ Cardew, Basil (1966). Daily Express Review of the 1966 Motor Show. London: Beaverbrook Newspapers Ltd.
- ^ "Exhibition Stand 105 Reliant". Autocar 127 (nbr 3740): 45. October 1967.
- ^ Daily Mail Motor Show Review 1972 on 1973 Cars (London: Associated Newspapers Group Ltd): Page 41 (Reliant Rebal). October 1972.
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