Want.

"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv) 05/07/2020 at 18:05 • Filed to: None

1

24

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

850 Euros for a rare, weird, three-wheeled British station wagon? Who wouldn’t want this? If I had space for another car, I would no longer have space for another car...

jimz > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:12

2

somebody hasn’t watched his Mr. Bean or Top Gear.

(yes, I know the Top Gear one was rigged to be a lot tippier, I just think it’s funny)

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:12

1

Hmmm going through the import process and putting that interior back together coupled with nonexistent parts availability? Sign me up!

Jim Spanfeller > jimz 05/07/2020 at 18:13

1

Honestly, If I got in a rollover crash in this thing, I’d be laughing my butt off :p

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/07/2020 at 18:16

0

Well they did say they have a spare dash and the interior is at least usable as-is. The only part that has me concerned is the fact that the engine ran before he tried to fix it, but now it doesn’t work. It’s had a lot of work done to it, so it would probably run fine once the problem is found, but who knows what that problem is?

ranwhenparked > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:16

2

You got me all excited, then I saw it was in Leicester.

I came very close to buying a 1992 Robin last year from a dealer in Florida, fell apart at the last minute when the owner decided he’d rather keep it as a display piece.

There’s a MK1 Robin in Michigan I could get, but the guy wants too much for it, and I don’t really want one of those anyway. The Rialto is much better - galvanized chassis, more front suspension travel for a smoother ride, the aerodynamics make for better stability at highway speed, and the later ones can handle unleaded gas with no problem. Plus, better engine access from inside the car. 

Jim Spanfeller > ranwhenparked 05/07/2020 at 18:20

1

There’s this one in America for $4,400...

https://car-from-uk.com/sale.php?id=528032&country=us

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:21

0

Considering the relative simplicity, ubiquity, and simplicity of the engine,   I would imagine it might be easier to just tuck another in the hatch when   you import it.

Imagine how Phoebe would feel if some stodgy old Brit butted in and got fixed first. Priorities.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/07/2020 at 18:26

1

Yeah, that’s the other reason why I can’t buy another car. I need the money for Phoebe’s assorted needs... Also, speaking of Thunderbird Vs. Reliant, I built my Lego Robin to the same scale as my Lego Thunderbird. The difference in size is quite significant... The Reliant is only about two thirds the length of the Thunderbird and much narrower, although the T-bird is only a little bit taller. 

ranwhenparked > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:27

0

No, that one’s gone, its a really old ad that keeps popping up on different aggregation websites. I already reached out to them.

There was a Regal 3/30 Saloon in New Jersey that was advertised on Hemmings, but it sold before I could move on it. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:29

0

I am genuinely surprised you got a good likeness at that same scale. That's not a lot of studs to work with.

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/07/2020 at 18:34

0

I think Reliant PartsWorld wants over £1000 for a remanufactured engine, but those are in as-new 0 mile condition. 

Jim Spanfeller > ranwhenparked 05/07/2020 at 18:35

0

Hmm. It seems all the cheap ones are in E urope, and the few for sale in America are absurdly expensive... :(

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 05/07/2020 at 18:37

0

I’m sure a lightly reconditioned one could be had for much much less if you knew where to look, given the price of the whole conplete . car

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/07/2020 at 18:39

0

The Reliant is only about 8 studs wide (minus door handles and mirrors and stuff), versus the Thunderbird being about 11 studs wide... It was a fun challenge to try and make it detailed, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Of course, it helps that the Reliant Robin is already a pretty distinctive car, but I still wanted to try and make it as detailed as I could ;)

ranwhenparked > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:41

0

Yep, they’re an easy $10,000-$15,000+ once they hit this side of the Atlantic. And you have to be careful, too, a lot of them here are treated like museum pieces/garage queens, which is not great for stuff like brakes and fuel lines. 

facw > ranwhenparked 05/07/2020 at 18:49

2

Sounds like we should be loading up containers of the things...

facw > jimz 05/07/2020 at 18:50

0

Meanwhile I will never not laugh at this:

ranwhenparked > facw 05/07/2020 at 18:52

2

I had thought that, particularly the last time gas prices went crazy. These things do well over 60+mpg, and, unlike the Elio, have room for 4 people and cargo, plus, you know, actually exist.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 18:57

0

Can’ t wait for the big reveal

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Jim Spanfeller 05/07/2020 at 19:01

0

AND, Reliant bodies don’t rust because fiberglass, so win win on that side of things too! :D

Not sure how the chassis is on them for rust though...

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > facw 05/07/2020 at 19:03

2

That’s what I feel like doing with Piaggio Apes.....they sell for crazy money over here. I really want to import a “patina’d” one from Italy for myself, but they aren’t street legal in my province ( POSSIBLY will be nex t year as they are rewriting the entire Motor Vehicle Act, so I am hoping they add a section for autocycles that would allow me to get one!)

ranwhenparked > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 05/07/2020 at 19:26

2

They all have galvanized chassis from the Rialto on (supposedly a few late production 1981 Robins got the new chassis as well), so they’re pretty good on that front, too. Reliant actually  used to advertise an expected useful service life of 30 years with scheduled maintenance. 

Jim Spanfeller > ranwhenparked 05/07/2020 at 23:04

0

Not surprising. I bet that most people in America know about it from Top Gear, which explains why you don’t see anyone driving them around... I bet you’d get a ton of attention at a car show with one, though.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 05/07/2020 at 23:26

0

It’s coming. as of now, I’ve begun the photographing part, although I had to cut it short because it was taking longer than expected and there was... um ... an unfortunate casualty . Hopefully I’ll be able to take the rest of the pictures tomorrow, and start writing. If not tomorrow, It’ll probably be the day after.