Description

1986 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE6B

Believed to be the final Scimitar off the production line in Tamworth in May 1986; formerly owned by The Patrick Collection; with our current owner since 2005 and showing just 63,000 miles - rare opportunity

Here we have, what is widely believed to be the final Scimitar GTE SE6B off Reliant’s Tamworth factory production line, registered new on the 1^st of May 1986, C864GOM - purchased new by ‘The Patrick Collection’ through supplying dealer Will Sparrow Ltd of Alcester.

Finished in its original and oh-so-period colour scheme of Champagne (cream) over brown interior, the car shouts 80’s cool.  Riding on its original Wolfrace alloy wheels shod with decent rubber the car sits well, 10cm longer and 8cm wider than its SE5 predecessor, the SE6 series was aimed more at the sporting-luxury estate market than the earlier shorter, narrower 2+2 models with easier access to the rear seats with greater leg-room further enhancing the cars credentials as a ‘proper’ four-seater.  The SE6 generation also saw improvements to the suspension and braking with the adoption of Lockheed brakes.

Under the bonnet of this example, the final hurrah SE6B variant and one of just 407 produced, we find the Ford 2.8-litre Cologne V6 engine which replaced the aged 3.0 Essex V6 engine that had powered the earlier versions (but ceased in supply) although it developed similar power at 135bhp, albeit with slightly less torque, which was compensated for by fitting a slightly lower final drive ratio. The idea was to fit them with fuel injection and up the power to somewhere around 160bhp, the cars even left the factory with the battery relocated to allow fitment, but frustratingly this notion never came to fruition. Hindsight is a powerful tool!

This example features the three-speed Ford C3 automatic transmission driving the rear wheels which gives sufficient performance for its era, and we believe, a galvanised chassis as such a late model. The cabin is a comfortable place to be with recent new carpets and head lining, leather seats, electric windows, glass sunroof and power-steering.  Starting promptly, the car ran well at the time of photography and videography and was also borrowed to feature in a forth-coming Kelsey Media magazine (and digital) Classic Road Test feature during which time the car was driven and documented so excited were they to feature the ‘last car’. The car also graces the pages of the current issue of Classic Car Mart, Vol.28 No.5 May 2022 edition in a four page feature.

The history file for C864GOM includes the V5C recording just three former keepers to our long term owner of 17 years, spare keys, printed document from The Patrick Collection confirming the price new at £14,250 and that this was the last car to come from the production line along with a Newspaper cutting from the Midland AutoTrader dated 7^th August – 13^th August 1992, page 169 with an advert by The Patrick Collection of Kingsnorton, Birmingham offering 10 of their collection for sale including this Scimitar which they denote to have covered 3,247 miles offered at £9,500.

A copy old V5 shows The Patrick Collection sold the car to the 2^nd owner, a lady also from Birmingham in August 1992 with supporting bill of sale for £8,850. The file also includes the V5 in the 2^nd owner’s name,  another for the 3^rd owner dated September 2000 and then the current with accompanying bill of sale noting the mileage at purchase of just 36,340.

We also find an Insurance valuation from 1997 valuing the car at £10,000 confirming it to be ‘very good’, 14 old MOTs dating back from 2005 at 36,125 miles to 1991 at 2,315 miles, the original Owner’s information pack including service book with no stamps other than that of the supplying dealer, selection of historic sundry bills for parts and maintenance dating from the late 80’s to early 2000s, radio manual and technical service bulletin dated October 1980. The current MOT recorded at 62,250 miles is valid until July 2022 recording just 3 minor advisories (enter the reg at check-mot.service.gov.uk) and shows the car has seen increasingly little use over the last few years covering only 2,500 miles in the last 10 years.

Crying out for some regular use, this is a rare opportunity to bag what is widely believed to be the final Scimitar SE6B off the Tamworth production line. (there is a rumour in the owner’s club that Princess Anne might still own chassis #005865) but this has never been confirmed – if anyone knows HRH please could you ask?! but until that is proven to be the case, this, we believe, as did the original buyer, The Patrick Collection, is the last retail sold one. All hail Chassis #005863!

For more information contact - will.daniels@brightwells.com