Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5
The Reliant Scimitar GTE was a genuine automotive pioneer — the car that invented the sporting estate car category years before Volvo, BMW, or anyone else thought of the concept. Designed by Tom Karen at Ogle Design, the GTE (Grand Touring Estate) combined the front end of the existing Scimitar coupe with a new shooting brake rear section featuring a large glass tailgate and folding rear seats. The result was a car that could carry a week's luggage or a pair of dogs while still delivering genuine sports car performance thanks to its Ford Essex 3.0-liter V6 engine and lightweight glass-fibre body. The GTE became a favorite of the country set and gained its most famous advocate in Princess Anne, who owned several examples over the years (reportedly eight in total). The Scimitar was built by Reliant, a company better known for their three-wheeled Robin, and this contrast between the humble Robin and the elegant Scimitar GTE perfectly illustrates the quirky breadth of the British motor industry. The fiberglass body meant no rust in the panels, though the steel chassis required the usual vigilance.
The fiberglass body doesn't rust but the steel chassis definitely does — examine mounting points, outriggers, and subframe thoroughly. Ford Essex V6 is well-supported with plentiful parts. Overdrive units can fail and are expensive to rebuild. The large glass tailgate can crack. A strong owners' club provides excellent support.
Approximately 14,000 GTE models were produced across all variants. The fiberglass body was manufactured at Reliant's Tamworth factory. The GTE concept directly influenced later sporting estates like the Volvo P1800ES.