Ah the memories. My Grandparents had a few Reliants with this being one of them over the years. When I was around 7 or 8 back in about 1972/3, I was in a serious crash with them in the Regal Supervan. It flipped a couple of times on a damp brow of a dual carriageway. We survived, local Bed & Breakfast put us up for free and the car was flipped back onto its wheels and we drove it all the way back home with big holes in the fibre glass panels taped over. Still, I had very happy memories of the Reliants. Loved the sound. Also there was a thing in the UK where if you saw another Reliant approaching it was a tradition to wave to one another. Really cool!
I had one of these 50 years ago. Put a sporty steering wheel on it, fancy sports seat covers to look like rally car, short shift on the gear lever and a rubber mattress in the back for those fun and lucky times.. . They really accelerate well. Only thing better was Bond Bug but of course they had no rear area. Fools and horses rather understated their attraction.
Brilliant post. My 21E van saw fat Valerie in a starring role in the early/mid 70s. After, I owned a Bond Bug, having moved FV on. Sporty little number the orange bug.
Steering wheel glove is a nice colour to go with the wooden dashboard! Incidentally, would I be correct, in thinking this is actually filmed in Austria/Switzerland or Germany?
Reliant 3-wheelers were initially made to avoid road tax, which applied to 4 wheeled vehicles. Their popularity continued because they could be driven on a motorcycle license, and were often owned by ex-bikers who had never taken a car test. There are even tales of Reliants being used to pass a motorcycle and car driving test on the same day, by blocking off the reverse gear position, thus rendering it a motorcycle according to the definition of the time. Designed as a simple utility vehicle, their role as basic transport was usurped by 4-wheelers like the Mini, but the Reliant continued to have a following among former motorcyclists. By the end of c20th the company were still making 50 vehicles a week, before briefly turning production to French microcars. The extensive use of aluminium and fibreglass made the Reliant 3-wheelers more expensive than a number of conventional cars, and it was this that ultimately killed off the vehicle.
I’m pretty certain that you didn’t need to block off the reverse, but what about adding windows to the van? I added windows to mine and didn’t have to change any info on my log book…great urban myths though. Oh, and I put in an 8 track…beautiful!
My first car was a 1970 beige Supervan 3 exactly as this one, wow 49 years ago, I did about 18k miles and never roll it. I drove it on a motorbike licence then I passed my car test, sold it and brought a Ford Cortina Mk2........ But great to see a memory again, thanks for uploading the video
Brings back some memorys that , got sick of riding the bike in the winter bought a plastic pig , had a Regal then a Robin then passed my car test . better scenery than north east england though .
Thanks for posting this, very nostalgic for me. I had the later Reliant Rialto, basically the same car with a squared (and less attractive) body shape. I drove it largely as a commuting vehicle, but also did a few long trips around Britain. Wonderfully satisfying to drive, surprisingly nippy, especially uphill. Not so much fun to work on the engine through that little hatch, nor to change the front tyre. What killed it for me after a few years was the feeling of vulnerability in modern traffic. I especially hated taking rear seat passengers, who would have found it really difficult to get out in an emergency. If all one had to do was to putter around little country lanes, it would have been perfect.
Oh, wow it was looked after really well, and it looks like you have done the same, I love driving around London in mine the smiles you get from people, even had had a guy try to pay me for taking his photo next to mine lol 😆, only thing with driving in london is all pot holes you have to keep your eyes 👀 peeled love the videos
Now that would be quite the crossover. Make it a triple one: ever since seeing the Top Gear episode about the Reliant, my headcanon is that Jeremy Clarkson is the Reliant's driver.
Have you actually been to the UK in the last 50 years? That's like saying everyone in the UK speaks the same, or we all live in castles or tiny cottages with thatched roofs. Of course SOME roads are narrow, just like everywhere else has some.
Totally agree! Nowadays we have stupid SUV’s which take up too much room on our small British roads. We ain’t America! The majority of British people shouldn’t need big cars like the yanks do. The Reliant 3 wheeler was the perfect size.
Cool video. You look quite tall but fit in pretty well 😁. If you would like a little more power you could probably find a K & N air filter that will fit in the original filter housing.
When I picked up my Reliant Robin, a year ago now, I drove it back from Bodmin Moor Cornwall, at 60 with no problems, tell I got too London and the damb vacuum tube came of the advanced retard because it was perished due to old age, but it's fine now lol
Ofah never destroyed this things image it was just a funny running joke but I do agree jezzas antics has probably made people think these are more dangerous than they are.
To Borderlands. Not a bad post! But your facts are wrong. Three wheel cars were classed as a motorcycle and sidecar, but had to be under a certain weight. I was 16 and was riding m/bikes, my mother insisted dad bought a Reliant to get me off bikes, but I just enjoyed both lol. In New Zealand they a classed as a car, so I have never passed my car licence here in NZ. I'm 68 years young and I'm still riding, but I'm back on the bike I started with, a 1970 Triumph T100R Daytona. While in the UK, I had two Regal cars and three Supervan three's. plus one great Mini three wheeler kit car called a Ranger Cub. I drove all over the place towing a 3'x4' box trailer with the front nocked out and a Suzuki RM400C scambles bike in it, THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
The same model was assembled by the Autocar company in Israel, under the name Susita. It was the same three-wheeler with a Ford engine. More common was the four-wheeled version, including the larger models of the Regal era which were also based on the Reliant's body. The Autocar company eventually designed its own models until its demise in 1981.
locals probably thought it was a Trabbie with a wheel fallen off. I tried to tell some Ossi about our three wheel plastic cars and they thought I was taking the piss out of them. Got quite annoyed.
The plastic rat! In 25 years I never saw a single one survive a fire. Just a triangular blob of burnt fibreglass and three steel wheels. We once saw one catch fire at the traffic lights right outside the fire station but in the 60 seconds it took us to get out to it, it was alight from stem to stern. It's a wonder more people didn't die in these death traps.
Mainly because people never replaced the fuel line which goes over the engine. Should be replaced every 3 years or so but Reliant never knew that was the issue
the reliant IS an actual car, even the queens sister (princess anne )drives one around the palace car parks most days ( except tuesdays as she has her tiara steam cleaned ) :-O
Why would anyone need anything above 1.5l for everyday driving these days is beyond my comprehension. All these huge engined cars used everyday should be taxed to the bone.
Never been in a Supervan, but travelled once in Regal saloon, it could have been a 21E. This is Reliant Regal Supervan III 3/30 not a Robin Reliant as morons call it.
Bonjour. j'en cherche une aussi. pas en modèle fourgonnette mais en modèle familiale. si vous avez des adresses et ou comment faire pour aller en chercher une, je suis preneur.
Hey, woher hast du den Reliant? Hast du Tipps wo man einen guten herbekommt und eine Werkstatt die sich mit den Autos auskennt?! Danke für deine Antwort
Ich habe den Reliant vor 3 Jahren von meinem Onkel übernommen. Der hatte ihn vor ca. 8-9 Jahren auf eBay in England gekauft und in die Schweiz bringen lassen. Ich, mein Onkel und ein Oldtimerspezialist aus Zürich haben das Auto wieder fahrtüchtig gemacht und der Reliant hat dann auch nach ein paar Versuchen die MFK bestanden. Wenn du den Namen des Spezalisten haben willst, dann schreib mir doch ne PN. Die Autos sind allerdings so simpel konstruiert, dass jeder mit ein bisschen Verständnis von Technik und Autos daran schrauben kann. Es führt fast kein Weg drum herum, einen von der Insel zu kaufen. Auf dem Festland gibt es fast keine und die, die einen haben, wollen nicht verkaufen. Wenn du einen kaufen willst, dann würde ich dir eBay UK empfehlen. Auf Facebook gibt es die Reliant Regal Owners Group. Dort könntest du auch mal reinschreiben dass du einen suchst und würdest bestimmt ein paar Angebote erhalten. Ich hoffe ich habe dir damit geholfen. Gruss
I do fluid changes myself and some other little things. I changed the dynamo control box myself this summer for example. My mechanic does all the other servicing. Would love to work some more on my car but I'm not a mechanic. I really love the car. Great fun to drive and gets loads of attention. It is a great car for a student like me. Cheap to run and insure. Absolutely love it!
@@jocam5515 Do you get an old school mechanic to do the work or do you go to any old garage? I ask that because older mechanics tend to know more about these old cars.
This car, in bright sky blue colour, got bullied by Mr. Bean.
Rodney you dipstick.
Oh yes, big time!
@@francodelrio7989 It is the only fish that can survive by eating its own poop.
If Mr. Bean is bullying you, you gotta rethink your existence.
Pueden ablar español porfa no los entiendo
Ah the memories. My Grandparents had a few Reliants with this being one of them over the years. When I was around 7 or 8 back in about 1972/3, I was in a serious crash with them in the Regal Supervan. It flipped a couple of times on a damp brow of a dual carriageway. We survived, local Bed & Breakfast put us up for free and the car was flipped back onto its wheels and we drove it all the way back home with big holes in the fibre glass panels taped over. Still, I had very happy memories of the Reliants. Loved the sound. Also there was a thing in the UK where if you saw another Reliant approaching it was a tradition to wave to one another. Really cool!
I had one of these 50 years ago. Put a sporty steering wheel on it, fancy sports seat covers to look like rally car, short shift on the gear lever and a rubber mattress in the back for those fun and lucky times.. . They really accelerate well. Only thing better was Bond Bug but of course they had no rear area. Fools and horses rather understated their attraction.
Brilliant post. My 21E van saw fat Valerie in a starring role in the early/mid 70s. After, I owned a Bond Bug, having moved FV on. Sporty little number the orange bug.
Steering wheel glove is a nice colour to go with the wooden dashboard!
Incidentally, would I be correct, in thinking this is actually filmed in Austria/Switzerland or Germany?
The dislikes are Mr bean on his alt account
Hello my alt account
Reliant 3-wheelers were initially made to avoid road tax, which applied to 4 wheeled vehicles. Their popularity continued because they could be driven on a motorcycle license, and were often owned by ex-bikers who had never taken a car test. There are even tales of Reliants being used to pass a motorcycle and car driving test on the same day, by blocking off the reverse gear position, thus rendering it a motorcycle according to the definition of the time.
Designed as a simple utility vehicle, their role as basic transport was usurped by 4-wheelers like the Mini, but the Reliant continued to have a following among former motorcyclists. By the end of c20th the company were still making 50 vehicles a week, before briefly turning production to French microcars. The extensive use of aluminium and fibreglass made the Reliant 3-wheelers more expensive than a number of conventional cars, and it was this that ultimately killed off the vehicle.
Good post. I had a 21E van. Great car.
Wow
Didn't the EU remove the advantage of being able to drive them on a motorbike licence as well, so hastening their demise?
Good post. But I think the bit about blanking off the reverse gear is an urban myth. Can you imagine the lunacy of it? I had a 21e van .
I’m pretty certain that you didn’t need to block off the reverse, but what about adding windows to the van? I added windows to mine and didn’t have to change any info on my log book…great urban myths though. Oh, and I put in an 8 track…beautiful!
My first car was a 1970 beige Supervan 3 exactly as this one, wow 49 years ago, I did about 18k miles and never roll it. I drove it on a motorbike licence then I passed my car test, sold it and brought a Ford Cortina Mk2........ But great to see a memory again, thanks for uploading the video
What a lovely car,it must be so pleasant to drive in a sunday morning,it sounds exactly like a Renault 12
Say that to the mr bean blue car
I love Reliant Regal and Robin
me too
Same
@@John-ci2sd It is a shame that Reliant no longer exists these days
@@Emperor_and_King i own one
@@John-ci2sd what kind of model do you have?
lovely to see a Reliant supervan in its original colour. not painted yellow badly , with trotters stencilled on the sides..
I remember my 21E van with affection. As does Fat Valerie.
Brings back some memorys that , got sick of riding the bike in the winter bought a plastic pig , had a Regal then a Robin then passed my car test . better scenery than north east england though .
Well your scenery is better than south jakarta mate
Driving cautiously, keeping an eye open for Mister Bean.
Haha yes. I liked how it was the same colour as Del Boys van. 😄
@@shoot_the_glass5654 but this is beige it's not yellow
Thanks for posting this, very nostalgic for me. I had the later Reliant Rialto, basically the same car with a squared (and less attractive) body shape. I drove it largely as a commuting vehicle, but also did a few long trips around Britain. Wonderfully satisfying to drive, surprisingly nippy, especially uphill. Not so much fun to work on the engine through that little hatch, nor to change the front tyre. What killed it for me after a few years was the feeling of vulnerability in modern traffic. I especially hated taking rear seat passengers, who would have found it really difficult to get out in an emergency. If all one had to do was to putter around little country lanes, it would have been perfect.
it's got a charming interior for such a purpose built vehicle!
Very underrated car dissed by people that never drove them 👍🏻
Well said.
This Time Next Year We’ll Be Millionaires
seems runs like new thanks for sharing
Oh, wow it was looked after really well, and it looks like you have done the same, I love driving around London in mine the smiles you get from people, even had had a guy try to pay me for taking his photo next to mine lol 😆, only thing with driving in london is all pot holes you have to keep your eyes 👀 peeled love the videos
Such a beautiful reliant regal and it is a lovely colour also I know someone who has 2 reliant robin MK3 one in red and one in gold
driving a reliant regal while mr bean chasing you fills you with determination
Undertale AND Mr Bean reference nice
@@astrochaos4182 thx
Now that would be quite the crossover.
Make it a triple one: ever since seeing the Top Gear episode about the Reliant, my headcanon is that Jeremy Clarkson is the Reliant's driver.
Sounds like a Minecraft minecart very beautiful and nice. XD
But where is Mr Bean with his Mini
Mr Bean and Jeremy Clarkson are two of the nine people who disliked this video.
Jeremy Clarkson likes Reliants.
Verygood Reliant van 😊😊😎😎😎😎
just stay away from every MINIs
just stay away
“Stick a pony in your pocket. I fetch the suitcase from the van...”
Jonathan Rainey if you want the best’ Ens and you don’t ask questions than brother I’m your man
'Cause where it all comes from is a mystery, like the changing of the seasons and the tides of the sea
My first "Car" got it on my motorbike licence in 1976
Sounds very nice on the open road, but I think you could slow the tickover down a little perhaps, on my Robin van I usually have it at about 1,000 RPM
Why, engines like high revs
This car if very appropriate for the UK roads which are as wide as bicycle lanes in other countries.
Have you actually been to the UK in the last 50 years? That's like saying everyone in the UK speaks the same, or we all live in castles or tiny cottages with thatched roofs. Of course SOME roads are narrow, just like everywhere else has some.
Totally agree! Nowadays we have stupid SUV’s which take up too much room on our small British roads. We ain’t America! The majority of British people shouldn’t need big cars like the yanks do. The Reliant 3 wheeler was the perfect size.
Cool video. You look quite tall but fit in pretty well 😁. If you would like a little more power you could probably find a K & N air filter that will fit in the original filter housing.
where is this? the scenery is very beautiful 😍 I'm from Indonesia
Luhur Pambudi Switzerland
@@AndyS956 thats wonderful bro 😀
The video was recordet in the canton of Appenzell Ausserhoden in Switzerland. Greets to Indonesia.
@@jocam5515 thank you for the information sir, greetings too for switzerland 😄
Living the dream!
Amazing thankyou, my grandad had one exactly the same 😊
My dad had a 1968 reliant van
Was it the one in the video? Or a different Mk5 Van?
Seeing this car reminded me of Mr Bean.
White knuckles at 40mph. I need one.
When I picked up my Reliant Robin, a year ago now, I drove it back from Bodmin Moor Cornwall, at 60 with no problems, tell I got too London and the damb vacuum tube came of the advanced retard because it was perished due to old age, but it's fine now lol
They're a great little car, the stability issue was exagerated by Clarkson and co. and image destroyed in only fools and horses. A shame really.
Ofah never destroyed this things image it was just a funny running joke but I do agree jezzas antics has probably made people think these are more dangerous than they are.
My goodness, a real live TITmobile
Imagine using this as a camper van
i always want to own this car, but there's no any reliant in my country (indonesia),,
I turned on "The Beatles" and started thinking that I existed at small British town in 60's.
Very cool vid!
Mr. Bean's most hated car
looks lovely to drive
I wished these types of vehicles existed in America!
They do. Aging Wheels recently bought a Reliant Robin MK3 and he's American, or if you want an American 3 wheeler there is the Wildfire WF650-C.
@@carlitoon9451 the wildfire is Chinese
@@carlitoon9451 also they are ripoff of the reliant
@HouseOutSideLight they look like bubbles on wheels
This is maybe a cute Car but imagine rolling while u are in the road.I'll end up in trouble
Only thing u need to worry bout is mr bean commin up behind u
To Borderlands.
Not a bad post!
But your facts are wrong.
Three wheel cars were classed as a motorcycle and sidecar, but had to be under a certain weight.
I was 16 and was riding m/bikes, my mother insisted dad bought a Reliant to get me off bikes, but I just enjoyed both lol.
In New Zealand they a classed as a car, so I have never passed my car licence here in NZ.
I'm 68 years young and I'm still riding, but I'm back on the bike I started with, a 1970 Triumph T100R Daytona.
While in the UK, I had two Regal cars and three Supervan three's. plus one great Mini three wheeler kit car called a Ranger Cub.
I drove all over the place towing a 3'x4' box trailer with the front nocked out and a Suzuki RM400C scambles bike in it, THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
The exhaust is nice
The same model was assembled by the Autocar company in Israel, under the name Susita. It was the same three-wheeler with a Ford engine. More common was the four-wheeled version, including the larger models of the Regal era which were also based on the Reliant's body. The Autocar company eventually designed its own models until its demise in 1981.
That's pretty cool never knew about them. Looks like they used some Bond Microcar parts too.
My dad saw this car on the highway
I had a van with side windows and bench rear seat that folded flat. It was dry and cheap to run, that was it's virtues, everthing else was dire.
locals probably thought it was a Trabbie with a wheel fallen off. I tried to tell some Ossi about our three wheel plastic cars and they thought I was taking the piss out of them. Got quite annoyed.
That does sound annoying. When someone thinks you're lying even though the car is factually a Reliant
Caution: Don't drive this car in front of mr.bean😂.
Mr.Bean doesn't like this
Im subscribed!
Can that farm road be any narrower?
Damn Mr.Bean has 9 google accounts
Mr bean brought me here
Muito melhor que Ferrari 😎👍
This should be built as a cheap electric car. OMG i would love to buy one in that case.
I'm not even gonna lie, it sounds pathetic now days but for the early 70s, 32hp from 700ccs is really quite powerful
Mr beans rival
cool video! i have a 1969 Regal saloon. why didn't you push the choke in?
Same I have a 1972 reliant regal it's white I always used the choke my regal is a supervan not a saloon
5:37: idle is quite high..
I think he left the choke out
Loverly car
The plastic rat! In 25 years I never saw a single one survive a fire. Just a triangular blob of burnt fibreglass and three steel wheels. We once saw one catch fire at the traffic lights right outside the fire station but in the 60 seconds it took us to get out to it, it was alight from stem to stern. It's a wonder more people didn't die in these death traps.
Mainly because people never replaced the fuel line which goes over the engine. Should be replaced every 3 years or so but Reliant never knew that was the issue
He also had an earlier saloon later an hire saloon reliant about 1974
Love these robin reliants , after brexit we can get back to making decent cars like this again :-)
the germans were the 1st , to make 3 wheel micro cars ,
ITS A REGAL READ THE BACK OF ONE YOU PLUMB
never heard of a regal, I was referring to the 3 wheel cars which were made by robin
marshalllucky the brand is reliant lol robin is a make of reliant
the reliant IS an actual car, even the queens sister (princess anne )drives one around the palace car parks most days ( except tuesdays as she has her tiara steam cleaned ) :-O
we are going to have to start driving those in canada,...the liberal gov has taxed us to death now
Why would anyone need anything above 1.5l for everyday driving these days is beyond my comprehension.
All these huge engined cars used everyday should be taxed to the bone.
okay but what if you added a sports car motor, and drove it at 180 mph up a mountain though
put speedhunters sticker on windshield and add difusors and drive fast
Never been in a Supervan, but travelled once in Regal saloon, it could have been a 21E. This is Reliant Regal Supervan III 3/30 not a Robin Reliant as morons call it.
Paint in blue for realistic mr.bean
I painted mine beige
And lose its value!
Its mr bean s nemesis
That car is really collor blue wht is the car turning into that color?
when mr bean is in your house
I see it's UK style right hand drive but the speedo is in Km per hour. Never seen a speedo like that before.
The speedo is not original. I had to change it from miles to KM per hour to be allowed to drive in switzerland.
Its mr beans target
If you see a mini cooper just run away instead of driving
Robin!!
Regal Supervan
700th like, nice
5:37
But wheres del-boy?
Bonjour. j'en cherche une aussi. pas en modèle fourgonnette mais en modèle familiale. si vous avez des adresses et ou comment faire pour aller en chercher une, je suis preneur.
I scared the reliant regal This video this car bully MR bean
For sale by any chance?
This car yellow would just about work for trotters independent traders
is this what anxiety feels like in car form?
Yes :-)
Feels like it was made to be tipped over lmao
Watch out for Mr Bean on a holiday.
Where are you? It's almost no cars at all hahaha
its the car of mr bean
Raid 1 I thought he had a mini classic?
Its not the car of mr bean , its the car of the poor guy in mr bean
Raid 1 But you said that its the car of mr bean
@@axe1356Mr beans car is an old austin morris mini 1961 dumbass
Is the color of the reliant regal, beige brown or regular light brown?
The van in the vid is Silver streak which suggests that it is the 21E model
Where’s Del Boy?
Hey, woher hast du den Reliant? Hast du Tipps wo man einen guten herbekommt und eine Werkstatt die sich mit den Autos auskennt?!
Danke für deine Antwort
Ich habe den Reliant vor 3 Jahren von meinem Onkel übernommen. Der hatte ihn vor ca. 8-9 Jahren auf eBay in England gekauft und in die Schweiz bringen lassen. Ich, mein Onkel und ein Oldtimerspezialist aus Zürich haben das Auto wieder fahrtüchtig gemacht und der Reliant hat dann auch nach ein paar Versuchen die MFK bestanden. Wenn du den Namen des Spezalisten haben willst, dann schreib mir doch ne PN. Die Autos sind allerdings so simpel konstruiert, dass jeder mit ein bisschen Verständnis von Technik und Autos daran schrauben kann. Es führt fast kein Weg drum herum, einen von der Insel zu kaufen. Auf dem Festland gibt es fast keine und die, die einen haben, wollen nicht verkaufen. Wenn du einen kaufen willst, dann würde ich dir eBay UK empfehlen. Auf Facebook gibt es die Reliant Regal Owners Group. Dort könntest du auch mal reinschreiben dass du einen suchst und würdest bestimmt ein paar Angebote erhalten. Ich hoffe ich habe dir damit geholfen. Gruss
Danke für die Tipps!
Jo, do you do your own servicing ?, And how old is your little Car ☺️
I do fluid changes myself and some other little things. I changed the dynamo control box myself this summer for example. My mechanic does all the other servicing. Would love to work some more on my car but I'm not a mechanic. I really love the car. Great fun to drive and gets loads of attention. It is a great car for a student like me. Cheap to run and insure. Absolutely love it!
The car was manufactured in 1972. The original owner had it until 2011. He owned it 39 years!
@@jocam5515 Do you get an old school mechanic to do the work or do you go to any old garage? I ask that because older mechanics tend to know more about these old cars.
@@underneonloneliness2 I bring the car to a garage who is specialized to work on old british cars. Greets
How can it exist?
Seems pretty spritely. What’s the top speed on one of these?
If I recall correctly, top speed was supposed to be a tad over 70 mph but I think I managed to coax a little more out of mine
@@mikemcnichol4343 do you think that's wise, sir?