When my brother was little, whenever he saw a 3 wheeler he would wind the window down and shout 'PLASTIC PIG!!' at the top of his voice. Sadly he died at the end of November. There are a few still on the road around us and my sister, mum and I have taken to shouting at them now, it does make us smile remembering his antics.
My uncle used to complain that driving in winter in his was awful because the front wheel had to battle through the mound of snow that wasn't cleared by 4 wheel vehicles. Better than a motorbike though I am sure!
What a lovely tribute to the Reliant Robin. Your joy at driving that little car was palpable, and great to have some common myths debunked! A lot of people forget what a difference these cars made to the lives of thousands in the UK in the 70s and 80s, with their low running costs and no need to have a full driving licence! Terrific video!
After I passed my driving test I drove a Reliant Regal 21E quite a lot. It was a great little car and it taught me a lot more about driving than the minis a lot of my friends drove would have taught them. For them a corner was something you steered around, with the Reliant you had to get everything right, speed, entry, braking, line and so on. These are skills that I was able to take advantage of throughout my life. The people who make fun of Reliants are those who have never used them.
Agree with you there, you did learn extra skills driving a 3wheeler I had a Regal I think it had a 600cc engine the later ones had 700cc fitted nevertheless I can recall travelling to Wembley Pool to a pop concert with 3 young ladies in the back it would do 70 mph ! It did get a bit hot that day it was always a good idea to carry some extra water! I went on to buy a 4 wheel reliant not many of those around I only paid £75 for it and covered 22000 miles in it ! It looked like a Fiat 127 at the time . I started off with a clapped out BSA Bantam , then to a Honda CB72 and ran both 3 wheels in cold wet weather and the bike for fun!
Those newer Robins where actually quite tough for what they were, a school friend of mines dad from Felinwynt had 2 of them between 1988 when I went there and 2000 before I moved away. The first one was a Blue fairly new one for the time in 88 . Somehow it ended up wrapped round a Porsche of some kind on his way to work at Verwig school. The Robin had a couple cracks in the body somewhere that totaled it, which was a shame as you could hardly tell there was visible damage. The Porsche on the other hand looked like it hit a wall at 80 mph and they shoveled most of it up off the road . The one he replaced it with was a lot older and started getting some fiber glass fatigue cracks in it. The memory I have of that one is his late Dad being outside with this red Robin, cutting bits out of a red plastic bucket and fiber glass resin gluing them on the cracks . I can tell you the comment not to make to a proud Robin owner is " wouldn't it be better to cut the best bits off the Robin and glue them on the bucket". Poor old Ed was not seeing the funny side, and CerI and his brother were trying not to laugh in front of their Dad !. Take care.
I don't know of anyone that owned a Reliant and slagged it off. They were fairly easy to DIY repair and maintain. As an A to B vehicle they were cheap and reliable and made for a rather jolly first car. I think the love for them is still evident, it's a pity that more were not made. Happily though, quite a lot of them still exist. My favourite was the regal van, camping gear loaded in the back and setting a course for north Wales, happy days. You would have to have owned one to understand its appeal.
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
My younger sisters hubby had a late 60's Reliant Regal , he used to really make it shift but as a passenger i was expected to act like i was in a racing sidecar and launch myself into the direction of the corner to hold down the inside back wheel as moving ballast . Btw that's like a luxury version of Twc . I haven't seen you enjoy driving that much in a while .
I tipped my mum's Regal onto the village green coming back from the pub in about 1974. We managed to get out and right the car after a bit and eventually it re-started and got it home. Only needed a wash! Now that's reliability.
I remember Sam Glover put crossply tyres on his Robin, to deliberately limit the grip and make it easier to slide round corners. Apparently that's an established fast-driving technique in a Robin!
I once drove a Regal van. Ride was appalling and you were conscious that there was only one wheel at the front so I was a bit careful on cornering but I agree they are far far more stable than some would have you think. What did for them in the end was said to be the closure of the mines. It seems coal miners were on motorcycles mostly so liked a Regal/Robin/Rialto for winter motoring to work to keep warm and dry. Of course you could drive one on a motorbike license
My mum had two Robins, I used to like driving them in town; 0-30mph were really nippy. A bit less fun at 65mph on the motorway, but still okay. I remember writing off my mk5 Cortina on leave and borrowing mum's Robin to travel back to RAF Wattisham, it was so much fun to get the inside wheel up in the air on the constant-radius airfield perimeter track, although the rear passengers weren't too happy about it 😂
I don't know how you took one onto a motorway because it was breaking the law to do so, There were signs at the entrance to motorways saying no three wheel vehicles.
@@zog97xy I don't remember that. The signs DID say no Invalid Carriages. I questioned HubNut about him taking his Invacar on a motorway, and he stated that the later more powerful models had been given permission. I doubt that any policemen nowadays would know the rules in any case...
Great to see somebody actually do a truthful review of the Reliant for once, having owned and abused a few, i can agree with you completely about how much fun these are to drive. So many people (usually those who have never driven one) are quick to dismiss them for falling over which is not the case, yeah you can roll one if you try hard enough but they will usually slide about or lift a wheel and lose traction first! i'd love another but too many projects already lol. Thanks for being honest and keep showing the underdogs 👍
Enjoyed that thanks,.. as a youth - early 1960s - I was driving a Reliant Regal 3/25 at age 16 on a motorcycle licence,. legal provided that the reverse gear was blanked off.. but as you quote,.. it is an actual car.
Worth remembering that it WAS all about weight - the tax.class for tricycles was limited by weight, hence the fibreglass body, alloy engine and much more. Many motorcyclists used them as winter vehicles but, as you say, the market faded away and reliant with it I did once manage to tip one at 45 degrees by driving tight circles in a car park. The owner was not impressed as I wound down the drivers window, stuck an arm out and shoved it back into it's wheels
For that little circuit I believe you are correct. A Robin is completely at home there, great fun! That engine note - takes me back to the 1970s - vinyl seats, slightly cramped interiors, lovely!😊
I remember back in the 90's when a friend (a bit older than me) got his license & his dad got him a Ford fiesta (F reg I think). He used to drive it like a mad man (1.1 litre engine - but pretended he was in a rally car) took about 20 secionds to get to 60mph so when he was at that speed he would tend to maintain it). One day when i was a bit mad with him cos he'd decided not to pick us me up I was walking home (obv didn't have a lift) & came across a car wreck soon was evident it was my friends car though totally unrecognosable). What happened a reliant robin was turning in & my friend (speeding in his Fiesta judging by the 50 foot plus skid marks) crashed into the Robin int the side of it. The fiesta was completely written off - the guy in the Robin opened his boot pulled out a roll of masking tape & taped up the side part of the body which had torn almost in half... then drove off (after swapping insurance details etc), Fiesta had to be recovered with truck. My logic, understanding at the time thought it should have been the other way round!
To see TH-camrs crossing each other in different videos and different cars is quite an experience. Kind of time machine... Thanks for the Robin! See you soon --- Martin
I had a couple of reliant Robins many moons ago, and when my kids were little they thought it was hilarious when I did doughnuts in the snow, which was stupid easy in the Robin 😂
Brilliant video Ian. I had a 850 super Robin registration GMB 776N and a motorbike not car licence in 1990- my first car - I had no idea how to drive it and it popped out of 2nd gear which made cornering tricky! Brought back a lot of memories. Thanks 😂
I lost out on a Bond Bug, and bought a 1976 Robin 850. Had 4 years of reliable fun motoring and sold it for a profit lol. Will be looking for one to keep in the UK for our trips back home, great car. Also owned a Trojan 200 bubble car back in the day. Great video
My Nan had an A reg Rialto with the little drop down boot. She went absolutely everywhere in it. Up and down the motorway without thinking about it. Never let her down. She did prang it the first day she had it. Started it not realising it was in gear and it bounced forward into the back of my dad series one land rover. Resulting in my dad going out for a fibreglass kit to repair a small but of damage. Never let her down in 20 years. I'd love a go in one now....... was the best car when we were kids 😅
Thank you so much for this video Ian, I really enjoyed it and it brought back so many memories! My Mam and Step Dad had a G Reg Regal Supervan, in the Del Boy colour, before Del Boy was even thought of. I was 7 or 8 years old when he bought it in 1968, I'm 63 now, and I still look back on that little van with loads of affection. They bought it because my Step Dad only had a motor bike licence and because it was cheaper than the car. My parents put a bench seat in the back of it and I loved it. We used to joke about how you couldn't avoid a pot hole in a three wheeler but it didn't matter, it was a simple little car (van) in a simpler time...a happy happy time for me.
Drove Regals (including a Supervan 3) and Robins throughout the 1970s and '80s, all providing sterling service for myself, wife and two youngsters. Holiday trips to Devon and Cornwall (from West London) were, shall we say "an adventure". Even managed to jam the in-laws in occasionally for pick-up and drop-off at the train station, while the kids sat in the Robin boot...!
Thanks Ian. I really enjoyed this. I hope they add the Citroen 2CV to the list so I then will gladly travel from Ireland to drive this, along with the Hillman Imp,Morris Minor and Marina.
Love these, Dad had the Regal onwards, I have a Robin 850 (I think it was), it's been nearly 30yrs since I last drove one, would love to drive one again and take my son out in it, show him the mechanics and how it all worked, they were and are amazing cars, they made you drive a completely different style because you had to compensate for the lack of one wheel... I had the best fun ever in mine...
The Reliant 3 wheeler range is oh so cute. I used to have a sky blue 1993 Reliant Robin LX, bought as a hobby car, I had it restored, then enjoyed driving it. I’ve always had a fascination with Reliants, not sure of the reason why, other than their quirkiness. I’m glad you’re a fan too, Mr Hubnut❤.
Well, one of the three things I predicted earlier were sort of mentioned, but, that aside, there were at least two Reliants around here, one a hearing aid beige Rialto that last I saw passing by smelled like it was running very rich, and a late Corsa-eyed Robin like this one, I think the same colour too, pottering about to & from the supermarkets, so they're still out there, not having been rolled for telly or stripped naked for motor trike projects...
When these were fist made, a motorcycle licence gave you a B1 licence. (This is the category for 3 wheeled vehicles under 450kg) thus 'motorcyclists' could buy a car without having to pass a car test. Back in the day there were a lot more people that took their driving test on a bike as their first step to independence rather than a car like now.
I think it was more or a right of passage to motoring - There were a lot more people in late 60's and 70's that had motorcycles as their 1st motorised transport. Then when they wanted a car they could drive a 3 wheeler straight away with their original licence. As cars became more common as 1st vehicle there was no need for a 3 wheeler with all it's limitations compared to car. Remember these 3 wheelers were a niche segment even then. More common in the West Midlands where they were made (Tamworth)
@@erik_dk842 No. The provisional licence cost virtually nothing and could be used for both cars and motorcycles. The difference was that you could ride a motorcycle on your own whereas with a car you had to be accompanied by a fully licenced driver until you passed your test. When I was young in the 1970's the motorcycle test was very easy. I don't remember there being any driving schools for motorcycles like there were for cars.
I grew up in the U.K before moving to Canada. I remember my Dad saying something about if you drove a Robin or other similar car on a bike license only ,one rule was it wasn't allowed to have a reverse gear . Is that right or was that a rule they just turned a blind eye to in later years ?
I drove it when I was there last year. Was an absolute hoot to drive so much fun and feels a lot faster than what I was actually driving and so stable at speed and cornering like a go kart
My wife drove that one when we visited there with me in the back! I couldn't agree more that it is a lot of fun and definitely recommend anyone else visiting to give it a go!
It would be absolutely awesome if you did manage a trip to Missouri to drive Aging Wheels's Reliant Robin and some of the rest of his fleet. I know it's very unlikely, but it'd be a dream video, right?
Ian and Robert would first have to conquer being separated by a common language. I still chuckle thinking of the interview when Ian asked Robert how he found the Figaro and Robert understood the question as meaning how he had come across it instead of what he thought of it.
Great vid thank you. Think the main reason the old catalloy cruisers died out is the people that originally bought them drove them on a motorcycle licences, they are now sadly dying out.
To Andy Bootles. And what a glorious colour! I went with a friend from Scotland , to buy a Robin he wanted. It was bright blue. So much more a statement than the duller colours now
Thank you so much for these impressions of driving this vehicle. Here in Germany those 3wheel Reliants are completely unknown. I was always courious how those cars are driving. Thanks a lot for this video. I was often in Britain for visiting family members, but I have never seen one of those Reliants.
I prefer Aging Wheels number plate! Years ago there was an old guy that used to go and get his newspaper daily in his little reliant robin. He lived at the top of a hill, nothing stopped him. I walked to work for about 2 weeks as I couldn't get through the snow (out in the sticks in Kent, but mainly because of the hill), he had no problem any day, up or down. It was strange to see, tyres looked standard. The little car that could. Thanks for another great review Ian
Uncle Tom had a Regal then a Rialto and finally a late Robin, he never had a car licence - lived most of his life in London and mostly rode a motorbike until middle age.
I know somebody who did a demolition derby in one of these, I called him an absolute madman but it did surprisingly well, almost tipped a couple of times but stayed on all 3 and eventually just cooked the engine
Thanks for a nice review Hubnut. These cars are totally unknown in Australia, apart from being space shuttles or persuaded to fall over. The engine is the same as you had in the Fox? I liked the look of it - very like Triumph's little engine as you noted, though in mirror image. Cheers.
At 19, I bought a Robin after being rain-soaked day after day riding to my first job on my motorbike. Drove it on my bike license and essentially taught myself to drive, absolute danger on the road for at least the first week. Thinking back, I cringe - madness to allow driving a car on a motorbike license simply because it has three wheels.
I remember lying down in the boot of one of these as a child while my auntie drove us to the shops as there were only two seats and the other was taken by her friend. I've never been as terrified before, or since.
Great review. Yes, thanks to Top Gear we will forever be explaining they are more stable than you'd think 🙄 and our 1983 Rialto seems outdated when compared to vehicles of that era, and there are no obvious updates (other than styling) to your 1999 version 😆 Nevertheless they are so much fun that you just don't care! You really captured the Reliant experience!😃
Top Gear modified their Robin to roll over. I think they welded up the rear differential, causing the front wheel to push on and dig in. I've just acquired a Reliant Kitten for a little project.
topgear think messed with diff and raised height on the front end or slightly bigger wheel. they did all the could to set off the balance what made it easy to flip over
My best friend at school, his dad had a Reliant Robin as he only had a motorbike licence. It never tipped over. Mr Clarkson was playing silly buggers. Another entertaining video, ptchooo!!!!
6:42 On the right there, that's a Gen 6 Celica (94-99), the ones with four non-pop-up headlamps. Perhaps the best car of all time, says Scottie. 13:30 Rear wiper, that makes it better than a Tesla S Plaid.
I owned a Regal Mk 5, then a Regal 3/25. Three of us toured Ireland in the Mk5, which I had fitted with a roof rack. The 3/25 was a lively little car. These cars represented serious engineering!
I always loved driving my father in law’s Robins. Great fun. ‘The flying pig’ which was a 1976 yellow ‘Super Robin’ estate and his later blue 1980 ‘W’ reg saloon. Sadly both long gone. If I visit The Great British Car Journey I’ll definitely be choosing this!
I actually like the revised styling of the late Robin with the Corsa headlights - it looks pretty appealing, in my eyes. You can see how Reliant did this on a budget when you see the interior layout - it hadn't changed that much in thirty years, and I guess they didn't have the money to update it as well. Thanks for doing a serious, thoughtful review of such a misunderstood car.
Not only that, It was the first idea Andy Plumb made which would go into production. There were some interesting prototypes made which didn't go into production.
Now that did look like fun! I can see how with a standard diff as soon as the rear wheel lifts you lose all drive and it drops back down. It would be a bit hairy with a LSD though.
As a small boy obsessed with motor cars, I remember reading the Pearson manual (remember those?) for the Vauxhall Victors up to the FC (Dad had a 1962 FB). It also covered the VX4/90s. I seem to recall dire warnings saying that you should not jack up one rear wheel on an FC VX4/90 and put it into gear with the engine running... and that must be the first time I came across the concept of the LSD.
As always such a pleasure being with Mr. Hubnut at his best: an expertly good testing of oldtimer cars. I still can remember the flippant attitude of Old Top Gear towards poor Reliant (though very funny indeed)
D'you know, if someone offered me one of those as a swap for that dreadful Yaris I now own, I'd have their hand off. They look fun! Not sure I'd do a 160-mile commute in it down the A1, but around home and family? Perfect. Mind you, at least I fixed the rear wiper on the Yaris today but it took a motor from a scrapyard to do so...
Won't find me knocking the Reliant 3 Wheelers Ian....I bought my first back in 1979 (only had a motorbike licence then) it made so much sense for the worst of the weather, I cringe a bit now thinking how I drove mine had the inside rear hopping many a time!....Never got it on it's roof! Great stuff thanks!
My dad got one of the early models, so he had a cheap second car. He spent an entire year in the 80's fixing it all, servicing the engine and gearbox, cleaning and rustproofing the entire chassis. A lady pulled out on him on the way back from its trip to get an MOT, and half the 'nose' just disintergrated in the 'bump'. No one hurt, but it then sat and rotted in the garden until we moved house. That was the end for 'Dad's plastic pig'...
The company who took over reliant were formed by the directors of MCW. Reliant used to produce the body panels for the Metrocab and it was their attempt to keep the continuous supply. Unfortunately they couldn't get the quality right
9:34 you mention of Citroen Saxo and Proton...here ,the Citroen Saxo also rebadge as Proton Tiara,which is among the not reliable Proton,hard to get a spare part,always overheat and no temperature gauge..just red light will blinking or light ON if its overheat,and many people here are strugling to read that red light,because of its gauge itself,ended it going to scrapyard early..
I remember seeing these new, metallic paint smooth lines looked great! I used to spend a lot of time around fishing lakes and the vans used to be popular with old boys for fishing.
A friend of mine in Wem back in the 90's had two Rialtos. One an estate the other a van version (he was a landscape gardner). Once we went off on a bus photo trip in the estate over the border into Wales. Buzzing along rural winding Welsh country lanes was quite exhilarating. 😊
I've always had a soft spot for Reliant Robins like the classic Mini & VW Beetle. I wonder if towards the end the new company should have revived the Reliant Kitten alongside it with the way the market was going? Could have been an interesting low cost rival for Smart and other small hatches...
They did look into it but I think a four wheeler may have fallen foul of crash regs than the three wheeler didn't need to meet. Also, they were not cheap! Low volume meant they were pricey.
My father-in-law had a couple of older reliant Robins and it was cross winds that seemed to cause problems. He was hit by a gust in the early 90s on the motorway that did tip it over. Fortunately a couple of lorry drivers provided a cordon and helped him right it.
I did actually witness one going over on a bend many many moons ago.They used to even get banger raced.Built at Two Gates near Tamworth by the old A5.For me the funniest Top Gear feature featured Clarkson turning them over.
When my brother was little, whenever he saw a 3 wheeler he would wind the window down and shout 'PLASTIC PIG!!' at the top of his voice. Sadly he died at the end of November. There are a few still on the road around us and my sister, mum and I have taken to shouting at them now, it does make us smile remembering his antics.
RIP, stay strong comrade
I remember shouting this! Along with mates and older brothers! Thank you
Plaggy Pig!
❤
I owned a 1975 Robin when I was 17, used it in the winter to get to work, rather than the motorbike.
My uncle used to complain that driving in winter in his was awful because the front wheel had to battle through the mound of snow that wasn't cleared by 4 wheel vehicles. Better than a motorbike though I am sure!
I remember that scenario. Sometimes it was easier to have front wheel in the left track and osr in right.
I had a Regal, Robin and Kitten in the 70s. Drove the 3 wheelers on a motorcycle license
The parcel shelf lifts up when you open then boot!
It is officially more advanced than my 2014 Škoda Citigo
Laugh is this looks like its got a bigger boot than some of the modern super minis.
@@procta2343 Nevermind the superminis, some of the bloated faux by fours too.
What a lovely tribute to the Reliant Robin. Your joy at driving that little car was palpable, and great to have some common myths debunked! A lot of people forget what a difference these cars made to the lives of thousands in the UK in the 70s and 80s, with their low running costs and no need to have a full driving licence! Terrific video!
After I passed my driving test I drove a Reliant Regal 21E quite a lot. It was a great little car and it taught me a lot more about driving than the minis a lot of my friends drove would have taught them. For them a corner was something you steered around, with the Reliant you had to get everything right, speed, entry, braking, line and so on. These are skills that I was able to take advantage of throughout my life. The people who make fun of Reliants are those who have never used them.
Agree with you there, you did learn extra skills driving a 3wheeler I had a Regal I think it had a 600cc engine the later ones had 700cc fitted nevertheless I can recall travelling to Wembley Pool to a pop concert with 3 young ladies in the back it would do 70 mph ! It did get a bit hot that day it was always a good idea to carry some extra water! I went on to buy a 4 wheel reliant not many of those around I only paid £75 for it and covered 22000 miles in it ! It looked like a Fiat 127 at the time . I started off with a clapped out BSA Bantam , then to a Honda CB72 and ran both 3 wheels in cold wet weather and the bike for fun!
Those newer Robins where actually quite tough for what they were, a school friend of mines dad from Felinwynt had 2 of them between 1988 when I went there and 2000 before I moved away. The first one was a Blue fairly new one for the time in 88 . Somehow it ended up wrapped round a Porsche of some kind on his way to work at Verwig school. The Robin had a couple cracks in the body somewhere that totaled it, which was a shame as you could hardly tell there was visible damage. The Porsche on the other hand looked like it hit a wall at 80 mph and they shoveled most of it up off the road . The one he replaced it with was a lot older and started getting some fiber glass fatigue cracks in it. The memory I have of that one is his late Dad being outside with this red Robin, cutting bits out of a red plastic bucket and fiber glass resin gluing them on the cracks . I can tell you the comment not to make to a proud Robin owner is " wouldn't it be better to cut the best bits off the Robin and glue them on the bucket". Poor old Ed was not seeing the funny side, and CerI and his brother were trying not to laugh in front of their Dad !. Take care.
I don't know of anyone that owned a Reliant and slagged it off. They were fairly easy to DIY repair and maintain. As an A to B vehicle they were cheap and reliable and made for a rather jolly first car. I think the love for them is still evident, it's a pity that more were not made. Happily though, quite a lot of them still exist.
My favourite was the regal van, camping gear loaded in the back and setting a course for north Wales, happy days. You would have to have owned one to understand its appeal.
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
I'd say reliable with a modicum of mechanical sympathy , in my youthful hands I was often repairing , favorite trick was blown head gasket , oil pump went , leaf springs on rear snapped !and hundreds of small problems .But sure was fun when not working on it
You were clearly loving the drive. It's great that you keep an open mind about cars
Just the tonic I needed. The glee Ian has driving a reliant robin round a car park is infectious!
That is one happy HubNut! The Reliant clearly met the "Less is More" description.
What a fantastic little machine! I’ve always wanted a go in one. I’ll have to head on up there soon!
My younger sisters hubby had a late 60's Reliant Regal , he used to really make it shift but as a passenger i was expected to act like i was in a racing sidecar and launch myself into the direction of the corner to hold down the inside back wheel as moving ballast . Btw that's like a luxury version of Twc . I haven't seen you enjoy driving that much in a while .
TWC was out on New Year's Day!
I tipped my mum's Regal onto the village green coming back from the pub in about 1974. We managed to get out and right the car after a bit and eventually it re-started and got it home. Only needed a wash!
Now that's reliability.
@@HubNuthad a blast watching that!
I remember Sam Glover put crossply tyres on his Robin, to deliberately limit the grip and make it easier to slide round corners. Apparently that's an established fast-driving technique in a Robin!
I once drove a Regal van. Ride was appalling and you were conscious that there was only one wheel at the front so I was a bit careful on cornering but I agree they are far far more stable than some would have you think.
What did for them in the end was said to be the closure of the mines. It seems coal miners were on motorcycles mostly so liked a Regal/Robin/Rialto for winter motoring to work to keep warm and dry. Of course you could drive one on a motorbike license
My mum had two Robins, I used to like driving them in town; 0-30mph were really nippy. A bit less fun at 65mph on the motorway, but still okay. I remember writing off my mk5 Cortina on leave and borrowing mum's Robin to travel back to RAF Wattisham, it was so much fun to get the inside wheel up in the air on the constant-radius airfield perimeter track, although the rear passengers weren't too happy about it 😂
"0-30mph were really nippy" - love it
I don't know how you took one onto a motorway because it was breaking the law to do so, There were signs at the entrance to motorways saying no three wheel vehicles.
@@zog97xypossibly just a dual carriageway, many call them motorways as a catch-all term despite having different legal mechanisms
@@zog97xy I don't remember that. The signs DID say no Invalid Carriages. I questioned HubNut about him taking his Invacar on a motorway, and he stated that the later more powerful models had been given permission. I doubt that any policemen nowadays would know the rules in any case...
Great to see somebody actually do a truthful review of the Reliant for once, having owned and abused a few, i can agree with you completely about how much fun these are to drive. So many people (usually those who have never driven one) are quick to dismiss them for falling over which is not the case, yeah you can roll one if you try hard enough but they will usually slide about or lift a wheel and lose traction first! i'd love another but too many projects already lol. Thanks for being honest and keep showing the underdogs 👍
Enjoyed that thanks,.. as a youth - early 1960s - I was driving a Reliant Regal 3/25 at age 16 on a motorcycle licence,. legal provided that the reverse gear was blanked off.. but as you quote,.. it is an actual car.
Pure Hubnut loveliness :) Imo the 70s version design is far more pleasing than the later ones but I'm a 70s model myself.
Gotta love the Plastic Pig!
I don't see a PCSO anywhere?
And you could cut off the back roof, add a partition wall with a rear window and then you have a useful Pig Up
Worth remembering that it WAS all about weight - the tax.class for tricycles was limited by weight, hence the fibreglass body, alloy engine and much more. Many motorcyclists used them as winter vehicles but, as you say, the market faded away and reliant with it I did once manage to tip one at 45 degrees by driving tight circles in a car park. The owner was not impressed as I wound down the drivers window, stuck an arm out and shoved it back into it's wheels
I have driven this very car, and that's the reason why I just bought one 🎉
Four of us a tent and supplies drove from Manchester to Wales for a weeks holiday in the 80s in a N reg robin -Happy days and fond memories
I love Aging Wheels. This is a great shout-out and tribute! Thanks!
For that little circuit I believe you are correct. A Robin is completely at home there, great fun! That engine note - takes me back to the 1970s - vinyl seats, slightly cramped interiors, lovely!😊
I remember back in the 90's when a friend (a bit older than me) got his license & his dad got him a Ford fiesta (F reg I think). He used to drive it like a mad man (1.1 litre engine - but pretended he was in a rally car) took about 20 secionds to get to 60mph so when he was at that speed he would tend to maintain it). One day when i was a bit mad with him cos he'd decided not to pick us me up I was walking home (obv didn't have a lift) & came across a car wreck soon was evident it was my friends car though totally unrecognosable). What happened a reliant robin was turning in & my friend (speeding in his Fiesta judging by the 50 foot plus skid marks) crashed into the Robin int the side of it. The fiesta was completely written off - the guy in the Robin opened his boot pulled out a roll of masking tape & taped up the side part of the body which had torn almost in half... then drove off (after swapping insurance details etc), Fiesta had to be recovered with truck. My logic, understanding at the time thought it should have been the other way round!
❤ both my grandfather's drove 'em. Yes, I'm a Yorkshireman.
To see TH-camrs crossing each other in different videos and different cars is quite an experience. Kind of time machine... Thanks for the Robin! See you soon --- Martin
I had a couple of reliant Robins many moons ago, and when my kids were little they thought it was hilarious when I did doughnuts in the snow, which was stupid easy in the Robin 😂
Ian, I love that your enthusiasm here made you go ever so slightly scooby-doo at the end. As fun as ever, please don't stop.
Virtually the same as the 1973 Robin so nearly 30 years on it is not surprising it feels old.
Brilliant video Ian. I had a 850 super Robin registration GMB 776N and a motorbike not car licence in 1990- my first car - I had no idea how to drive it and it popped out of 2nd gear which made cornering tricky! Brought back a lot of memories. Thanks 😂
Nice work
I lost out on a Bond Bug, and bought a 1976 Robin 850. Had 4 years of reliable fun motoring and sold it for a profit lol. Will be looking for one to keep in the UK for our trips back home, great car. Also owned a Trojan 200 bubble car back in the day. Great video
My Nan had an A reg Rialto with the little drop down boot. She went absolutely everywhere in it. Up and down the motorway without thinking about it. Never let her down. She did prang it the first day she had it. Started it not realising it was in gear and it bounced forward into the back of my dad series one land rover. Resulting in my dad going out for a fibreglass kit to repair a small but of damage. Never let her down in 20 years. I'd love a go in one now....... was the best car when we were kids 😅
Thank you so much for this video Ian, I really enjoyed it and it brought back so many memories! My Mam and Step Dad had a G Reg Regal Supervan, in the Del Boy colour, before Del Boy was even thought of. I was 7 or 8 years old when he bought it in 1968, I'm 63 now, and I still look back on that little van with loads of affection. They bought it because my Step Dad only had a motor bike licence and because it was cheaper than the car. My parents put a bench seat in the back of it and I loved it. We used to joke about how you couldn't avoid a pot hole in a three wheeler but it didn't matter, it was a simple little car (van) in a simpler time...a happy happy time for me.
Drove Regals (including a Supervan 3) and Robins throughout the 1970s and '80s, all providing sterling service for myself, wife and two youngsters. Holiday trips to Devon and Cornwall (from West London) were, shall we say "an adventure". Even managed to jam the in-laws in occasionally for pick-up and drop-off at the train station, while the kids sat in the Robin boot...!
Educational and fun, I was always curious about these things
Thanks Ian
Thanks Ian. I really enjoyed this. I hope they add the Citroen 2CV to the list so I then will gladly travel from Ireland to drive this, along with the Hillman Imp,Morris Minor and Marina.
Love these, Dad had the Regal onwards, I have a Robin 850 (I think it was), it's been nearly 30yrs since I last drove one, would love to drive one again and take my son out in it, show him the mechanics and how it all worked, they were and are amazing cars, they made you drive a completely different style because you had to compensate for the lack of one wheel... I had the best fun ever in mine...
The Reliant 3 wheeler range is oh so cute.
I used to have a sky blue 1993 Reliant Robin LX, bought as a hobby car, I had it restored, then enjoyed driving it.
I’ve always had a fascination with Reliants, not sure of the reason why, other than their quirkiness.
I’m glad you’re a fan too, Mr Hubnut❤.
Absolutely brilliant fun, my friend has a trike on a reliant under pinnings, including chassis
I do like the number plate on Ageing Wheel's Robin!
That's genuine heartfelt enjoyment, no mistake :) Lovely.
Great video Ian. Looks a fun car to drive. I noticed the rear vision mirror was missing.
Well, one of the three things I predicted earlier were sort of mentioned, but, that aside, there were at least two Reliants around here, one a hearing aid beige Rialto that last I saw passing by smelled like it was running very rich, and a late Corsa-eyed Robin like this one, I think the same colour too, pottering about to & from the supermarkets, so they're still out there, not having been rolled for telly or stripped naked for motor trike projects...
When these were fist made, a motorcycle licence gave you a B1 licence. (This is the category for 3 wheeled vehicles under 450kg) thus 'motorcyclists' could buy a car without having to pass a car test. Back in the day there were a lot more people that took their driving test on a bike as their first step to independence rather than a car like now.
Was the motorcycle license that much cheaper than a car one?
I think it was more or a right of passage to motoring - There were a lot more people in late 60's and 70's that had motorcycles as their 1st motorised transport. Then when they wanted a car they could drive a 3 wheeler straight away with their original licence. As cars became more common as 1st vehicle there was no need for a 3 wheeler with all it's limitations compared to car. Remember these 3 wheelers were a niche segment even then. More common in the West Midlands where they were made (Tamworth)
That was its main USP.
Many had a bike license as it was much cheaper - no driving lessons and a fairly easy test.
@@erik_dk842 No. The provisional licence cost virtually nothing and could be used for both cars and motorcycles.
The difference was that you could ride a motorcycle on your own whereas with a car you had to be accompanied by a fully licenced driver until you passed your test.
When I was young in the 1970's the motorcycle test was very easy. I don't remember there being any driving schools for motorcycles like there were for cars.
I grew up in the U.K before moving to Canada. I remember my Dad saying something about if you drove a Robin or other similar car on a bike license only ,one rule was it wasn't allowed to have a reverse gear . Is that right or was that a rule they just turned a blind eye to in later years ?
I drove it when I was there last year. Was an absolute hoot to drive so much fun and feels a lot faster than what I was actually driving and so stable at speed and cornering like a go kart
My wife drove that one when we visited there with me in the back! I couldn't agree more that it is a lot of fun and definitely recommend anyone else visiting to give it a go!
It would be absolutely awesome if you did manage a trip to Missouri to drive Aging Wheels's Reliant Robin and some of the rest of his fleet. I know it's very unlikely, but it'd be a dream video, right?
Oh absolutely.
Ian and Robert would first have to conquer being separated by a common language. I still chuckle thinking of the interview when Ian asked Robert how he found the Figaro and Robert understood the question as meaning how he had come across it instead of what he thought of it.
Great video thanks, it must be difficult to get a 3 wheel car MOT tested now.
This will be me in a few weeks, booked to drive it and can’t wait! Great video 👍
Great video, your enthusiasm for the Robin was inspiring 😁😁
Twc /foxanne and your channel generally, were instrumental in the purchase of my little tripod of the tarmac nigh on 2 yrs ago.
Top work Mr hubnut!
My Dad had a Reliant Regal many years ago. Lovely little motor.
Great vid thank you. Think the main reason the old catalloy cruisers died out is the people that originally bought them drove them on a motorcycle licences, they are now sadly dying out.
Absolutely brilliant video Ian ❤👍what a beautiful car love it I don't know why top gear did that destroy cars reputation like the marina brilliant
Enjoyed that as much as when you drove the wheels off the invacar , the sight of your face is like a kid at Christmas, Just epic ❤
I have always liked the look of this generation of Robin.
To Andy Bootles. And what a glorious colour! I went with a friend from Scotland , to buy a Robin he wanted. It was bright blue. So much more a statement than the duller colours now
Thank you so much for these impressions of driving this vehicle. Here in Germany those 3wheel Reliants are completely unknown. I was always courious how those cars are driving. Thanks a lot for this video. I was often in Britain for visiting family members, but I have never seen one of those Reliants.
AY UP MR HUBNUT....... THAT'S A NICE FOOTBALL WHISTLE YOU GOT THERE
I prefer Aging Wheels number plate!
Years ago there was an old guy that used to go and get his newspaper daily in his little reliant robin. He lived at the top of a hill, nothing stopped him. I walked to work for about 2 weeks as I couldn't get through the snow (out in the sticks in Kent, but mainly because of the hill), he had no problem any day, up or down. It was strange to see, tyres looked standard. The little car that could.
Thanks for another great review Ian
classic car right there
Uncle Tom had a Regal then a Rialto and finally a late Robin, he never had a car licence - lived most of his life in London and mostly rode a motorbike until middle age.
Great sounding engine-we need more really light cars with small power(and with engine management they would be so economical)
I know somebody who did a demolition derby in one of these, I called him an absolute madman but it did surprisingly well, almost tipped a couple of times but stayed on all 3 and eventually just cooked the engine
Thanks for a nice review Hubnut. These cars are totally unknown in Australia, apart from being space shuttles or persuaded to fall over. The engine is the same as you had in the Fox? I liked the look of it - very like Triumph's little engine as you noted, though in mirror image. Cheers.
At 19, I bought a Robin after being rain-soaked day after day riding to my first job on my motorbike.
Drove it on my bike license and essentially taught myself to drive, absolute danger on the road for at least the first week.
Thinking back, I cringe - madness to allow driving a car on a motorbike license simply because it has three wheels.
Best way to drive a Robin is like you stole it, fabulously fun to drive. I love the looks I get overtaking people on the motorway 😂
It's a shame that they can't make the Reliant Robin as an electric car, now. If the price was right, it would be an ideal entry-level E-vehicle.
But they'd restyle an electric version as 'boutique retro-chic' and sell them to bored rich bods for £65,000. Sigh.
@@EleanorPeterson Have a look at the Twike 4 and 5. Essentially an attempt at redesigning the Bond Bug. but it costs £50,000.
I remember lying down in the boot of one of these as a child while my auntie drove us to the shops as there were only two seats and the other was taken by her friend. I've never been as terrified before, or since.
Great review. Yes, thanks to Top Gear we will forever be explaining they are more stable than you'd think 🙄
and our 1983 Rialto seems outdated when compared to vehicles of that era, and there are no obvious updates (other than styling) to your 1999 version 😆
Nevertheless they are so much fun that you just don't care!
You really captured the Reliant experience!😃
Lovely car..I wish I had
One Robin doesn't make a spring but this one made my evening - thanks HubNut 😊
Top Gear modified their Robin to roll over. I think they welded up the rear differential, causing the front wheel to push on and dig in. I've just acquired a Reliant Kitten for a little project.
They also fitted different wheels each side and/or fitted uneven weights.
topgear think messed with diff and raised height on the front end or slightly bigger wheel. they did all the could to set off the balance what made it easy to flip over
My best friend at school, his dad had a Reliant Robin as he only had a motorbike licence. It never tipped over. Mr Clarkson was playing silly buggers. Another entertaining video, ptchooo!!!!
6:42 On the right there, that's a Gen 6 Celica (94-99), the ones with four non-pop-up headlamps. Perhaps the best car of all time, says Scottie.
13:30 Rear wiper, that makes it better than a Tesla S Plaid.
I double dare you to tap the brake mid turn!
I owned a Regal Mk 5, then a Regal 3/25. Three of us toured Ireland in the Mk5, which I had fitted with a roof rack. The 3/25 was a lively little car. These cars represented serious engineering!
I always loved driving my father in law’s Robins. Great fun.
‘The flying pig’ which was a 1976 yellow ‘Super Robin’ estate and his later blue 1980 ‘W’ reg saloon. Sadly both long gone. If I visit The Great British Car Journey I’ll definitely be choosing this!
I actually like the revised styling of the late Robin with the Corsa headlights - it looks pretty appealing, in my eyes. You can see how Reliant did this on a budget when you see the interior layout - it hadn't changed that much in thirty years, and I guess they didn't have the money to update it as well. Thanks for doing a serious, thoughtful review of such a misunderstood car.
Not only that, It was the first idea Andy Plumb made which would go into production. There were some interesting prototypes made which didn't go into production.
Now that did look like fun!
I can see how with a standard diff as soon as the rear wheel lifts you lose all drive and it drops back down.
It would be a bit hairy with a LSD though.
As a small boy obsessed with motor cars, I remember reading the Pearson manual (remember those?) for the Vauxhall Victors up to the FC (Dad had a 1962 FB). It also covered the VX4/90s. I seem to recall dire warnings saying that you should not jack up one rear wheel on an FC VX4/90 and put it into gear with the engine running... and that must be the first time I came across the concept of the LSD.
As always such a pleasure being with Mr. Hubnut at his best: an expertly good testing of oldtimer cars. I still can remember the flippant attitude of Old Top Gear towards poor Reliant (though very funny indeed)
D'you know, if someone offered me one of those as a swap for that dreadful Yaris I now own, I'd have their hand off. They look fun! Not sure I'd do a 160-mile commute in it down the A1, but around home and family? Perfect. Mind you, at least I fixed the rear wiper on the Yaris today but it took a motor from a scrapyard to do so...
Last year at EMW I rode a round with the Robin van Aart, a nice experience, especially compared to my Reliant Kitten Estate that I often drive.
Yes, I took that out too! Then I followed Aart home. He was driving like a demon!
Won't find me knocking the Reliant 3 Wheelers Ian....I bought my first back in 1979 (only had a motorbike licence then) it made so much sense for the worst of the weather, I cringe a bit now thinking how I drove mine had the inside rear hopping many a time!....Never got it on it's roof!
Great stuff thanks!
My dad got one of the early models, so he had a cheap second car. He spent an entire year in the 80's fixing it all, servicing the engine and gearbox, cleaning and rustproofing the entire chassis. A lady pulled out on him on the way back from its trip to get an MOT, and half the 'nose' just disintergrated in the 'bump'. No one hurt, but it then sat and rotted in the garden until we moved house. That was the end for 'Dad's plastic pig'...
Aw!
Ian you need a Reliant Robin. It needs to happen! It'd be motivational 🙌🙌
The company who took over reliant were formed by the directors of MCW. Reliant used to produce the body panels for the Metrocab and it was their attempt to keep the continuous supply. Unfortunately they couldn't get the quality right
Possible to modify the front to fit a extra wide front tire?
It’s mad to think these were so recently on sale. Presume euro Ncap etc was about to kill them off
They didn't have to worry about crash regs due to the light weight.
9:34 you mention of Citroen Saxo and Proton...here ,the Citroen Saxo also rebadge as Proton Tiara,which is among the not reliable Proton,hard to get a spare part,always overheat and no temperature gauge..just red light will blinking or light ON if its overheat,and many people here are strugling to read that red light,because of its gauge itself,ended it going to scrapyard early..
I remember seeing these new, metallic paint smooth lines looked great! I used to spend a lot of time around fishing lakes and the vans used to be popular with old boys for fishing.
I have the 1994 Rialto estate Love it
A friend of mine in Wem back in the 90's had two Rialtos. One an estate the other a van version (he was a landscape gardner). Once we went off on a bus photo trip in the estate over the border into Wales. Buzzing along rural winding Welsh country lanes was quite exhilarating. 😊
I've always had a soft spot for Reliant Robins like the classic Mini & VW Beetle. I wonder if towards the end the new company should have revived the Reliant Kitten alongside it with the way the market was going? Could have been an interesting low cost rival for Smart and other small hatches...
They did look into it but I think a four wheeler may have fallen foul of crash regs than the three wheeler didn't need to meet. Also, they were not cheap! Low volume meant they were pricey.
My father-in-law had a couple of older reliant Robins and it was cross winds that seemed to cause problems. He was hit by a gust in the early 90s on the motorway that did tip it over. Fortunately a couple of lorry drivers provided a cordon and helped him right it.
I love it when you get excited about a little car 👌
Thanks, Ian. There was also a van version of the Rialto which my grandad had. He used to put three kids in the back. We also never once fell over...
I did actually witness one going over on a bend many many moons ago.They used to even get banger raced.Built at Two Gates near Tamworth by the old A5.For me the funniest Top Gear feature featured Clarkson turning them over.
Clarkson is a complete wanker! Yes, he could occasionally be funny - when he wasn't trying to - but overall he was a right twat.