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The last Reliant three-wheeler ever made is a Robin 65, one of a run of special anniversary models built to commemorate 65 years of production.
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It is finished in a special gold metallic paint and its specification includes two-tone leather upholstery, walnut-finish dashboard with white-faced instruments, alloy wheels, RDS stereo system, driving lights, a stainless steel exhaust system and numerous other ‘extras’.
The final car has been purchased by the Sun tabloid newspaper which will give it away as a competition prize.
Palmer said an exact count of three wheelers produced by Reliant over the years cannot be made due to the various changes of ownership and two major factory fires in the company’s chequered history. However, it is thought to be around 300,000 since production began in January 1935.
“Over 44,000 of those cars are still on the road today,” Palmer told just-auto.com.
The little three-wheelers, which can be driven in the UK by holders of a motorcycle driving licence, have a small but enthusiastic following here and both brand-new and lovingly preserved older examples are regularly seen on the country’s busy roads.
The tiny Reliants appeal to owners due to their diminuitive size, which makes them very manoeuvrable, rust-proof fibreglass bodies, and simple yet durable and reliable overhead valve four-cylinder engines. Anniversary models aside, this is no-frills motoring for those on a budget.
Reliant did not plan any major celebrations or a media event for the final line-off – there was no room to do so, the company said in a statement.
But spokesman Palmer said employees were sad to see the last three-wheeler go off to its new owner.
“Some of the lads here have worked on these cars for 30-odd years,” he said.
The last three-wheel Reliant signals the end of car production by the long-established company which will now concentrate on selling imported French Ligier microcars and three- and four-wheeled light commercials from Italy’s Piaggio.
More models will be introduced in the next few months, Palmer said.
