The Pick of the Day is a 1987 Reliant Scimitar SS1 1800Ti listed by a Netherlands dealership on ClassicCars.com.
There’s a certain satisfaction that comes from never driving past someone who’s in the same car as you. That’s easier to attain in older cars because many of them have been stored away, used to the point that they’re prohibitively expensive to repair, or totaled. Our latest Pick of the Day, this 1987 Reliant Scimitar SS1 1800Ti, has escaped all of those fates and is ready to be the only one on its next owner’s block (or in their state).
According to the Reliant Motor Club’s official website, in 1978, the British car company wanted a design for a small two-seat sports car. After rejecting a proposal called the Cipher, Reliant chose a design penned by Giovanni Michelotti, who is credited with the looks of a variety of models, including the Triumph TR4 series. Michelotti died in 1980 before his design for what became the SS1 (Small Sports 1) was finalized, but it was pushed into production anyway.
Instead of using metal or fiberglass, Reliant opted to have the body panels made out of plastic, many of which were injection-molded units from Dunlop. Over time, the original 1,300cc engine grew in size. Eventually, Reliant put Nissan‘s CA18ET turbocharged 1.8-liter I4 under the hood, enabling the Scimitar SS1 1800Ti to get to 60 mph in under seven seconds.
Even in Europe, where this car is currently located, this Reliant is a somewhat rare sight. The Netherlands dealer selling it states only 1,500 of these were made. This one was delivered to its first owner in Switzerland. The second owner had it for 25 years. They, along with the dealer, rowed through the gears of the five-speed manual transmission and only put 35,263 miles (56,751 kilometers) on the odometer. Throughout that limited mileage, the car has been maintained, which is documented in the available service history.
Ten years ago, the angular exterior, which features fog lamps, uncovered pop-up headlights, a rear spoiler, and low-mounted taillights, was updated with fresh red paint by a shop that specializes in painting plastic. The black convertible top has plastic rear windows and appears to be in good shape.
That soft top covers a two-tone gray leather interior accented with red piping and equipped with manual windows, a Blaupunkt AM/FM/cassette radio, what appears to be a control stick for the mirrors, and a locking center console storage compartment. Not pictured are the original owner’s booklets that come with the purchase of the car.
How much do you want to be the only person you know (or will probably ever see on the road) with this car? I ask because getting something this uncommon will take an equally uncommon amount of dedication. In addition to paying the $22,200 asking price, you’ll have to cover the $1,800 it’ll cost to have the car shipped from the Netherlands to the selling dealer’s warehouse in New Jersey plus three percent in customs duties. Then you’ll have to either drive the car or have it shipped from New Jersey to where you live. All of those things add to the final out-the-door figure, but going on a road trip in an automotive oddity like this sounds like it would be a priceless experience.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.Â
