Tragic Reliant Robin letter from The Guardian

[swee'pea99]

"It's a myth that they turned over" (How we made ... the Reliant Robin, G2, 7 January). Really? My two-year love affair with a Reliant Robin ended dramatically on a leafy country road in Berkshire one cold winter's afternoon at the turn of the 1970s when my "plastic pig" suddenly aqua-planed at about 30mph, then somersaulted, ending up in a ditch with me underneath.

My humiliation was complete when another car quickly stopped and I heard the voice of what sounded like a very old lady asking if she could help. More embarrassed than actually injured, I replied "thank you", at which point she single-handedly managed to flip the three-wheeler back the right way up. When I returned to retrieve the car after briefly popping in for a reviving cuppa with friends nearby, its three wheels had all been nicked.
Quentin Falk
Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Many a time I came across that triangular burn mark in the road usually with some aluminium drippings included. How did those things ever get permission to use the road?

 

[Fnaar]

I've always fancied an Invacar, as an in-town runabout
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invacar

 

[Melonfish]

hah the invacar. forever known as the now very un-pc "spaz chariot" my mum even turned one down.
that horrid pale blue will haunt me for years...

spent a while racing around in a reliant, not a bad car in the end, just as long as you didn't take corners too sharpish. easy to maintain though, just lift it up and someone else can swap the wheel.

 

[Paulus]

I had a Reliant regal for a couple of years back in the 70's it was the saloon version like this, same colour as well.

I managed to turn it over on the Nth. Circular near to Park Royal, and it caught fire and melted in front of me.

 

[nickyboy]

I've always fancied an Invacar, as an in-town runabout
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invacar

I shall forever associate it with cornerflag shots on Match of the Day in the 70s

 

[threebikesmcginty]

[QUOTE 2869461, member: 259"]This Russian convertible version looks fab!

[/quote]

That looks like great fun!

 

[rich p]

I remember getting a lift home from school in Tony Snow's 3 wheeler but it wasn't a Reliant Robin. Were there other rivals?
It was longer and more pointed if my memory isn't playing tricks.

 

[Paulus]

I remember getting a lift home from school in Tony Snow's 3 wheeler but it wasn't a Reliant Robin. Were there other rivals?
It was longer and more pointed if my memory isn't playing tricks.

A Bond Bug maybe?

 

[rich p]

A Bond Bug maybe?

Nope! I suppose I could google too!

 

[Aperitif]

This was another schoolboy favourite - before moving up to old Rover 90s or Austin A30s...

A 'MrSmith'

 

[Bobby Mhor]

The firm I worked for mid 70s bought the Robins but the Boss got a Bug and what a strange experience driving that..
The Robins were not to be driven in a crosswind...much like the old Honda Super dream
bike..

 

[rich p]

A Bond Bug maybe?

Maybe this Bond one and my memory is playing tricks!
http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php/?see=2926

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I remember a friend's dad had a Reliant Rebel, which was the four wheeled version...

 

[Aperitif]

That Bond minicar was another popular one. Was it because one only had to pass a 'moped' licence to drive a three-wheeler? They were ever so popular.

We all preferred Howard Weisbaum's car when he brought it to school. A big blue Mercedes and he always had a cockpitful that went off to the ABC bakery in Kenton for hot pastry lunches!