Popular Post L19MUD 291 Posted February 18 Popular Post Share Posted February 18 Thanks to Daan and the other mods for approving this post, I think this may be of interest to some people here I have been interested in the Italian Piaggio Apes and seriously considered one to drive on a moped license way back when I was 16 (I bought a Leyland 272 tractor and drove round in that instead but that is another story), I then moved onto cars and normal sized trucks and the interest dropped off. A couple of years ago whilst perusing that popular internet auction site I came across a bigger version of the Ape, a TM703 which was far more useful in size but still small and had a more powerful 400cc engine, I bid but lost much to the delight of my other half. I have never found another 703 that is local/cheap enough for me to warrant going to look. Onto this week and a fellow Land Rover enthusiast mate of mine started speaking to me about his odd desire to own a Reliant 3 wheel van, I explained the Piaggio story and he promptly sent me to a link for a vehicle I never knew existed, a Reliant TW9 or Ant. The name Ant started as an informal name but was adopted later on in the production run. An internet search revealed these did not come up for sale often and despite the fact that literally thousands were built between 1967 and 1987 not many appear to still exist. They were predominantly purchased by local councils and had a huge variations of bodies fitted to them as despite the size they had a payload of 800kg. You could buy flatbeds, milk floats, tippers, dustcarts, water bowsers and even mini skip trucks! At this stage 'Reliant Ant' was added to the huge saved Ebay saved search list and I figured finding one was unlikely. At some point my unconscious mind must have remembered seeing an odd looking 3 wheel parked up near where I live but down a road I have not driven for many years. I had a look on street view and to my amazement there it sat right where I remembered, a slight detour on my next trip to Ipswich and a note through the door has got me to where I am now - purchase agreed on a vehicle I did not even know existed only a week ago! This particular one is an 1986 tipper, has been owned by the current owner for 25 years and was last used 7 years ago. The cab is fiberglass and in good condition, the chassis has some surface rust but is solid all over. The engine a Reliant 850cc which is about as simple as they come. First checks show it needs a new tank strap, one/possibly 3 tyres and a general go over and service. Will update further once I have got her home I have no idea on the story behind 'The Inbetweeners' red door 3 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Glue 26 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 My next door neighbour has one in his garage (complete along with what seems like several more in kit form)! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L19MUD 291 Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 3 minutes ago, Glue said: My next door neighbour has one in his garage (complete along with what seems like several more in kit form)! I don't suppose he has a yellow door?! 😁 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Blanco 163 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 Seem to remember a few running around (Ku) Hull, parks and gardens etc. ..never seen one close to, but the little tipper could be very useful, ... cheap enough to keep on the road just for fun. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daan 426 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 If Mr bean was a builder... Are you going to keep it standard or is there a cunning plan? here some ideas for a decent engine: https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/211498/reliant-kitten-estate-blackbird-powered?page=10 Daan 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L19MUD 291 Posted February 18 Author Share Posted February 18 20 minutes ago, Daan said: If Mr bean was a builder... Are you going to keep it standard or is there a cunning plan? here some ideas for a decent engine: https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/211498/reliant-kitten-estate-blackbird-powered?page=10 Daan Stop it!! This is already a distraction from the 110 re chassis I have on hold pending my house sale and I have had to promise to get it done without interfering with that move. Must avoid temptation to modify/go crazy on a restoration The plan is really to get running, lights/brakes check and adjust then clean up ready for MOT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FridgeFreezer 2,147 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 That looks hilarious - I would commute in that! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bowie69 1,542 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 1 hour ago, FridgeFreezer said: That looks hilarious - I would commute in that! Absolutely, cracking little thing. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stellaghost 642 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Reminds me of when I had a yellow Bond Bug, wish I still had it regards Stephen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landroversforever 956 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 That's cool! Never knew they existed. Reminds me a bit of the later Scammell 3 wheeler the 'Townsman'. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
western 936 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 Reliant TW9 ANT History Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Badger110 234 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 That name badge is so cool Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Glue 26 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 On 2/18/2021 at 2:56 PM, L19MUD said: I don't suppose he has a yellow door?! 😁 I'll ask next time I see him. Between him and his brother they've got 4 road worthy reliants and goodness knows how many bits and pieces, so there's a good chance... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Romahomepete 31 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 If you would rather have 4 wheels you could look for one of these. It is a Jiffy pickup truck, a kit marketed by Indespension the trailer people in the 1980s. The front end is straight mini front subframe with power plant, the rest isd a ladder chassis more sturdy than a land rover We turned one into a camper in the lat 80s, we had to stretch the chassis in the middle by 300mm to get the Romahome demountable body to fit Peter 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landroversforever 956 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 3 hours ago, Romahomepete said: If you would rather have 4 wheels you could look for one of these. It is a Jiffy pickup truck, a kit marketed by Indespension the trailer people in the 1980s. The front end is straight mini front subframe with power plant, the rest isd a ladder chassis more sturdy than a land rover We turned one into a camper in the lat 80s, we had to stretch the chassis in the middle by 300mm to get the Romahome demountable body to fit Peter I like that! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L19MUD 291 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Thanks for the comments, she is home. Turns over well but no spark even after fitting new points and condenser, i think the coil has failed. I may as well put electronic ignition in Defender didn't struggle! Three wheels and three ramps! 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L19MUD 291 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 20 hours ago, Glue said: I'll ask next time I see him. Between him and his brother they've got 4 road worthy reliants and goodness knows how many bits and pieces, so there's a good chance... Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
L19MUD 291 Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 9 hours ago, Romahomepete said: If you would rather have 4 wheels you could look for one of these. It is a Jiffy pickup truck, a kit marketed by Indespension the trailer people in the 1980s. The front end is straight mini front subframe with power plant, the rest isd a ladder chassis more sturdy than a land rover We turned one into a camper in the lat 80s, we had to stretch the chassis in the middle by 300mm to get the Romahome demountable body to fit Peter I love that!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landroversforever 956 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 3 hours ago, L19MUD said: Three wheels and three ramps! That properly tickled me once I realised . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
daveturnbull 279 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Turn it 90° and you could get another 3 of those on the trailer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Arjan 361 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Love it !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mickeyw 181 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 Well, well, well. I thought I had seen most vehicles in my life time, but this is the first time I've seen or heard of a Reliant Ant. What a quirky looking thing! We used to know an English couple that spent most of the year living on their elderly yacht in Spain. They used to drive a Robin back and forth from England and back. The hours we used to spend with them, watching various bemused foreigners checking out their 3 wheeled car 🤣 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landroversforever 956 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 37 minutes ago, mickeyw said: Well, well, well. I thought I had seen most vehicles in my life time, but this is the first time I've seen or heard of a Reliant Ant. What a quirky looking thing! We used to know an English couple that spent most of the year living on their elderly yacht in Spain. They used to drive a Robin back and forth from England and back. The hours we used to spend with them, watching various bemused foreigners checking out their 3 wheeled car 🤣 The crazy English! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FridgeFreezer 2,147 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 On 2/20/2021 at 7:47 AM, Romahomepete said: If you would rather have 4 wheels you could look for one of these. It is a Jiffy pickup truck, a kit marketed by Indespension the trailer people in the 1980s. The front end is straight mini front subframe with power plant, the rest isd a ladder chassis more sturdy than a land rover We turned one into a camper in the lat 80s, we had to stretch the chassis in the middle by 300mm to get the Romahome demountable body to fit Peter @miketomcat hey I found a more practical camper idea for you 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
landroversforever 956 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 Been reminded of the theme tune to this thread! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.