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Posts: 713
Since: 12/3/2007
Region: Hampshire
Status: offline
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Hi ZAM
I could bore for England on the subject of GTE's but will try to resist the tempation, so:
Fibreglass body styled by Tom Karen of Ogle Design and derived from the Scimitar Coupe..
Early (SE5/5A) version had chrome bumpers and the 3 litre Essex V6 engine
Next version (SE6) had a larger body and rubber bumpers, again with the Essex lump.
Update to SE6A /B used the Cologne 2.8 V6
A company called Middlebridge bought the Scimitar rights from Reliant and the final incarnation was the 'Middlebridge Scimitar' using a 2.9 Ford engine. Middlebridge only produced a few cars before going bust after a court case involving a famous Bentley (that's a story in it's own right), and I think Graham Walker now owns the Scimitar rights.
Although later versions had galvanised chassis the early ones suffered corrosion, especially on the outriggers, fuel tanks, etc, and the fibreglass finish on the later models was much improved. Even so, when you add up the cost of a good restoration it's not cheap as a few owners will testify. Fibreglass crazes and is prone to microblistering if not correctly prepped before spraying, and a good fibreglass respray is not cheap, so in a way there is a read across to restorations on metal tubs of similar vintage.
The leap into Maserati was a mid-life love affair with an Assetto Corsa (it's in the gallery). Proposed ownership of a year or so was actually approaching 4 years when other priorities required my time and money, so we are temporarily Masless and the AC is now with a very caring owner in Melbourne. The plan was to get a 4200, possibly a Gransport next, but if we leave it for a while a Gran Turismo will be possible, decisions decisions!
Although I do like the seventies cars including Meraks, Boras, Khamsins, etc, you can't get away from the fact that quality in those days was somewhat indeterminate, hence the Isopon consumption which is not associated with modern cars. All such cars are restorable, however, the deeper the restoration the higher the cost, and to keep tin worm at bay I think you would have to go very deep unless you are very lucky.
PH
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