IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
1980 Reliant Scimitar GTE

We've identified 4 known issues that can affect the 1980 Reliant Scimitar GTE. 3 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

4
Known Issues
3
Serious
1
Moderate
0
Minor

All Known Issues

Chassis Outrigger and Suspension Mounting Corrosion

SeriousBodywork & Rust

Although the Scimitar GTE features a rustproof glassfibre bodyshell, its steel perimeter ladder chassis is prone to severe rot. Moisture and road dirt collect along the upper surfaces of the chassis rails where steel meets the fibreglass body. Vulnerable zones include the front and rear outriggers, tubular crossmember beneath the radiator, and trailing arm mounting brackets. Repairing rotten outriggers requires raising or removing the body.

Est. Repair Cost: £1,200–£3,500
Warning Signs:

Perforated metal or soft spots on outriggers behind front wheel arches, Cracking around fibreglass body mounting bobbins inside the cabin floor, Door fit distortion and misaligned rear tailgate latch mechanism, MOT test failure for structural corrosion near suspension mounting points

What to Inspect:
  • Reach up with a bright torch and probe the top face of the chassis rails where moisture traps against fibreglass.
  • Inspect the tubular front crossmember underneath the radiator and steering rack.
  • Check the rear chassis trailing arm mounting brackets for flaking rust and previous plating.
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Ford Essex 3.0 V6 Fibre Camshaft Timing Gear Failure

SeriousEngine

The 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 engine fitted to SE5 and SE6 models uses a camshaft timing gear constructed with a pressed phenolic resin/fibre outer tooth ring to reduce valvetrain noise. With age, heat cycles, and high mileage, the fibre teeth fatigue and strip completely. This causes instant loss of valve timing, stalling the engine immediately. While the non-interference Essex valvetrain usually escapes valve-piston collision, tooth debris drops into the sump and can starve the oil pump.

Est. Repair Cost: £350–£850
Warning Signs:

Sudden engine cut-out under load with starter motor spinning unusually freely, Rattling or whining chatter from timing cover before total tooth strip failure, Metallic and composite debris found in drained engine oil during servicing, Engine refuses to start with no rotation of the distributor drive shaft

What to Inspect:
  • Check service documentation for replacement with an uprated all-steel or aluminium camshaft timing wheel.
  • Remove the oil filler cap and verify rocker arms move while cranking the engine.
  • Listen closely to the front timing cover for knocking or gear whine during idle.
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Front Suspension Trunnion Seizure and Wishbone Bush Wear

SeriousSuspension & Chassis

The Scimitar uses a Triumph TR6-derived Alford & Alder double-wishbone front suspension setup featuring brass steering trunnions threaded onto vertical uprights. These trunnions must be lubricated with heavy gear oil (EP90), but garages frequently pump them with grease, which solidifies and blocks oil passages. Starved of lubrication, the brass threads corrode and strip, causing the upright to detach from the lower wishbone and collapsing the front corner.

Est. Repair Cost: £250–£750
Warning Signs:

Stiff, notchy, or creaking steering feel when turning the wheel on lock, Visible positive camber or front road wheel leaning outward at the bottom, Clunking sensation over road potholes and cat's eyes on country lanes, Grease oozing from trunnion dust seals instead of thin EP90 oil residue

What to Inspect:
  • Jack up the front wheels and inspect the brass lower trunnions for vertical play on the upright threads.
  • Inquire what lubricant has been used; grease indicates incorrect servicing requiring teardown.
  • Examine upper and lower wishbone rubber bushes for perishing, cracking, or eccentric crushing.
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Cooling System Airlocks and Radiator Silt-Up

ModerateCooling System

The Scimitar GTE's sleek low-profile bonnet forced Reliant to position the radiator header tank lower relative to the engine block than in Ford saloons. This makes the Essex V6 prone to persistent airlocks in the cylinder heads during coolant flushes. Combined with silt accumulation in the wide crossflow radiator and aging mechanical water pumps, overheating in urban stop-start traffic is a common complaint that risks blown head gaskets.

Est. Repair Cost: £200–£600
Warning Signs:

Temperature gauge climbing into the red during slow queuing traffic, Gurgling sounds from behind the dashboard heater matrix pipework, Coolant blowing out through the expansion overflow bottle cap, Uneven radiator core temperatures with cold lower sections indicating silting

What to Inspect:
  • Check whether a modern header tank, expansion bottle, or electric cooling fan has been fitted.
  • Inspect the radiator core for clogged fins, corrosion, and cold spots across the matrix.
  • Verify the heater operates hot; cold cabin airflow indicates trapped air in the upper engine cooling circuit.
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 1980 Reliant Scimitar GTE

  • Prioritise a thorough chassis inspection on a ramp; check outriggers, front crossmember under the radiator, and trailing arm mounts where water collects between steel and fibreglass.
  • On 3.0 Essex V6 models, verify whether the fragile original phenolic resin/fibre camshaft timing gear has been replaced with an all-steel or aluminium gear.
  • Check that the cooling system maintains normal temperature during idling and confirm the cabin heater operates hot, as cooling airlocks cause rapid overheating.
  • Inspect front suspension brass trunnions on the vertical uprights; ensure they have been lubricated with EP90 gear oil rather than grease to prevent thread seizure.
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