1981 Reliant Scimitar 2.8L Petrol · CCA 23W
1981 Reliant Scimitar (2.8L, petrol). First registered 01 Apr 1981. Recorded mileage 18,042 miles. MOT expired on 02 Jul 2026. Taxed until 01 Aug 2027.
- Make & Model
- RELIANT SCIMITAR
- Year / Origin
- 1981 · Cardiff
- Safety Recall
- Unknown
- MOT Status
- Expired on 02 Jul 2026
- Road Tax
- Taxed (01 Aug 2027)
- Recorded Mileage
- 18,042 mi
- ULEZ Compliance
- Check Required (Pre-Euro 4 Petrol)
- Fuel & Engine
- Petrol · 2.8L
- Reliability Guide
- Common Faults
Thinking of buying this vehicle? Free MOT and tax checks do not cover legal ownership. If outstanding finance exists, finance companies have legal right to repossess without compensation.
CCA 23W Key Findings
- 3 MOT tests recorded
- Latest MOT passed on 04/07/2025
- 18,042 miles recorded at latest MOT
- 1 historical MOT failure
- 5 defects noted at the latest MOT
- Recurring brakes items (7 mentions)
Derived directly from the recorded DVSA and DVLA data shown on this page.
CCA 23W MOT History
Interpretation generated from the recorded test data above — not an official DVSA statement and not a substitute for an independent inspection.
3 MOT tests are recorded for this 1981 Reliant Scimitar (CCA 23W) between June 2024 and July 2025.
The record contains 2 passes and 1 failure.
The most recent test on 04 July 2025 was a pass, although the earlier record includes 1 failure that buyers may want to investigate.
Across all tests, the most frequently flagged areas are: Brakes (7 issues), Lighting (6 issues), Suspension (3 issues), Steering (1 issue). Repeated mentions in one area can indicate an ongoing pattern worth checking in person.
In total 15 advisory notices are recorded. Advisories flag items that passed but may need attention before the next test; they are not evidence of how well the vehicle has been serviced.
Recorded failure items include: “Offside Front Upper Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn inner rear bush (5.3.4 (a) (i))”; “Offside Front Inner Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))”; “Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))”.
CCA 23W Mileage History
- 04/06/202417,979 mi
- 28/05/202518,041 mi+62 mi
- 04/07/202518,042 mi+1 mi
Average of roughly 58 miles per year across 3 recorded odometer readings.
Technical Specifications
Core Specifications
Identification & Status
Dimensions & Weights
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Known faults for Reliant Reliant Scimitar GTE
Our database tracks 4 specific mechanical faults and recurring failure patterns identified across UK MOT testing stations for this generation.
MOT Roadworthiness: Below Average
This rating reflects historical MOT pass rates and recurring advisory wear patterns from official DVSA test logs. Note that roadworthiness does not verify outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen records.
Verify lender finance agreements, insurance write-offs, police stolen registers, and mileage rollback.
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RELIANT SCIMITAR Model Intelligence & Reliability
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Owner-reported defects, recurring MOT failure points, and estimated repair costs.
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Historical MOT pass rates and DVLA records for 1981 model year cars.
- Chassis Outrigger and Suspension Mounting CorrosionSerious
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.
- Cooling System Airlocks and Radiator Silt-UpModerate
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.
- Front Suspension Trunnion Seizure and Wishbone Bush WearSerious
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.
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