Reliant, circa 1950s-2008
Part of collection: Z. Taylor Vinson collection of transportation ephemera (20100108-ZTV)
Dates
- Creation: circa 1950s-2008
Scope and Content
This subseries documents Reliant, which was built by Reliant Engineering Company Company (Tamworth) Limited of Tamworth, England (1952-1963); Reliant Motor Company Limited of Tamworth, England (1963-1995); Reliant Motors of Tamworth, England (1995-1998); Reliant Cars Limited of Burntwood, England (1998-2000); and B & N Plastics of Sudbury, England (2001-2002).
Reliant was a British automaker best known for building three-wheeled cars. Founded in 1935 by Tom L. Williams, the firm's three-wheelers were powered by J.A.P motorcycle engines. Because three-wheeled vehicles were not subject to Britain's road tax, Reliant vehicles soon found a customer base in the United Kingdom. By 1938, the company was also building its own engines as well.
Reliant diversified its product line in 1952, when it started building four-wheeled cars. From 1956 onwards, all Reliant vehicles were fitted with fiberglass bodies. In 1969, Reliant took over Bond Cars Limited, a fellow manufacturer of three-wheeled cars. Several cars designed by Reliant were built in other countries, including the Israeli-built Sabra.
Reliant was owned by several parent companies over the course of its existence, including the Hodge Group and B & N Plastics. Reliant ceased all vehicle production in 2002. See also Bond and Sabra.
General Physical Description note
10 folders; 1 folder oversize
Extent
From the Series: 625 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
Vinson’s manuscript A Collector’s Life: An Autobiography, included in Series XIII, is closed to researchers until 2035.
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Published Collections Repository