Reliant Scimitar GTE History
The pioneering sporting estate — a fibreglass V6 'shooting brake' beloved by Princess Anne, and Reliant's most celebrated car.
Photo: “1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5A” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The Scimitar GTE (SE5) of 1968 was Reliant's landmark: a glass-fibre sporting estate — a sleek, hatchback 'shooting brake' that combined coupe looks and Ford Essex V6 performance with real load space and fold-down rear seats. Styled by Tom Karen of Ogle Design, it pioneered a body style that mainstream makers would later imitate.
The GTE evolved through the SE5/SE5A (1968–1975, the most popular versions) and the larger SE6/SE6A/SE6B (1975–1986), the last cars adopting Ford's 2.8-litre Cologne V6 after the Essex went out of production. An open GTC convertible (1980–1986) joined the range.
Its prestige was sealed by royal patronage: Princess Anne was given an SE5 in 1970 and went on to own a string of GTEs, making the Scimitar a fixture of British motoring culture. It remains Reliant's most respected and collectible car.
Generations
First generation · SE5 / SE5A
Photo: “1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5A” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The original sporting estate with the Ford Essex V6; the SE5A (1972–1975) was the best-selling Scimitar of all.
1971 Photo: “1971 Reliant Scimitar GTE” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
1974 Photo: “1974 Reliant Scimitar GTE” by Hugh Llewelyn from Keynsham, UK / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
1975 Photo: “1975 Reliant Scimitar GTE SE5A” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Second generation · SE6 / SE6A / SE6B
Photo: “1976 Reliant Scimitar GTE” by hugh llewelyn / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
A larger, restyled GTE; the final SE6B (1980–1986) switched to Ford's 2.8-litre Cologne V6 after the Essex ended.
1976 Photo: “1976 Reliant Scimitar GTE” by hugh llewelyn / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
1979 Photo: “1979 Reliant Schmitar GTE Overdrive” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Body styles
- Estate (shooting brake)
- Convertible
Notable special editions & performance variants
Scimitar GTC
An open convertible version of the SE6-era Scimitar, also styled by Ogle; about 442 built.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Reliant Scimitar GTE
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.