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.
Start with a make and model. Add a year where a detailed guide is available.
Model history available. Detailed year guides are not published for this model.
Browse this model's history and yearsHistory
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.