Thursday, November 25, 2010

The Reliant Robin: What Were They Thinking?

In case the below picture doesn't make it incredibly obvious, I'll explain what sets this car apart from other cars - it only has THREE WHEELS! This vehicle has been manufactured under different names and by different companies from 1973 up to 2002. It has been a staple in British comedy, and I've located some videos that demonstrate why the Reliant Robin is a horrible vehicle. Check them out below!


Aside from the obvious difference which I've already pointed out, this vehicle weighs less than 1000lbs (450kg) and therefore qualifies to be insured under the same rates as a motorcycle. Mechanically speaking, the engine is in the front of the car near the wheel. Don't worry, it's not front wheel drive! The engine drives the rear axle.

Those of you who used to watch Mr. Bean (I still do, the show is f*cking awesome) may best remember this vehicle as the blue three-wheeled car that Mr. Bean would always mess around with. It's actually a Reliant Regal which is the model that proceeded the Robin, but they look very similar and both have a problem with tipping over. I found a clip on Youtube for those who want to refresh their memory!




If anyone here watches the British show Top Gear, you may recall Jeremy Clarkson taking a Reliant Robin on a test drive... and it didn't go very well. Here's the video!





Overall, this car was just marketed towards people who valued economic value over the safety of themselves and their passengers. I'm glad it was never introduced in North America, and I'm glad that the manufacturers finally chose to cease production in 2002. However, I love laughing at its purely ridiculous design flaws and lack of safety.

What do you guys think?