The Reliant Motor Company is another British brand in car assembly. As a company, Reliant was founded in 1935 by car designer and engineer TL Wiliams. The first prototype Reliant car was developed in Mr Williams' home garden in Kettlebrook in Tamworth, UK. He used to work for Raleigh Safety Seven.
When Mr. Williams left Raleigh, he started building his own three-wheeler vehicle. That time, three wheelers were as prestigious but more common than the four-wheel vehicles. The auto Mr. Williams designed and built was completed and was licensed in the same year. The vehicle was called ‘The Reliant'. And so the car brand with the same name was born. Historians believe that the car was called Reliant because old Raleigh auto parts were used for the assembly of the first Reliant car. Aside from that, all other car parts that did not originate from Raleigh were also from companies and suppliers whose trade names also started in the letter ‘R'.
A few years after its establishment, Reliant was tested, like all other global car brands. The Second World War erupted and most car industries all over the world were rocked. In 1940, the company temporarily shifted focus to make transport equipment and machines for several British ministries. But the service Reliant gave to the government was cut short in 1946 as the war that emanated the car industry crunches suddenly eased out. Thus, offshore brands of cars were formally nationalised. After 1946, all the people's lives were changed and so was the physical structure of Reliant cars.
After the war, the company shifted focus to the manufacture of machining parts to cater to the requirements of various government agencies. To make that happen, Reliant remodelled its vans so that four people could be accommodated in the vehicles, instead of just two. In 1955, the firm's Mk2 was the first to utilise and integrate glass fibre in its cars' body panels. Mk3 in 1956 became the first ever entirely glass-fibre car model in the history of the global car industry.
Despite the declining popularity of three-wheeler vehicles, Reliant proved in 1969 that the three-wheeled cars can still be as lucrative. The Reliant Robin was the most popular three-wheeler British car of all time. The style of the vehicle was simply irresistible and could very well compete with the later generation Saloons.
In the 1990s, Reliant cars modified itself once again. To be able to outdo the challenges of the time, the company decided to produce lightweight commercial vehicles. In line with this, the car brand developed and launched light commercial car models, including the Ligier that was exclusively distributed in France and the Piaggio Ape, which was a vehicle, made for the Italian car market.
Certainly, Reliant would live up to meet the meaning of its name. Reliant cars are truly reliant because you could be sure of their flexibility and durability. The modern and sophisticated car designs are truly adopted for the current times. Indeed, Reliant is the car brand for you.
Original Authors: Manny
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 10/06/2008
