1972 Reliant Regal

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The Reliant Regal of Tamworth, England was produced from 1953 until 1973. They were a very unique vehicle that was designed to quality, under the U.K. law, as a 'tricycle' and could be driven on a full (Class A) motorcycle license. They were given lightweight construction and has just three wheels.

The original wooden frame Regal was produced from 1953 through 1961 and during that time they received many revisions, from the MKI through the MK VI. They had aluminum bodies and were powered by a 747cc side-valve engine. When the price of aluminum began to increase in Europe, Reliant began replacing aluminum panels with glass fibre. By 1956, with the Mark 3, the Regal body was wholly constructed from glass fibre. By using the glass fibre, Reliant was able to keep the weight of the vehicle low, which meant they were able to use the smaller, cheaper, and more economical engines.

The last Regal to be powered by a side-valve engine was the Regal MK VI. By 1962, the company had developed its own aluminum 600cc overhead valve engine that was fitted into the new Regal 3/25.

The MK VII, code-named 'TW7' (Three Wheeler 7), was introduced in 1962. This version had a new steel chassis and bonded shell design for the body, along with a new OHV Reliant engine. The styling was updated, and was now badged as the Regal 3/25, Regal 3/30 (in reference to the number of wheels and the horsepower rating), Regal 21E or Regal 21E 700. The cars with the 500cc engine offered 25 horsepower while the 700cc engine offered nearly 30 horsepower.

The 21E version had 21 extras, which could be purchased on standard cars as optional equipment. The extras included a spotlight, a fog light, an oil gauge, metallic paint, chrome-plated bumper over-riders, sun visors, and outer wheel trims.

In 1973, the Reliant was replaced by the Reliant Robin (code-named 'TW8').

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2015