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There’s A Strange Bird: Anyone Interested In A Three-Wheeled Reliant Rialto?


There’s A Strange Bird: Anyone Interested In A Three-Wheeled Reliant Rialto?

Yes, readers, I’ve been buried in Craigslist today, and I’m completely unapologetic for it, because I’ve been finding weird, wonderful four-wheeled contraptions that should capture the imagination, stir up conversation and possibly inspire you. It’s not every day that I can find something three-wheeled that will have your interest, however. I don’t doubt that many of you have fond memories of three-wheelers like the Honda 250R and other old-school “dangerous” ATVs like it, but that’s not the kind of tripod I’ve found for you today. Instead, it’s a French car known best for it’s played-up antics on a British car show:

rialto2It’s a Reliant, all right, but it is not a Robin. What you’re looking at is a 1988 Reliant Rialto (ree-al-toe), which replaced the Robin in 1982 and lasted until the third-generation Reliant three-wheeler, which reverted back to the Robin name. Either way: 850cc engine, one front wheel, two rear wheels, and no, it won’t roll over the moment you move your arm to scratch something. It’s unrestored, and the owner has driven it in both Europe and the States, and is quite proud of the car (he claims to have sold his previous Reliant to FCA for use in a Dart commercial.) It’s street-legal and licensed in California, so once you got past the “What the hell is it?” question at the DMV and got your insurance company on-board, you could drive this anywhere you wanted…if you wanted.

It’s an interesting little beast, but is it BangShift-worthy? You tell us!

Craigslist Link: 1988 Reliant Rialto

rialto3


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4 thoughts on “There’s A Strange Bird: Anyone Interested In A Three-Wheeled Reliant Rialto?

  1. Chevy Hatin' Mad Geordie

    First of all the Reliant Rialto is a BRITISH car!

    Secondly what sort of gibbering lunatic would drive one of these on American roads where it would be squashed by a big rig within 5 minutes of hitting the freeway? Still some bonehead will probably stick an LS in it and kill themselves when the whole car destroys itself in anger….

    1. Aaron

      Guess I’m a gibbering lunatic, however I’d rarely drive it on interstates. I think it would be quite fun for my 18 mile commute to work.

    2. jerry z

      Geordie, I’m surprised you would actually admit the Brits built this monstrosity! I remember Clarkson riding in one of these and dumped it in a canal upside down!

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