Reliant TW9
Encyclopedia
The Reliant Ant, also known as the Reliant TW9 (Three Wheeler 9) is a small three-wheeler pickup truck produced by the Reliant Motor Company
in Tamworth
(England
) between 1967 and 1987.
The Ant possessed a box section metal chassis. At the front, directly behind the single front wheel, a 700 cc four-cylinder four-stroke engine was installed, delivering a claimed 27.5 bhp (20 kW) of power. Above the front wheel and engine was a glass-fibre cabin with space for two and an aerodynamic front and two round headlights. Despite its apparent simplicity the cabin design incorporated gentle curves and creases to enhance structural strength. The rear wheels drove the vehicle to a maximum speed of 54 mph (86 km/h) and overall fuel consumption of 8.1 lt./100 km was quoted.
The left-hand drive version offered a load capacity of 500 kg and was intended to compete in Mediterranean countries with vehicles such as Piaggio
's Ape (bee)
. Early on, Reliant's Greek partner MEBEA
ordered 250 of the Ants. For the right-hand drive domestic market a more challenging load capacity of 800 kg was envisaged, but without a more powerful engine the vehicle struggled to handle this load weight. Target customers in the UK were mostly local government agencies. Reliant sold the TW9 as a chassis/cab and a wide range of uses was found for it. A flat-bed truck, various closed delivery van bodies, a small water tanker, a refuse truck, a street drain clearer and a snow plough all appeared. There was even a road sweeper and an articulated tractor-unit. The price for a chassis and cabin was quoted as £451.
In 1972 engine capacity was increased to 748 cc (although some later 848 cc Reliant
engines may have been retro-fitted) and claimed output rose to 32 bhp (23.5 kW). Performance benefitted. By this time Greek partner MEBEA
was building the vehicles under license.
Despite all its advantages, only 1,229 of the little trucks were sold during its initial four years. The more powerful version released in 1972 managed only 659 additional sales, giving a total output of 1,888 units. That figure does not include the vehicles built under license in Greece, however.
Reliant
Reliant was a British car manufacturer. The company was traditionally based at Tamworth in Staffordshire, England, but in 2001 it moved to nearby Cannock. It ceased manufacturing cars shortly afterwards.-History:...
in Tamworth
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
(England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) between 1967 and 1987.
The Ant possessed a box section metal chassis. At the front, directly behind the single front wheel, a 700 cc four-cylinder four-stroke engine was installed, delivering a claimed 27.5 bhp (20 kW) of power. Above the front wheel and engine was a glass-fibre cabin with space for two and an aerodynamic front and two round headlights. Despite its apparent simplicity the cabin design incorporated gentle curves and creases to enhance structural strength. The rear wheels drove the vehicle to a maximum speed of 54 mph (86 km/h) and overall fuel consumption of 8.1 lt./100 km was quoted.
The left-hand drive version offered a load capacity of 500 kg and was intended to compete in Mediterranean countries with vehicles such as Piaggio
Piaggio
Piaggio based in Pontedera, Italy encompasses seven brands of scooters, motorcycles and compact commercial vehicles. As the fourth largest producer of scooters and motorcycles in the world, Piaggio produces more than 600,000 vehicles annually, with five research and development centers, more than...
's Ape (bee)
Piaggio Ape
The Piaggio Ape is a three-wheeled light commercial vehicle first produced in 1948 by Piaggio.- History and design:At the end of World War II, most Italians, badly affected by the war, lacked means of transport, and more importantly, the financial means to acquire full-sized four-wheeled vehicles...
. Early on, Reliant's Greek partner MEBEA
MEBEA
MEBEA was an important Greek vehicle manufacturer, producer of light trucks, passenger automobiles, motorcycles, motorbike engines, agricultural machinery and bicycles....
ordered 250 of the Ants. For the right-hand drive domestic market a more challenging load capacity of 800 kg was envisaged, but without a more powerful engine the vehicle struggled to handle this load weight. Target customers in the UK were mostly local government agencies. Reliant sold the TW9 as a chassis/cab and a wide range of uses was found for it. A flat-bed truck, various closed delivery van bodies, a small water tanker, a refuse truck, a street drain clearer and a snow plough all appeared. There was even a road sweeper and an articulated tractor-unit. The price for a chassis and cabin was quoted as £451.
In 1972 engine capacity was increased to 748 cc (although some later 848 cc Reliant
Reliant
Reliant was a British car manufacturer. The company was traditionally based at Tamworth in Staffordshire, England, but in 2001 it moved to nearby Cannock. It ceased manufacturing cars shortly afterwards.-History:...
engines may have been retro-fitted) and claimed output rose to 32 bhp (23.5 kW). Performance benefitted. By this time Greek partner MEBEA
MEBEA
MEBEA was an important Greek vehicle manufacturer, producer of light trucks, passenger automobiles, motorcycles, motorbike engines, agricultural machinery and bicycles....
was building the vehicles under license.
Despite all its advantages, only 1,229 of the little trucks were sold during its initial four years. The more powerful version released in 1972 managed only 659 additional sales, giving a total output of 1,888 units. That figure does not include the vehicles built under license in Greece, however.
Sources
- Pither, Don: Reliant Regal & Robin, Sutton Publishing Ltd., Stroud (2001), ISBN 0-7509-2521-3