When my brother was little, whenever he saw a 3 wheeler he would wind the window down and shout 'PLASTIC PIG!!' at the top of his voice. Sadly he died at the end of November. There are a few still on the road around us and my sister, mum and I have taken to shouting at them now, it does make us smile remembering his antics.

I owned a 1975 Robin when I was 17, used it in the winter to get to work, rather than the motorbike.

What a lovely tribute to the Reliant Robin. Your joy at driving that little car was palpable, and great to have some common myths debunked! A lot of people forget what a difference these cars made to the lives of thousands in the UK in the 70s and 80s, with their low running costs and no need to have a full driving licence! Terrific video!

After I passed my driving test I drove a Reliant Regal 21E quite a lot. It was a great little car and it taught me a lot more about driving than the minis a lot of my friends drove would have taught them. For them a corner was something you steered around, with the Reliant you had to get everything right, speed, entry, braking, line and so on. These are skills that I was able to take advantage of throughout my life. The people who make fun of Reliants are those who have never used them.

Those newer Robins where actually quite tough for what they were, a school friend of mines dad from Felinwynt had 2 of them between 1988 when I went there and 2000 before I moved away. The first one was a Blue fairly new one for the time in 88 . Somehow it ended up wrapped round a Porsche of some kind on his way to work at Verwig school. The Robin had a couple cracks in the body somewhere that totaled it, which was a shame as you could hardly tell there was visible damage. The Porsche on the other hand looked like it hit a wall at 80 mph and they shoveled most of it up off the road . The one he replaced it with was a lot older and started getting some fiber glass fatigue cracks in it. The memory I have of that one is his late Dad being outside with this red Robin, cutting bits out of a red plastic bucket and fiber glass resin gluing them on the cracks . I can tell you the comment not to make to a proud Robin owner is " wouldn't it be better to cut the best bits off the Robin and glue them on the bucket". Poor old Ed was not seeing the funny side, and CerI and his brother were trying not to laugh in front of their Dad !. Take care.

The parcel shelf lifts up when you open then boot! It is officially more advanced than my 2014 Škoda Citigo

I don't know of anyone that owned a Reliant and slagged it off. They were fairly easy to DIY repair and maintain. As an A to B vehicle they were cheap and reliable and made for a rather jolly first car. I think the love for them is still evident, it's a pity that more were not made. Happily though, quite a lot of them still exist. My favourite was the regal van, camping gear loaded in the back and setting a course for north Wales, happy days. You would have to have owned one to understand its appeal.

You were clearly loving the drive. It's great that you keep an open mind about cars

I remember Sam Glover put crossply tyres on his Robin, to deliberately limit the grip and make it easier to slide round corners. Apparently that's an established fast-driving technique in a Robin!

My younger sisters hubby had a late 60's Reliant Regal , he used to really make it shift but as a passenger i was expected to act like i was in a racing sidecar and launch myself into the direction of the corner to hold down the inside back wheel as moving ballast . Btw that's like a luxury version of Twc . I haven't seen you enjoy driving that much in a while .

Just the tonic I needed. The glee Ian has driving a reliant robin round a car park is infectious!

What a fantastic little machine! I’ve always wanted a go in one. I’ll have to head on up there soon!

That is one happy HubNut! The Reliant clearly met the "Less is More" description.

I once drove a Regal van. Ride was appalling and you were conscious that there was only one wheel at the front so I was a bit careful on cornering but I agree they are far far more stable than some would have you think. What did for them in the end was said to be the closure of the mines. It seems coal miners were on motorcycles mostly so liked a Regal/Robin/Rialto for winter motoring to work to keep warm and dry. Of course you could drive one on a motorbike license

My mum had two Robins, I used to like driving them in town; 0-30mph were really nippy. A bit less fun at 65mph on the motorway, but still okay. I remember writing off my mk5 Cortina on leave and borrowing mum's Robin to travel back to RAF Wattisham, it was so much fun to get the inside wheel up in the air on the constant-radius airfield perimeter track, although the rear passengers weren't too happy about it 😂

Four of us a tent and supplies drove from Manchester to Wales for a weeks holiday in the 80s in a N reg robin -Happy days and fond memories

Great to see somebody actually do a truthful review of the Reliant for once, having owned and abused a few, i can agree with you completely about how much fun these are to drive. So many people (usually those who have never driven one) are quick to dismiss them for falling over which is not the case, yeah you can roll one if you try hard enough but they will usually slide about or lift a wheel and lose traction first! i'd love another but too many projects already lol. Thanks for being honest and keep showing the underdogs 👍

Virtually the same as the 1973 Robin so nearly 30 years on it is not surprising it feels old.

Worth remembering that it WAS all about weight - the tax.class for tricycles was limited by weight, hence the fibreglass body, alloy engine and much more. Many motorcyclists used them as winter vehicles but, as you say, the market faded away and reliant with it I did once manage to tip one at 45 degrees by driving tight circles in a car park. The owner was not impressed as I wound down the drivers window, stuck an arm out and shoved it back into it's wheels

Enjoyed that thanks,.. as a youth - early 1960s - I was driving a Reliant Regal 3/25 at age 16 on a motorcycle licence,. legal provided that the reverse gear was blanked off.. but as you quote,.. it is an actual car.

Gotta love the Plastic Pig!

Love these, Dad had the Regal onwards, I have a Robin 850 (I think it was), it's been nearly 30yrs since I last drove one, would love to drive one again and take my son out in it, show him the mechanics and how it all worked, they were and are amazing cars, they made you drive a completely different style because you had to compensate for the lack of one wheel... I had the best fun ever in mine...

Pure Hubnut loveliness :) Imo the 70s version design is far more pleasing than the later ones but I'm a 70s model myself.

Great vid thank you. Think the main reason the old catalloy cruisers died out is the people that originally bought them drove them on a motorcycle licences, they are now sadly dying out.

My dad got one of the early models, so he had a cheap second car. He spent an entire year in the 80's fixing it all, servicing the engine and gearbox, cleaning and rustproofing the entire chassis. A lady pulled out on him on the way back from its trip to get an MOT, and half the 'nose' just disintergrated in the 'bump'. No one hurt, but it then sat and rotted in the garden until we moved house. That was the end for 'Dad's plastic pig'...

This will be me in a few weeks, booked to drive it and can’t wait! Great video 👍

I have driven this very car, and that's the reason why I just bought one 🎉

My Nan had an A reg Rialto with the little drop down boot. She went absolutely everywhere in it. Up and down the motorway without thinking about it. Never let her down. She did prang it the first day she had it. Started it not realising it was in gear and it bounced forward into the back of my dad series one land rover. Resulting in my dad going out for a fibreglass kit to repair a small but of damage. Never let her down in 20 years. I'd love a go in one now....... was the best car when we were kids 😅

I remember back in the 90's when a friend (a bit older than me) got his license & his dad got him a Ford fiesta (F reg I think). He used to drive it like a mad man (1.1 litre engine - but pretended he was in a rally car) took about 20 secionds to get to 60mph so when he was at that speed he would tend to maintain it). One day when i was a bit mad with him cos he'd decided not to pick us me up I was walking home (obv didn't have a lift) & came across a car wreck soon was evident it was my friends car though totally unrecognosable). What happened a reliant robin was turning in & my friend (speeding in his Fiesta judging by the 50 foot plus skid marks) crashed into the Robin int the side of it. The fiesta was completely written off - the guy in the Robin opened his boot pulled out a roll of masking tape & taped up the side part of the body which had torn almost in half... then drove off (after swapping insurance details etc), Fiesta had to be recovered with truck. My logic, understanding at the time thought it should have been the other way round!

❤ both my grandfather's drove 'em. Yes, I'm a Yorkshireman.

I lost out on a Bond Bug, and bought a 1976 Robin 850. Had 4 years of reliable fun motoring and sold it for a profit lol. Will be looking for one to keep in the UK for our trips back home, great car. Also owned a Trojan 200 bubble car back in the day. Great video

For that little circuit I believe you are correct. A Robin is completely at home there, great fun! That engine note - takes me back to the 1970s - vinyl seats, slightly cramped interiors, lovely!😊

Uncle Tom had a Regal then a Rialto and finally a late Robin, he never had a car licence - lived most of his life in London and mostly rode a motorbike until middle age.

To see KZfaqrs crossing each other in different videos and different cars is quite an experience. Kind of time machine... Thanks for the Robin! See you soon --- Martin

Ian, I love that your enthusiasm here made you go ever so slightly scooby-doo at the end. As fun as ever, please don't stop.

When these were fist made, a motorcycle licence gave you a B1 licence. (This is the category for 3 wheeled vehicles under 450kg) thus 'motorcyclists' could buy a car without having to pass a car test. Back in the day there were a lot more people that took their driving test on a bike as their first step to independence rather than a car like now.

Drove Regals (including a Supervan 3) and Robins throughout the 1970s and '80s, all providing sterling service for myself, wife and two youngsters. Holiday trips to Devon and Cornwall (from West London) were, shall we say "an adventure". Even managed to jam the in-laws in occasionally for pick-up and drop-off at the train station, while the kids sat in the Robin boot...!

Absolutely brilliant fun, my friend has a trike on a reliant under pinnings, including chassis

I love Aging Wheels. This is a great shout-out and tribute! Thanks!

AY UP MR HUBNUT....... THAT'S A NICE FOOTBALL WHISTLE YOU GOT THERE

I drove it when I was there last year. Was an absolute hoot to drive so much fun and feels a lot faster than what I was actually driving and so stable at speed and cornering like a go kart

Well, one of the three things I predicted earlier were sort of mentioned, but, that aside, there were at least two Reliants around here, one a hearing aid beige Rialto that last I saw passing by smelled like it was running very rich, and a late Corsa-eyed Robin like this one, I think the same colour too, pottering about to & from the supermarkets, so they're still out there, not having been rolled for telly or stripped naked for motor trike projects...

Thank you so much for these impressions of driving this vehicle. Here in Germany those 3wheel Reliants are completely unknown. I was always courious how those cars are driving. Thanks a lot for this video. I was often in Britain for visiting family members, but I have never seen one of those Reliants.

The Reliant 3 wheeler range is oh so cute. I used to have a sky blue 1993 Reliant Robin LX, bought as a hobby car, I had it restored, then enjoyed driving it. I’ve always had a fascination with Reliants, not sure of the reason why, other than their quirkiness. I’m glad you’re a fan too, Mr Hubnut❤.

That's genuine heartfelt enjoyment, no mistake :) Lovely.

I have the 1994 Rialto estate Love it

It's a shame that they can't make the Reliant Robin as an electric car, now. If the price was right, it would be an ideal entry-level E-vehicle.

You made me smile Ian, glad you had so much fun driving the plastic pig. You forgot to say the people who bought these when new had a motorcycle licence and not a full car license

Best way to drive a Robin is like you stole it, fabulously fun to drive. I love the looks I get overtaking people on the motorway 😂

My wife drove that one when we visited there with me in the back! I couldn't agree more that it is a lot of fun and definitely recommend anyone else visiting to give it a go!

Great video, your enthusiasm for the Robin was inspiring 😁😁

Absolutely brilliant video Ian ❤👍what a beautiful car love it I don't know why top gear did that destroy cars reputation like the marina brilliant

Thank you so much for this video Ian, I really enjoyed it and it brought back so many memories! My Mam and Step Dad had a G Reg Regal Supervan, in the Del Boy colour, before Del Boy was even thought of. I was 7 or 8 years old when he bought it in 1968, I'm 63 now, and I still look back on that little van with loads of affection. They bought it because my Step Dad only had a motor bike licence and because it was cheaper than the car. My parents put a bench seat in the back of it and I loved it. We used to joke about how you couldn't avoid a pot hole in a three wheeler but it didn't matter, it was a simple little car (van) in a simpler time...a happy happy time for me.

Brilliant video Ian. I had a 850 super Robin registration GMB 776N and a motorbike not car licence in 1990- my first car - I had no idea how to drive it and it popped out of 2nd gear which made cornering tricky! Brought back a lot of memories. Thanks 😂

I had a couple of reliant Robins many moons ago, and when my kids were little they thought it was hilarious when I did doughnuts in the snow, which was stupid easy in the Robin 😂

I remember lying down in the boot of one of these as a child while my auntie drove us to the shops as there were only two seats and the other was taken by her friend. I've never been as terrified before, or since.

My Dad had a Reliant Regal many years ago. Lovely little motor.

I have always liked the look of this generation of Robin.

Great sounding engine-we need more really light cars with small power(and with engine management they would be so economical)

It’s mad to think these were so recently on sale. Presume euro Ncap etc was about to kill them off

It would be absolutely awesome if you did manage a trip to Missouri to drive Aging Wheels's Reliant Robin and some of the rest of his fleet. I know it's very unlikely, but it'd be a dream video, right?

i love my reliant,had 14 cars over the years and even went to the factory to see them being made in Two Gates great driving years and loads of fun! greatly missed

I know somebody who did a demolition derby in one of these, I called him an absolute madman but it did surprisingly well, almost tipped a couple of times but stayed on all 3 and eventually just cooked the engine

Nice work

Great video Ian. Looks a fun car to drive. I noticed the rear vision mirror was missing.

Enjoyed that as much as when you drove the wheels off the invacar , the sight of your face is like a kid at Christmas, Just epic ❤

I do like the number plate on Ageing Wheel's Robin!

Bought a Mark V1 Reliant Van in 1969 for £30 after getting soaked on my Lambretta one night. Brilliant, drove it on a motorcycle licence, cheap tax and good mpg. Part exchanged a year later for a 3/25 Van and drove that for a year. They had a sharper, more difficult clutch than a car but after 5 lessons I passed my car test. The local Reliant Owners Club on a Sunday, used to have an all hands on deck servicing for owners production line. Firstly the fibre glass engine access cover behind the carpet adjacent to the drivers legs was cut round to give a much larger access to the distributor, points and spark plugs. It was then fibre glassed back and allowed to set at the end of the service......

The company who took over reliant were formed by the directors of MCW. Reliant used to produce the body panels for the Metrocab and it was their attempt to keep the continuous supply. Unfortunately they couldn't get the quality right

Twc /foxanne and your channel generally, were instrumental in the purchase of my little tripod of the tarmac nigh on 2 yrs ago. Top work Mr hubnut!

I had many reliant and all served me well,great fun and my best driving years as a younster,love em!

One Robin doesn't make a spring but this one made my evening - thanks HubNut 😊

I prefer Aging Wheels number plate! Years ago there was an old guy that used to go and get his newspaper daily in his little reliant robin. He lived at the top of a hill, nothing stopped him. I walked to work for about 2 weeks as I couldn't get through the snow (out in the sticks in Kent, but mainly because of the hill), he had no problem any day, up or down. It was strange to see, tyres looked standard. The little car that could. Thanks for another great review Ian

I've had a couple of reliants in 43 years still have one this last one for 12 years great little cars

I used to have a Bond Imp and loved it However, driving on Bolton moors in the deep snow was an experience............... 👻👻👻

Fantastic detail, Ian.

I wasn't even aware they were still making them in 99! 😂 My neighbour had an 80s one. He never used anything else.

Thanks for a nice review Hubnut. These cars are totally unknown in Australia, apart from being space shuttles or persuaded to fall over. The engine is the same as you had in the Fox? I liked the look of it - very like Triumph's little engine as you noted, though in mirror image. Cheers.

It was a form of transport that didn’t cost a lot wonderful memories greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Great video thanks, it must be difficult to get a 3 wheel car MOT tested now.

Ian you need a Reliant Robin. It needs to happen! It'd be motivational 🙌🙌

I had an 850 plastic pig, and before that a 750 supervan, even after passing my car test, loved it.

classic car right there

I can't believe that car is only a year older than my Honda Insight. What a difference!

D'you know, if someone offered me one of those as a swap for that dreadful Yaris I now own, I'd have their hand off. They look fun! Not sure I'd do a 160-mile commute in it down the A1, but around home and family? Perfect. Mind you, at least I fixed the rear wiper on the Yaris today but it took a motor from a scrapyard to do so...

My maternal grandfather, (ex-Royal Marine), lived in Gosport, and he had a Reliant Regal van. It was a horrid shade of brown, but he loved it, and it always went. Just as well, as he had war wounds, (resulting in his having only one lung, etc.), the poor guy. Got him to the shops, I guess. Wonder what ever happened to it? When he passed away, we were all in NZ, so some oik probably nicked it, as it's never been seen since. Wouldn't have been my choice of vehicle, but on a shitty pension for his contribution to world peace at the time, that's what he could afford. Fairly sure it had no heater... I miss him, but the car? It is family history, and his pride in the thing would have been nice to honour.

Great review. Yes, thanks to Top Gear we will forever be explaining they are more stable than you'd think 🙄 and our 1983 Rialto seems outdated when compared to vehicles of that era, and there are no obvious updates (other than styling) to your 1999 version 😆 Nevertheless they are so much fun that you just don't care! You really captured the Reliant experience!😃

I always loved driving my father in law’s Robins. Great fun. ‘The flying pig’ which was a 1976 yellow ‘Super Robin’ estate and his later blue 1980 ‘W’ reg saloon. Sadly both long gone. If I visit The Great British Car Journey I’ll definitely be choosing this!

I used to work for the Norfolk/Suffolk Reliant Distributor as as a Parts Person back in the 70s. I can tell you the parts that sold the most for these 3 wheelers. Radius Arms, Replacement chassis, engines seem to be a fast moving item also believe it or not paint. When new cars arrived from Reliant in Tamworth they had to have a thought T-Cut because the paint was so bad also the customer was advised to spend the extra on waxoil for the chassis. When the Bug arrived, as a teenager I was in awe, never had the money to buy one.

I love it when you get excited about a little car 👌

If ever a face deserved the description of 'Chuffed', it's yours on the thumbnail of this vid! Rock on Reliants!☺

@HubNut channel needs a Robin in its fleet!.

They are fun when you get a rear puncture! I had 2 back in the day, a 750 and an 850 (circa 1980 ***88X) which was in a crash...had to replace the frame (which I got galvanised and I painted with Hammerite) and graft on a new front with the help of my brother. I also added some 2CV rear lights as the originals are rubbish. Nice to have 60mpg or more. I could change the clutch in about 2 1/2 hours. Did over 800 miles round Wales on a weeks holiday one year, it was surprisingly comfy and reliable.

My best friend at school, his dad had a Reliant Robin as he only had a motorbike licence. It never tipped over. Mr Clarkson was playing silly buggers. Another entertaining video, ptchooo!!!!

Absolutely Lovely

Great video! Anyone believing that particular TG episode wasn't staged, probably will also believe that all the celebrity musicians etc were walking by purely by chance :)

My Dad had a jubilee edition brand new in 1977 and I was fascinated by it 😂

As always such a pleasure being with Mr. Hubnut at his best: an expertly good testing of oldtimer cars. I still can remember the flippant attitude of Old Top Gear towards poor Reliant (though very funny indeed)

I had a 1975 super robin 750 in 1981 when i was 22. I had a full motorcycle license. The engine was more accessible than this 1999 robin, at least to change the spark plugs. Passed my driving test three years later and bought a mini

This makes me want to buy one more and more