Reliant Kitten
Encyclopedia
The Reliant Kitten is a small economy car
which was manufactured from 1975 to 1982 by the Reliant Motor Company
in Tamworth, England. It has a glass fibre body and an 848 cc all-aluminum inline-four engine, providing economical performance.
The rear section of the Kitten's chassis is essentially the same as the Reliant Robin
or Reliant Rialto
, however from the middle forwards the car is significantly different, with the engine moved forward to where the Robin's front wheel is, and a Reliant-designed (but Lotus inspired) double wishbone front suspension. Moving the engine forward, compared with the three-wheeled cars, made a lot more room inside for the driver and front passenger. The Kitten's chassis, engine, and running gear are shared (with minor modifications), with the Reliant/MEBEA Fox
pickup
introduced in 1979.
In October 1976, a year after introduction, a new de luxe version of the Kitten, branded as the Kitten DL, was announced. Improvements included revised springs and dampers and a changed anti-roll bar. The engine received carburettor and air filter modifications, claimed to give better cold start characteristics, while interior improvements included more comfortable seats, modified door trims incorporating a map pocket, and a new style tray to cover the luggage space behind the back seat.
On 1 December 1976, a van version of the Reliant Kitten was announced, sharing the profile of the Kitten Estate but with blank panels in place of the windows behind the B-pillar.
In 1982 the Kitten was axed due to not being able to compete on price with other models such as the Mini
, due to its hand-made fibre glass shell. The corrosion of monocoque
steel bodied competitors (the absence of which providing a strong selling point of the Kitten), which had been such a problem in the 1970s, was coming under control with advances in rustproofing
. Also, the Kitten's rear-wheel drive layout was being abandoned in mass-market cars at this time in favour of a trend for transverse front wheel drive. Because it had four wheels, the Kitten also did not share the advantage of a lower UK road tax
rating with the three-wheeled Robin.
A "Preservation Society" exists called the Reliant Kitten Register.
Economy car
An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. Typical economy cars are small, light weight, and inexpensive to buy. Economy car designers are forced by stringent design constraints to be inventive...
which was manufactured from 1975 to 1982 by the Reliant Motor Company
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, England. It has a glass fibre body and an 848 cc all-aluminum inline-four engine, providing economical performance.
The rear section of the Kitten's chassis is essentially the same as the Reliant Robin
Reliant Robin
thumb|right|250px|1975 Greek advertisement for Mebea Robin The Reliant Robin is a small three wheeled car formerly manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England...
or Reliant Rialto
Reliant Rialto
The Reliant Rialto is a three-wheeled, subcompact car that was manufactured by Reliant Motor Company, replacing the original Reliant Robin in 1981. The Rialto was discontinued in 1998 while production of a new Robin model, introduced in 1989, continued. The Rialto was made in three different body...
, however from the middle forwards the car is significantly different, with the engine moved forward to where the Robin's front wheel is, and a Reliant-designed (but Lotus inspired) double wishbone front suspension. Moving the engine forward, compared with the three-wheeled cars, made a lot more room inside for the driver and front passenger. The Kitten's chassis, engine, and running gear are shared (with minor modifications), with the Reliant/MEBEA Fox
Reliant Fox
The Reliant Fox is a small four wheeled glass fibre utility vehicle manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England between 1983 and 1990. It used 850 cc aluminium engine and was technically based on the Reliant Kitten with which it shares its chassis, engine and running gear .The...
pickup
Pickup
Pickup, Pick up or Pick-up may refer to:-Technology:*Magnetic cartridge, also known as pickup, a transducer used for the playback of gramophone records on a turntable or phonograph...
introduced in 1979.
In October 1976, a year after introduction, a new de luxe version of the Kitten, branded as the Kitten DL, was announced. Improvements included revised springs and dampers and a changed anti-roll bar. The engine received carburettor and air filter modifications, claimed to give better cold start characteristics, while interior improvements included more comfortable seats, modified door trims incorporating a map pocket, and a new style tray to cover the luggage space behind the back seat.
In 1982 the Kitten was axed due to not being able to compete on price with other models such as the Mini
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
, due to its hand-made fibre glass shell. The corrosion of monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
steel bodied competitors (the absence of which providing a strong selling point of the Kitten), which had been such a problem in the 1970s, was coming under control with advances in rustproofing
Rustproofing
Rustproofing is a condition of preservation or protection, by a process or treatment whereby the rate at which objects made of iron and/or steel begin to rust is reduced. The degradation in the long term can not be stopped completely, unless the rustproofing is periodically renewed...
. Also, the Kitten's rear-wheel drive layout was being abandoned in mass-market cars at this time in favour of a trend for transverse front wheel drive. Because it had four wheels, the Kitten also did not share the advantage of a lower UK road tax
Road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on a motor vehicle before using it on a public road.-Australia:...
rating with the three-wheeled Robin.
A "Preservation Society" exists called the Reliant Kitten Register.