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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR RELIANT CARS

CHASSIS NUMBERING

Prior to the introduction of the SE6 in 1975, the chassis numbering system had been kept fairly simple. Sabres were prefixed S or SS with a following six figure number, such as S200098 or SS300005, and Coupés were prefixed SC – SC400401, a typical V6 SE4a. The SE5 was simply given a six figure number between 450001 and 454311. The SE5a also has six figure numbers, the last few hundred having a '93x' series number between 93x1001 and 93x6615. The chassis plate can be found inside the engine bay.

Many owners ask is my car eligible for pre-’73 Road Tax Exemption?” The answer is “yes” so long as the chassis number is 93x1601 or lower.

With the introduction of the SE6 in October 1975, “The Scimitar and its Forebears” recounts that Reliant employed a new system of chassis numbering intended to give more information to both Dealers and the Reliant Motor Co. in the future.

The composition of these numbers is as follows, using the first chassis number as an example. 5 J 4 8 1 8 2 0 1 0 0 1

5	J	48	182	01001
Year	Month	Paint Colour	Model	Serial Number
(5=1975)	(J=Jan)		(see list)

Model Code	Specification
181	Overdrive with manual steering
182	Overdrive with power steering
183	Automatic with manual steering
184	Automatic with power steering

In 1979 International regulations were introduced whereby every car manufacturer had to identify each car produced with a 17 digit chassis number including the manufacturer’s identity code, date of production and colour at least. Again, using the first chassis number off the production line we have the following configuration: SCD 19 03 55 9 L 005429

SCD	19	03	55	9	L	005429
Reliant's Identity	Car Code	Model Type	Paint Colour	Year	Month	Serial Number
	(19=GTE 20-GTC 21=SS1)	(01=Overdrive 03=Automatic 01=SS1 1300 02=SS1 1500 05=SS1 1800ti)	(see list)	(9=1979 A=1980 B=1981)	(A=Jan B=Feb C=Mar)

SABRE, SCIMITAR GT, GTE AND GTC CHASSIS RECORDS

Model	Year	Start	Finish	Comments

Sabre 4	1961 (Mar)	S200001	S200097	Open sports 4 cyl
(SE1)	1962	S200098	S200174	FH Coupe
	1963	S200175	S200208	Shorter bonnet
Sabre 6	1962 (Oct)	SS300001	SS300004	FH Coupe s/6
(SE2)	1963	SS300005	SS300146
	1964	SS300147	SS300177
Scimitar GT	1965	SC400001	SC400119	Scimitar Coupe
(SE4)	1966	SC400120	SC400297	Straight Six
(SE4a)	1966 (Oct)	SC400401	SC400424	V6
	1967	SC400425	SC400635
	1968	SC400636	SC400939
(SE4b)	1969	SC400940	SC400973
	1970	SC400974	SC400991
(SE4c)	1967	SC425001	SC425049	2.5l V6
	1968	SC425050	SC425104
	1969	SC425105	SC425114
	1970	SC425115	SC425118
Scimitar GTE	1968 (Aug)	450001	45101	3 litre manual O/D
(SE5)	1969	450102	450740
	1970	450741	451734
(SE5a)	1971 (Oct)	451735	452821	Revised interior
	1972	452822	454311	Engine uprated
	1972	93x1001	93x1601	Revised suspension
	1973	93x1602	93x3721
	1974	93x3722	93x5909	(511 chassis numbers omitted)
	1975	93x5910	93x6615	Ceased October
(SE6)	1975	5M4718301008	5M4718301015	Larger body
	1976	6A4418301016	6H4818301550	Structural mods
(SE6a)	1976	6H4818101552	6M4018302231
	1977	7A4318302232	7M4718103804
	1978	8A4418103805	8M5818404648
	1979	9A5818404649	1840559L005428	International Code
(SE6b)	1979	190355AF005429	1903609M005493	2.8 engine
	1980	190155AF005494	190160AM005568
	1981	190311BA005569	190362BM005609
	1982	190158CA005610	190199CM005674
	1983	190199DA005675	190199DM005753
	1984	190399EA005754	190176EM005836
	1985	190199FA005837	190156FL005857
	1986	190155GA005858	190199GD005865
Scimitar GTC	1980	20035AA000001	200162AL000340	2.8 Convertible
(SE8b)	1981	200166BB000341	200165BJ000343
	1982	200362CA000344	200199CM000363
	1983	200155DA000364	200399DM000387
	1984	200399EA000388	200399EM000416
	1985	200155FA000417	200376FL000429
	1986	200368GA000430	200135GC000442	Ceased November

Paint Codes

11 - Olympic Blue	42 - Alaska Blue	59 - Eldorado
12 - Festival Red	43 - Arctic/Everest White	60 - Buckskin
13 - Parrot Green	44 - April Yellow No.2	61 - Aztec Blue
14 - Riviera Brown	45 - Beaujolais Red	62 - White Rose
15 - Yellow Ochre	45 - Royal Red	63 - Lincoln Green
16 - Sierra Tan	46 - Ivory Beige	64 - Russet Red
18 - Mexico Brown	47 - Sierra Tan	65 - Celtic Brown
19 - Capricorn Blue	48 - Lincoln Green	66 - Aquamarine
20 - Mineral Blue	49 - Caspian Blue	67 - Stunning Red
21 - Florida Green	50 - Dolphin Grey	68 - Panama*
22 - Tangerine	51 - Russet Red	70 - Frost White*
23 - Sahara Red	52 - Greengage Yellow	71 - Scimitar Red*
31 - Bajan Blue	53 - Quartz Green	72 - Racing Green*
32 - Haze Blue	54 - Mulberry	73 - Derwent Blue*
33 - Willow Green	55 - Carmen	74 - Birch Silver*
40 - Celtic Brown	56 - Champagne	81 - Brecon Gold*
41 - Cygnet Grey	57 - Silver Birch	82 - Tarn Green*
	58 - Trafalgar Blue	83 - Istrian Blue
99 - Non-std. incl. Metallic
		* = SS1 colours