Hi All, New here. I usually frequent the Land Rover forums but this time I have bought something a little different
I have been interested in the Italian Piaggio Apes and seriously considered one to drive on a moped license way back when I was 16 (I bought a Leyland 272 tractor and drove round in that instead but that is another story), I then moved onto cars and normal sized trucks and the interest dropped off. A couple of years ago whilst perusing that popular internet auction site I came across a bigger version of the Ape, a TM703 which was far more useful in size but still small and had a more powerful 400cc engine, I bid but lost much to the delight of my other half. I have never found another 703 that is local/cheap enough for me to warrant going to look.
Onto this week and a fellow Land Rover enthusiast mate of mine started speaking to me about his odd desire to own a Reliant 3 wheel van, I explained the Piaggio story and he promptly sent me to a link for a vehicle I never knew existed, a Reliant TW9 or Ant. The name Ant started as an informal name but was adopted later on in the production run. An internet search revealed these did not come up for sale often and despite the fact that literally thousands were built between 1967 and 1987 not many appear to still exist. They were predominantly purchased by local councils and had a huge variations of bodies fitted to them as despite the size they had a payload of 800kg. You could buy flatbeds, milk floats, tippers, dustcarts, water bowsers and even mini skip trucks! At this stage 'Reliant Ant' was added to the huge saved Ebay saved search list and I figured finding one was unlikely.
At some point my unconscious mind must have remembered seeing an odd looking 3 wheel parked up near where I live but down a road I have not driven for many years. I had a look on street view and to my amazement there it sat right where I remembered, a slight detour on my next trip to Ipswich and a note through the door has got me to where I am now - purchase agreed on a vehicle I did not even know existed only a week ago!
This particular one is an 1986 tipper, has been owned by the current owner for 25 years and was last used 7 years ago. The cab is fiberglass and in good condition, the chassis has some surface rust but is solid all over. The engine a Reliant 850cc which is about as simple as they come. First checks show it needs a new tank strap, one/possibly 3 tyres and a general go over and service. Will update further once I have got her home
I have no idea on the story behind 'The Inbetweeners' red door
I have been interested in the Italian Piaggio Apes and seriously considered one to drive on a moped license way back when I was 16 (I bought a Leyland 272 tractor and drove round in that instead but that is another story), I then moved onto cars and normal sized trucks and the interest dropped off. A couple of years ago whilst perusing that popular internet auction site I came across a bigger version of the Ape, a TM703 which was far more useful in size but still small and had a more powerful 400cc engine, I bid but lost much to the delight of my other half. I have never found another 703 that is local/cheap enough for me to warrant going to look.
Onto this week and a fellow Land Rover enthusiast mate of mine started speaking to me about his odd desire to own a Reliant 3 wheel van, I explained the Piaggio story and he promptly sent me to a link for a vehicle I never knew existed, a Reliant TW9 or Ant. The name Ant started as an informal name but was adopted later on in the production run. An internet search revealed these did not come up for sale often and despite the fact that literally thousands were built between 1967 and 1987 not many appear to still exist. They were predominantly purchased by local councils and had a huge variations of bodies fitted to them as despite the size they had a payload of 800kg. You could buy flatbeds, milk floats, tippers, dustcarts, water bowsers and even mini skip trucks! At this stage 'Reliant Ant' was added to the huge saved Ebay saved search list and I figured finding one was unlikely.
At some point my unconscious mind must have remembered seeing an odd looking 3 wheel parked up near where I live but down a road I have not driven for many years. I had a look on street view and to my amazement there it sat right where I remembered, a slight detour on my next trip to Ipswich and a note through the door has got me to where I am now - purchase agreed on a vehicle I did not even know existed only a week ago!
This particular one is an 1986 tipper, has been owned by the current owner for 25 years and was last used 7 years ago. The cab is fiberglass and in good condition, the chassis has some surface rust but is solid all over. The engine a Reliant 850cc which is about as simple as they come. First checks show it needs a new tank strap, one/possibly 3 tyres and a general go over and service. Will update further once I have got her home
I have no idea on the story behind 'The Inbetweeners' red door
