Perfect car for a wannabe Del Boy offered at auction; ideal for those with “Ferrari tastes on a Reliant Robin budget;” talk about a “cushty” makeover of a 1990 three-wheeler
They say there are people who have “champagne tastes on a beer budget” and “caviar tastes on a tuna fish budget,” but now there’s an opportunity for someone to have “Ferrari tastes on a Reliant Robin budget” with the auction of an example of the latter made up to look like the former.
Offered by Gateway Auctions and described as “a unique Reliant built as a Ferrari tribute,” the 1990, 850cc two-door saloon has 97,200 miles on the clock and has allegedly had at least £5,000 ($6,000, €5,600 or درهم22,100) spent on it repainting it in what they term “Ferrari ‘Rosso Corsa’ paintwork.”
Constructed of glass fibre bodywork, the “free from any blemishes or marks” vehicle features what the auctioneers describe as “uprated wheel arches and wing mirrors [and] has new ally cat alloy wheels at the rear with three nearly new tyres.”
Of this far from usual automotive creation, Gateway Auctions comment:
“It is not often that a car comes along that makes everyone smile and this is one of those. This car has been built tongue in cheek as a tribute to the Ferrari marque by its fastidious owner.”
“Lovely touches such as flared wheel arches and profiled door mirrors really set this car apart, is beautifully finished inside and out and is a hoot to drive.”
“This is literally a one-off and will provide a huge amount of fun and [be] great to turn up at car shows and gatherings knowing you will not be parked next to another one.”
Going further, the firm conclude:
“Under the bonnet everything looks clean although don’t let the Ferrari V12 badge fool you. When asked the 850cc engine fires into life with a pleasing rasp and pulls (as well as can be expected) well in all four gears, handles and stops as well as three-wheel vehicle can be expected.”
The timed auction for the manual transmission British made car ends on 23rd February 2023 at 12 noon GMT. The current price for the vehicle, which was manufactured in Tamworth, Staffordshire and is presently located in Whalley, Lancashire, stands at £1,700 ($2,050, €1,900 or درهم7,500) and given there is no reserve, these three wheels will move on whether there is a further bid or not.
Paraphrasing the most famous individual associated with a Reliant Robin, Del Boy of Only Fools and Horses: “Cushty” and adding a little bit extra: “Don’t spare those prancing horses.”
Editor’s Note – Unlike as is the case in many publications, this article was NOT sponsored or supported by a third-party.
More images of the “cushty” three-wheel motor to be sold at auction later this month…
The 1990 fibreglass car to be offered has truly been tarted-up and has attributes that one wouldn’t expect of a vehicle that has long been considered a national laughing stock.
Made in Tamworth, England in a production run between 1973 and 2002, these three-wheelers have also featured in Absolutely Fabulous, Mr Bean, The Lady in the Van and Scrapheap Challenge and are known for getting tipped over, bumped out of their parking spaces and crashed into.
Ugh,what an ugly auto.👎
As long as it just stays in a collector’s garage and maybe gets towed to car shows… you’d have a death wish to want to drive it on public roads.
“ANE”, as in the number plate, is French for a male donkey!
Perhaps a prancing donkey, rather than a stallion, would be more apt here?
It looks crippled..it worries me.
I recall these being rather popular in South & West Yorkshire back in the day – primarily because the Road Tax used to be (possibly still is) the same as for a motor-cycle. Owt t’ save a few bob for the Tykes!
I once took a short spin in one – just the once, after it I was cured for a lifetime.