LONDON-Cars with three wheels is still a strange thing in the automotive world and many say the phenomenon is very unfortunate. The idea first came from tactics to outsmart the tax, because the three-wheel car is classified the same as a motorcycle, provide many advantages of lower cost.
This phenomenon is common in Britain, and of state Queen Elizabeth is a lot of three-wheel cars produced, even Reliant Robin has not changed for decades.
Robin was never destined to be a fast car, but he has served his duties properly. Advanced model with four-wheel production ever attempted, but it was soon realized that the effort is futile.
As a native British bicycle company, Raleigh Bicycle Company decided to stop all production of their cars tricycle in 1934, T. L. Williams and E. S. Thompson says there is still a future for the lightweight car.
Both decided to continue producing vehicles according to their own version Kettlebrook area, Tamworth, with the Reliant name.
In the second world war, they make a car that is similar to the van owned by Raleigh but more like a car. Starting with the primitive models, Regent, later followed by Regal models, and finally the legendary, Robin.
Robin is a big step because it has proved effective on the design and weight of the vehicle. Function is similar to the model of four-wheel car, just use a cheaper cost.
They have a home-based design of steel chassis with a weight of just 365 kilograms. Using a 750 cc engine V-twin to drive both rear tires with girbox three-speed transmission. The body is still using wood frame, this traditional method is common in that era.
On the front is only using one wheel like a motorcycle, the overall shape similar to a motorcycle that was given at the back of the box, turned it like that concept. Prototype was already getting permission since January 1935.
Robin went on to become the second most favorite car that uses a body made of fiberglass after the Corvette, and make the Reliant largest consumer of this material in Europe. Production starts from 1973 to 1981, but eventually resumed from 1989 and actually ended in 2002.
Design of Reliant Robin was still somewhat bizarre, even for a three-wheel car. Bependingin engine water placed on the front, very different from other similar models. Is a fact that the design is called 'Delta' is still not stable.
Frontman automotive show Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson, had rolled over several times in the episode when trying to prove the car is not a death trap as expressed by many owners of Reliant Robin.
