334 Autocars Sabra Prototype (1960)
Autocars Sabra Prototype (1960) Engine 1703cc S4 OHV Production 1
Registration Number CBF 941
RELIANT SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623815081608/
As well Reliants domestic production of three wheelers, the company was in collaboration with Autocars of Isreal developing and producing a series of four wheel economy cars for the Isreali market.
Autocars President Isaac Shubinsky had ambitions of producing a small sports car to export to America, boosting Isreali exports.
With this in mind and following a visit to the UK racing car show he took a body from specialists Ashley Laminates and a LMB chassis from Leslie Bellamy. He then persuaded Reliant to mate the two, which was powered by a Ford Consul 1703cc engine. To produce this car.
The prototype was road registered and its first 2 or 3 owners were Reliant employees. It was purchased in decrepit condition in 1984 by a Keith Healey, who embark on a thorough restoration. In 1989 it was sold at auction to Morris Cohen for a very hefty (£10,000) who retained the car for around six years, it spent another four years doing the rounds of various dealers until bought by Hugo Holder who undertook a massive restoration including a, chassis and engine rebuild and converting it to RHD and it was purchased by its present owner in 2010.
From this prototype came the production version of the Sabra (a name of honour given to Jews born Isreal). The first 100 were built at Tamworth by Reliant while Autocars geared up for production and were exported directly to America, a total of 162 cars were built by Reliant which were chiefly sold in America and Autocars went on to build a further 171 in Isreal of which 41 went to the USA and 71 to Belgium.
One was entered in the 1963 Sebring 12 hour race, which was forced to retire with a broken drive shaft.
Production stopped with the Six Day War. Orders already placed were honoured, but delivery was delayed until 1968–69. Worldwide, over 100 Sabra cars are still traceable, over twenty of them in Belgium.
Having developed the Sabra, Reliants Ray Wiggin made the decision to develope the car for the UK marketplace, so a couple of early cars were converted to RHD and the subtly different name Sabre was adapted. The Reliant Sabre (four cylinder) was a curious looking car and not well received with only 44 cars sold, between 1961-65 but Reliant pressed on with the developement of the much more handsome.six cylinder Sabre Six SE4A, and the rest as they say is history..
With thanks to the owners exhaustive notes on this car.
Shot taken 10.06.2012 at the Bromley Pagaent of Motoring REF 85-334
334 Autocars Sabra Prototype (1960)
Autocars Sabra Prototype (1960) Engine 1703cc S4 OHV Production 1
Registration Number CBF 941
RELIANT SET
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157623815081608/
As well Reliants domestic production of three wheelers, the company was in collaboration with Autocars of Isreal developing and producing a series of four wheel economy cars for the Isreali market.
Autocars President Isaac Shubinsky had ambitions of producing a small sports car to export to America, boosting Isreali exports.
With this in mind and following a visit to the UK racing car show he took a body from specialists Ashley Laminates and a LMB chassis from Leslie Bellamy. He then persuaded Reliant to mate the two, which was powered by a Ford Consul 1703cc engine. To produce this car.
The prototype was road registered and its first 2 or 3 owners were Reliant employees. It was purchased in decrepit condition in 1984 by a Keith Healey, who embark on a thorough restoration. In 1989 it was sold at auction to Morris Cohen for a very hefty (£10,000) who retained the car for around six years, it spent another four years doing the rounds of various dealers until bought by Hugo Holder who undertook a massive restoration including a, chassis and engine rebuild and converting it to RHD and it was purchased by its present owner in 2010.
From this prototype came the production version of the Sabra (a name of honour given to Jews born Isreal). The first 100 were built at Tamworth by Reliant while Autocars geared up for production and were exported directly to America, a total of 162 cars were built by Reliant which were chiefly sold in America and Autocars went on to build a further 171 in Isreal of which 41 went to the USA and 71 to Belgium.
One was entered in the 1963 Sebring 12 hour race, which was forced to retire with a broken drive shaft.
Production stopped with the Six Day War. Orders already placed were honoured, but delivery was delayed until 1968–69. Worldwide, over 100 Sabra cars are still traceable, over twenty of them in Belgium.
Having developed the Sabra, Reliants Ray Wiggin made the decision to develope the car for the UK marketplace, so a couple of early cars were converted to RHD and the subtly different name Sabre was adapted. The Reliant Sabre (four cylinder) was a curious looking car and not well received with only 44 cars sold, between 1961-65 but Reliant pressed on with the developement of the much more handsome.six cylinder Sabre Six SE4A, and the rest as they say is history..
With thanks to the owners exhaustive notes on this car.
Shot taken 10.06.2012 at the Bromley Pagaent of Motoring REF 85-334