The Reliant Rialto is a three-wheeled car that was manufactured by the Reliant Motor Company, replacing the original Mk 1 Reliant Robin in 1982. It had a much squarer, more aerodynamic body, servicing panels, a single large windscreen wiper, a thicker glass-fibre shell and an altered interior, but its chassis, engine and many large components were carried over from the previous model.
Reliant Rialto at a glance
| Production | 1982–1995; pickups until 1997 |
|---|---|
| Bodies | saloon, estate, van, hatchback, pickup, flatbed |
| Mk 1 | 1982–1983 |
| Rialto 2 | 1983–1986 |
| Rialto SE | 1987–1995 |
| Engine | 850 cc four-cylinder, 40 hp (30 kW) |
| Gearbox | four-speed |
| Top speed | 85 mph for the Mk 1, 100 mph for the Rialto 2 |
| Economy | up to 60 mpg for the Mk 1, 72 mpg at 56 mph for the Rialto 2 |
| Design | International Automotive Design (IAD UK Ltd) |
| Last model | the 1997 Giant pickup |
The article follows the English Wikipedia page on the Rialto. Based on one source.
History of the Reliant Rialto
Why the Robin was reskinned
The idea of updating the Robin dates back to 1978, but by 1980 sales were slowing and Reliant thought a simple facelift might fix things. At first the Rialto was no more than a nose-end treatment with the same square headlamps and black grille, which was rejected because the squarer front did not look good against the rounder body of the Mk 1 Robin. International Automotive Design also presented a completely new larger three-wheeled hatchback, not unlike a Mk 3 Ford Escort and even using the same front and rear lights, but in the end Reliant saved money by keeping the mechanical parts of the Mk 1 Robin and giving the car a new body and a new name.
The Rialto was meant to have a higher-compression engine and a high-geared rear axle for the 1980s “motorway age”, but because the company wanted to get the car to market quickly it was launched in 1982 with the same engine, gearbox and axle line-up as the original Robin. The mechanical improvements were ready a year later, when the car was relaunched as the Rialto 2. It was the first Reliant designed by International Automotive Design, where earlier models had generally been conceived by Ogle Design.
The Mk 1 Rialto
The Mk 1 was available as a saloon, estate and van. The range was basic, with a vinyl interior and a long list of optional extras, but GLS cars came with a clock, an FM/AM radio, a voltage gauge, cloth-covered seats with matching trim, extra-thick carpets and a carpeted boot, GLS decals, a leather steering wheel, a spare wheel and radial tyres. All cars had a dark green dashboard and dark grey door cards. The only engine was Reliant’s own 850 cc four-cylinder “red top”, so called for its red rocker cover, mated to a four-speed gearbox; it produced 40 hp (30 kW), gave a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h) and fuel consumption of up to 60 mpg. The most recognisable feature of a Mk 1 is the thick stripe running from front to rear, in gold, graphite or silver according to body colour.
The Rialto 2
The Rialto 2 was released in late 1983 with a reworked engine: the 850 cc unit now had an ultra-skimmed head to raise the compression ratio, a new camshaft for better low-end torque, a new needle in the SU carburettor and a specific distributor. Each engine had a capital E stamped on the cylinder head and every engine number ended with an E, and the rocker cover was painted yellow, which gave the unit the nickname “the yellow top”. The rear axle ratio was raised to 2.78:1, which together with the engine gave a much higher top speed of 100 mph and 72 mpg at 56 mph, and allowed the car to cruise at 70 mph at lower revs; the drawback was that it could no longer be driven at 30 mph in fourth gear.
Rialto 2s had vinyl seats on basic models or corduroy cloth on GLS cars, a vacuum economy gauge on every model, a new decal set with a double coach line and “RIALTO 2” on the wings and rear door, and new wheel trims; GLS cars also got black plastic bumpers wrapping around the front and rear. By late 1984 the car was re-released with the rear axle back at 3.23:1, because customers complained that they could not use fourth gear at city speeds, and the economy gauge was dropped. The Rialto SE followed in 1986.
Three-wheeler of the 1980s
On release the Rialto had a twelve-month waiting list in 1982 and became one of Reliant’s best-selling models, though it never gained as much praise as the better-known Robin. During the 1980s it was Reliant’s only three-wheeler: production of the Mk 1 Robin ended in 1981 and its successor, the Robin Mk 2, did not arrive until 1989. The Rialto estate was built alongside the Robin Mk 2 estate from 1992 and could still be ordered in 1996, and the last Rialto model built was the 1997 “Giant” pickup.
Design and features
- Squarer body: a more aerodynamic shape with servicing panels and a thicker glass-fibre shell.
- Single wiper: one large windscreen wiper instead of the Robin’s pair.
- Carried-over mechanicals: the Robin’s chassis, engine and major components kept costs down.
- Better stability and economy: the new shape improved high-speed stability and fuel consumption.
Reliant Rialto versions
- Mk 1 Rialto (1982–1983): basic and GLS trim, with the 850 cc red-top engine.
- Rialto 2 (1983–1986): the yellow-top economy engine and a higher axle ratio.
- Rialto SE (1987–1995): the final saloon and estate series.
- Van: a commercial body with blank rear panels.
- Pickup and flatbed: open commercial bodies, the last of them the 1997 Giant.
The Rialto replaced the Reliant Robin, and it shared its engine with the four-wheeled Reliant Kitten. More cars are in the Reliant collection.
Video: Reliant Rialto ‘K’ Sports Estate 850cc
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Reliant Rialto, English Wikipedia: history, series, engines, production
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