GTP Cool Wall: 1973-1981 Reliant Robin

[Snikle]

Poll 1347: 1973-1981 Reliant Robin nominated by @MOPARbarrett5

Body Style: 2.5dr saloon, 3dr estate, 3dr hatchback, 3dr van
Engine: 748cc I4, 848cc I4
Power: 35-39 hp
Torque: 46 lb-ft
Weight: 436 kg
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Drivetrain: FMR
Country: UK

Spoiler: Additional Pictures

 

[Snikle]

I'd say this car's humorous potential brings it from uncool to low cool. Goofy little bastard.

 

[kikie]

Cool.

It doesn't seem to have heating inside so it's also "cool" inside.

 

[Liquid]

Horrendous.

 

[GranTurNismo]

Some cars with three wheels are cool. Like this one:

The Robin, however, is not.

 

[TenEightyOne]

I'd say this car's humorous potential brings it from uncool to low cool.

It has none. They're okay if you've got a good budget, camera crews and post-production, but in real life they're absolute dog **** in almost every way imaginable.

They're so **** that it's difficult to even conjure up any nostalgia for them. I shouldn't need to say it at this point... seriously uncool

 

[Keef]

I didn't know what this car was before Top Gear but now it's high on my list of wants. As an American who has never seen one in person, I think I can speak for all of us. Unbelievably cool.

 

[MoLiEG]

Top Gear made this car feel kinda cool because of all the comedy they did with it.

But IRL... nope. This thing is quite ugly.

Uncool.

 

[edawg456]

How about no.

 

[Centroid]

One of the easiest seriously uncools ever. Has absolutely no redeeming features, with the possible exception of a fairly reasonable power to weight ratio for a small car of its time.

 

[ZGBox]

Nah, it's seriously uncool, but I want 2 of them and i don't know why.

 

[DG_Silva]

I didn't know what this car was before Top Gear but now it's high on my list of wants. As an American who has never seen one in person, I think I can speak for all of us. Unbelievably cool.

Don't forget, the same company who made the Robin made this:

I had one pull up next to me when I picked up my folding caravan from the North Circular, and I had a rather adenoidal old man, claiming to be the Bond Bug Owners Club president (in charge of probably 5 people), a bit annoyed because I knew what it was.

 

[JohnBM01]

To many people, the Reliant Robin is an ultimate joke/meme car. No real redeeming qualities, and easy to pick on. Almost like the kid at school who constantly gets laughed at and that no one wants to be friends with. I usually make a habit of saying some ratings would be disrespect for cars. In this case, I can't see anything really to suggest this is a car made for more than getting laughed at for you driving it. So for the first time in GTPlanet's "Cool Wall" posts, I'll drop a Seriously Uncool on this one. Basically... it's seriously uncool that it's cool (or even Sub-Zero) anyways. One of those "so wrong, it's right" kind of things.

 

[Tornado]

This would be a hopeless piece of garbage even if Clarkson hadn't spent decades intentionally rolling them.

 

[FPV MIC]

Nah, it's seriously uncool, but I want 2 of them and i don't know why.

Probably so you can do this sort of thing.



I think it would be hoot to just mess around with.

 

[Volksauto]

I wouldn't say it's cool personally, but it puts smiles on people's faces when they see one so cool it is.

 

[EngieDiesel]

From what I understand, the primary reason the Robin and its ilk existed was because three-wheeled vehicles could be operated with a motorcycle license, which was much cheaper and easier to obtain than an automobile license. So I guess it at least served some purpose in its time, even if it was considered pretty unpleasant even then (though they didn't actually fall over quite as much as Top Gear made everyone think).

But yeah, definitely Uncool and only saved from SU for eventually becoming a funny punchline for the automotive world.

Interesting side fact: They also made a four-wheeled version called the Kitten which was apparently actually fairly good, but also known as the car of choice for pensioners. Take what you will from that.

 

[ZGBox]

Probably so you can do this sort of thing.



I think it would be hoot to just mess around with.

This looks both terrifying and fun as heck, I approve!

 

[MOPARbarrett5]

I would assume that this car would to be fun to drive on occasion but horrible to own because it really isn't a good car and the jelly car aspect is overblown. I do like the design of it though and it certainly is a head turner so I give this a meh.