The Rialto was the replacement for the Reliant Robin. Like the Robin, it was a 3 wheeled car. The 850cc engine was in the front and drove the rear wheels. The body was made of fiberglass and was mounted on a steel frame.
The Robin was notorious for its instability at highway speeds. The Rialto, being slightly more aerodynamic, cured some of that problem. Still, it was not a car that was known for staying upright during emergency maneuvers.
The upside to these cars are that they're incredibly fuel efficient and easy to work on. The Rialto is fairly reliable and will last for quite awhile if you maintain it (and keep it off its roof). Reliant made 3 wheeled cars until 2001.
There is no practical reason to buy this car. But, if you're looking for something very unique to bring to cars shows - or to draw attention to yourself - this Rialto would be perfect.
Located in Middlesbrough, UK, click here to see the eBay listing.Top Gear attempted to turn a Reliant Robin into a space shuttle. It almost worked...
As usual, if you receive Just a Car Geek via e-mail, you'll need to click here to watch the video.
