Reliant SHETLAND VAN
Built: 1989-1992 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1989
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Reliant – other models: the collective page for three-wheeled transporters outside the named series, from the Ant to the Super Van II, 848 cc, four cylinders
Reliant Motor Company, based in Tamworth, England, was founded in 1935 and specialised in three-wheeled vehicles, which in Britain benefited from lower taxation and simpler registration than four-wheeled cars because of their light weight. This page gathers commercial vehicles outside the named series, from the early Ant through van derivatives based on the Robin and Regal to the Rialto Van and the Super Van II. Reliant built its own all-aluminium four-cylinder engine in-house, used across nearly all the marque's models for decades.
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The register lists seven versions with a constant 848 cc displacement and four cylinders, kerb weights from 390 to 728 kg and gross vehicle weights from 775 to 1,450 kg, at a width of 1,450 to 1,480 mm.
Reliant's three-wheeled vans occupied a niche in Britain between motorcycle combinations and conventional small vans, and were used mainly by tradesmen and small businesses for whom lower taxation and fuel economy were decisive. With the end of Britain's three-wheeler tax class, the concept lost relevance from the 1990s onward.
For a used purchase, the condition of the glass-fibre body and the chassis frame matters most, since the latter is prone to corrosion on older vehicles; the single front-wheel suspension also deserves particular attention. Parts for Reliant's own aluminium engine remain available through specialist clubs in Britain.
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 848 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,450 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,160 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 728 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,450 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Reliant SHETLAND VAN weigh?
The unladen weight is 728 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Reliant SHETLAND VAN?
1,450 kg.
What engine does the Reliant SHETLAND VAN have?
4 cylinders, 848 cm³ displacement.
When was the Reliant SHETLAND VAN built?
Production years: 1989-1992.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.