Rare Car Archive

Makes › Reliant United Kingdom › Sabre (1961-1963) · Rare production

Reliant
Sabre (1961-1963)

Total production reached 208 cars

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Reliant Sabre (1961-1963) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Reliant Sabre (1961-1963) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Eagleash · CC BY-SA 4.0
?ProductionNot yet verified
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
Not yet verified
Years
Not yet verified
Engine
In-line four, overhead valves with pushrods and rockers · 1,703 cc / 1.7 LFactory: 1,703 cc
Power
52.9 kW / 72 PSFactory: 71 hp · converted
Top speed
159 km/hFactory: 99 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

A sports car engineered by Reliant for the Israeli maker Autocars, with a fibreglass body on a steel frame. Two left-hand-drive cars were converted to right-hand drive for the UK under the Sabre name, so the British version is rare.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed Production figure not yet verified.
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

No production figures recorded yet.

History

Autocars Ltd of Israel asked Reliant to build a prototype on a Leslie Ballamy chassis with a modified Ashley 1172 body. Reliant engineers finished the prototype in under nine months, and it first appeared at the New York World's Trade Fair in May 1961.

Reliant built the first 100 cars and shipped kits for Autocars to assemble in Haifa. Autocars went into liquidation in 1971, which ended the partnership.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Sabre (1961-1963).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutIn-line four, overhead valves with pushrods and rockers1 Independently researchedSpecification sheet is for the Sabra; applied to the Sabre as the same car. From an enthusiast source (level D) - not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry.
Displacement 1,703 cc / 1.7 LFactory: 1,703 cc1 Independently researched
Bore 82.6 mmFactory: 82.6 mm1 Independently researched
Stroke 79.5 mmFactory: 79.5 mm1 Independently researched
Compression ratio8.8:11 Independently researched
Fuel systemSingle Zenith 34VN downdraught carburettor1 Independently researched
Power 52.9 kW / 72 PSFactory: 71 hp · converted1 Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at 4,400 rpm1 Independently researched
Torque 123 NmFactory: 91 lb-ft · converted1 Independently researched
Torque at 2,300 rpm1 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxZF 4-speed, all synchromesh1 Independently researched
Gears41 Independently researched
Final driveSpiral bevel, 3.55 to 11 Independently researched
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisSeparate steel frame with parallel boxed side members1 Independently researched
Front suspensionIndependent, single leading arms, coil springs, co-axial telescopic dampers1 Independently researched
Rear suspensionLive axle on modified Watts linkage, coil springs1 Independently researched
BrakesGirling hydraulic; discs front, drums rear, no servo1 Independently researched
SteeringReliant rack and pinion1 Independently researched
Body constructionBolt-on moulded glass fibre body1 Independently researched
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 159 km/hFactory: 99 mph · converted1 Independently researched
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 16.6 s1 Independently researched
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Reliant/Autocars Sabra Level D Sporting Reliants
    • Overhead, pushrods and rockers
    • 1,703 c.c. (103.9cu. in.)
    • 82.6mm
    • 79.5mm
    • 8.8 to 1
    • Single Zenith 34VN downdraught
    • 71 bhp @ 4,400 r.p.m.
    • 91 lb. ft. @ 2,300 r.p.m.
    • ZF 4 speed. all synchromesh
    • Spiral bevel, 3.55 to 1
    • steel frame with parallel boxed side members
    • Independent, with single leading arms giving semi-swing-axle geometry
    • Live axle located by modified Watts linkage
    • discs front, drums rear, no servo
    • Reliant rack and pinion
    • moulded glass fibre
    • Top Speed: 99 mph
    • 0-60 (mph): 16.6 sec.
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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