Bigger 3-wheeler from Reliant
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'THE introduction of the TW9 16cwt three-wheeler this A week marks an important step forward by the Reliant Motor Co. Ltd. It is Reliant's first model designed expressly as a commercial vehicle. The existing TW7 5cwt van and pick-up are derivations of the company's three-wheel car. Although the new model has a three-fold increase in payload capacity over the TW7, a long-wheelbase version of that chassis is rated for lOcwt loads. The TW7 lOcwt is popular in Greece and it was requests from customers there that led to the TW9 project.
' Chassis for Greece are now being produced and interest has also been shown in other countries, including Holland, Israel, Iran and South Africa. Despite this, and the fact that current production is of left-hand-drive chassis, the model has been developed with sales to British users in mind.
It is considered by Reliant that the chassis will prove especially useful for particular delivery duties where small size, fuel economy and easy cab access coupled to a I ocwt payload will be an advantage and where there is not the need for a high-performance vehicle.
The TW9 is a straightforward unsophisticated vehicle and . an important point taken into account in the design was that it should be capable of being produced in overseas markets. With this in mind it has an all-plastics cab with a simple frame layout. Basic price of £415 for the chassis and cab is reasonably low and it is estimated that sales of the model in export markets alone should reach something over 2,000 chassis a year.