Info
Reliant Kitten
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Manufacturer | Reliant |
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Production | 1975-1982 4074 made |
Predecessor | Reliant Rebel |
Successor | Reliant Fox |
Body style | 2-door saloon 3-door estate car/van |
Engine | 848 cc light alloy I4 |
Wheelbase | 84.5 in (2,146 mm) |
Length | 131 in (3,327 mm)Saloon |
Width | 56 in (1,422 mm) |
Height | 55 in (1,397 mm) |
Curb weight | 1120 pounds |
Designer(s) | Ogle |
The Reliant Kitten is a small economy car which was manufactured from 1975 to 1982 by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. It has a glass fibre body and an 848 cc all-aluminium inline-four engine, providing economical performance.
PERFORMANCE
- max power (DIN): 40 hp (29.4 kW) at 5,500 rpm;
- max torque (DIN): 46 1b ft. 6.3 kg m (61.8 Nm) at 3,500 rpm
- max engine rpm: 5,500; 47.2 hp/l (34.7 kW/l)
- power-weight ratio: 29.4 lb/hp (40 lb/kW). 13.3 kg/hp (18.1 kg/kW)
- acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 20.4 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 11.1 sec
- consumption: 60 m/imp gal, 50 m/US gal
The rear section of the Kitten's chassis is essentially the same as the Reliant Robin or Reliant Rialto, however from the middle forwards the car is significantly different, with the engine moved forward to where the Robin's front wheel is, and a Reliant-designed (but Lotus inspired) double wishbone front suspension. Moving the engine forward, compared with the three-wheeled cars, made a lot more room inside for the driver and front passenger. The Kitten's chassis, engine, and running gear are shared (with minor modifications), with the Reliant/MEBEA Fox pickup introduced in 1979.
In October 1976, a year after introduction, a new de luxe version of the Kitten, branded as the Kitten DL, was announced.Improvements included revised springs and dampers and a changed anti-roll bar. The engine received carburettor and air filter modifications, claimed to give better cold start characteristics, while interior improvements included more comfortable seats, modified door trims incorporating a map pocket, and a new style tray to cover the luggage space behind the back seat.
On 1 December 1976, a van version of the Reliant Kitten was announced, sharing the profile of the Kitten Estate but with blank panels in place of the windows behind the B-pillar.
In 1982 the Kitten was axed due to not being able to compete on price with other models such as the Mini, due to its hand-made fibre glass shell. The corrosion of monocoque steel bodied competitors (the absence of which providing a strong selling point of the Kitten), which had been such a problem in the 1970s, was coming under control with advances in rustproofing. Also, the Kitten's rear-wheel drive layout was being abandoned in mass-market cars at this time in favour of a trend for transverse front wheel drive. Because it had four wheels, the Kitten also did not share the advantage of a lower UK road tax rating with the three-wheeled Robin.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES light alloy wheels laminate windscreen.Kitten Estate Car rear window wiper-washer.
Reliant Kitten Saloon sales
Technical
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Reliant Kitten Technical details and specifications (1975-1982)
ENGINE:
front, 4 stroke
4 cylinders, in line
51.7 cu in, 848 cc (2.46 x 2.72 in, 62.5 x 69.1 mm)
compression ratio: 9.5:1
light alloy block and head, wet liners
3 crankshaft bearings
valves: overhead, in line, push-rods and rockers
camshafts: 1, side
lubrication: rotary pump. full flow filter 5.5 imp pt, 6.6 US pt. 3.1 1
1 SU HS2 semi-downdraught single barrel carburettor;
fuel feed: mechanical pump
sealed circuit coolinganti-freeze liquid, 6.5 imp pt, 7.8 US pt.
TRANSMISSION
driving wheels: rear
clutch: single dry plate
gearbox: mechanical; gears: 4, fully synchronized
gearbox ratios: 1st 3.876 2nd 2.046, 3rd 1.319, 4th 1, rev 3.250
final drive: spiral bevel; axle ratio: 3.230CHASSIS
box-section side members and channel section
front suspension: Independent. diagonal reinforcements; wishbones, anti-roll bar, coil springs/telescopic damper units
rear suspension: rigid axle, semi-elliptic leafsprings, telescopic dampers.STEERING
rack-and-pinion
turns lock to lock: 3.50.
turning circle (between walls): 24 ft, 7.3 mBRAKES
drum (diameter 7 in, 17.8 cm)
swept area front: 66 sq in, 426 sq cm
swept area rear : 55 sq in, 355 sq cm
swept area total: 121 sq in, 781 sq cm.ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
12 V
35 Ah battery
Lucas distributor
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
wheel base: 84.50
front and rear tracks: 49 in, 124 cm
length: 131.75 in, 335 cm
width: 56 in, 142 cm
height: 55 in, 140 cm
weight: 1,189 1b, 539 kg.(estate)© Motor car History
Service
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Reliant Kitten maintenance and Service Guide (1975-1982)
Fuel: 97 oct petrol
Engine oil: 5.5 imp pt. 6.6 US pt. 3.1 1. SAE 20W.50, change ever 6.000 miles, 9.700 km
Gearbox oil: 1.1 Imp pt. 1.3 US pt 0.6 1, SAE 80 EP, change every 12,000 miles, 19.400 km
Final drive: 2.2 imp pt. 2.5 US pt. 1.2 1, SAE 90 EP. change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
Greasing: every 6,000 miles 9,700 km, 7 points
Tappet clearances: inlet 0.010 in. 0.25 mm, exhaust 0.010 in, 0.25 mm
Valve timing: 13° 72° 54° 29°
Width of rims: 3.5"
Tyres: 145 x 10.
Carrying capacity: 700 1b, 317 kg
Fuel tank: 7.1 US gal, 27 1.© Motor car History
Maintenance
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