The Rialto 2 restoration from 2011 to 2015

by Kevin Thompson

Way back in 2008 we bought this Reliant. A friend of mine said there a was Rialto going for a song so I said would be interested in buying it this was in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

So we both went to look at it no harm in looking is there nope there isn't so having a look around it as it was on breeze block's so I could crawl under it no problem it was all fine underneath. It was well plastered with oil on the chassis did not need it really as it was a galvanized one so would not have rotted anyway. The chap we got it off or getting it off only bought from new and after a while he just wanted to tinker with it so put it up on blocks and took off the tyres and stored them shame really as they do like to run all the time and never stood.

So upon inspection we started the engine and was a very sweet running engine after much looking hearing seeing it I will have it so there was a MOT station not far from where the Reliant was and got it booked in for the very next day. After we put on the tyres back on and raised it off the blocks and put it back onto it's wheels and lock it up again and left it the following day.

So the day came and went into the MOT station after a hour's wait we got a call from them saying it failed only on two things - so we went back and looked what it was and it had failed on the side light and the main anchor bolts to the chassis and main body.

So took it back home and started to repair the bolt took three drills to bore it out and finally got the new bolt in. I checked the side lights cleaned them up and got them working, rang the MOT up got it booked for the same day as it was only 2 things. It did not go through the full MOT again got there they looked at the 2 jobs I had done was all ok and gave my MOT so she was now back on the road ready to use.

So the next chapter is what did I do next? You will have to wait for Part Two to find out!