1973 Reliant Rebel vs. 1979 Reliant Kitten
To start off, 1979 Reliant Kitten is newer by 6 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1973 Reliant Rebel. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1973 Reliant Rebel would be higher. At 848 cc (4 cylinders), 1979 Reliant Kitten is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1979 Reliant Kitten (40 HP @ 5500 RPM) has 9 more horse power than 1973 Reliant Rebel. (31 HP @ 5000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1979 Reliant Kitten should accelerate faster than 1973 Reliant Rebel. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1973 Reliant Rebel weights approximately 40 kg more than 1979 Reliant Kitten.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1979 Reliant Kitten (63 Nm @ 3500 RPM) has 11 more torque (in Nm) than 1973 Reliant Rebel. (52 Nm @ 3000 RPM). This means 1979 Reliant Kitten will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1973 Reliant Rebel.
Compare all specifications:
| 1973 Reliant Rebel | 1979 Reliant Kitten | |
| Make | Reliant | Reliant |
| Model | Rebel | Kitten |
| Year Released | 1973 | 1979 |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 701 cc | 848 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 31 HP | 40 HP |
| Engine RPM | 5000 RPM | 5500 RPM |
| Torque | 52 Nm | 63 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 3000 RPM | 3500 RPM |
| Engine Bore Size | 60.5 mm | 62.5 mm |
| Engine Stroke Size | 61 mm | 69.1 mm |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.4:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Vehicle Weight | 575 kg | 535 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 3510 mm | 3330 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1480 mm | 1430 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1420 mm | 1400 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2270 mm | 2150 mm |
