Now that's what you call a mean machine: Reliant Robin owner fed up with Jeremy Clarkson’s years of ridicule declares war with armed tank version of three-wheeler

'Rugged Reliant' has a Browning 50 Calibre machine gun and caterpillar tracks

The vehicle can be driven on the roads because vehicles with tracks don't need an MOT

It still has its original 850cc engine but has parts scavenged from other cars



A Reliant Robin owner fed up with Jeremy Clarkson ridiculing the car has got his own back by building an armed version complete with machine guns.



The Top Gear star has spent years mocking the three-wheeler and repeatedly rolled them over on his BBC2 show.

But Bernard Reeves, 67, decided to go to war with the television motormouth after he was given a Reliant Robin by an elderly neighbour.

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The Rugged Robin: Bernard Reeves, 67, created this remarkable go-anywhere vehicle with caterpillar track wheels and machine guns

Retired restorations specialist Bernard stuck the Robin in his garage and spent six-months converting it into the world’s most unusual military-style vehicle.

The result is the ‘Rugged Robin’ - a go-anywhere Reliant complete with tank-like tracks and heavy artillery including a Browning 50 calibre machine gun.

It also has a Vickers machine gun and two sub-machine guns and Bernard claims it is capable of around 50mph over wet ground.

Bernard, from East Sussex, said: 'The Reliant Robin is a handsome little car which has been much loved by the thrifty working man and the young driver just starting out.

'But it has become the butt of ridicule and bullying, particularly by one Jeremy Clarkson, a public school buffoon who really should know better, the blighter.

'He kept on pushing them over - he’s been so mean to them.

Off-road three-wheeler: The armoured Reliant Robin which took three months to convert. Bernard Reeves made it because he was fed-up of Jeremy Clarkson ridiculing the vehicle

Off-roader: The car is apparently capable of doing 50mph and is fitted with a machine gun

Creator: Bernard Reeves, 67, built the car in his garage

'So when the lady across the road gave me a Reliant I thought I would do something silly with it.

'I decided to put some tracks on it and it worked, it is fantastic to drive and will go anywhere - it is like a normal car.'

The mean machine has its original 850cc engine but Bernard has borrowed a number of parts from other vehicles for the rest of the off-roader.

It has the rear-axle from a Bedford van, Land Rover gearbox mountings, a front-wheel from a Hillman Imp and suspension coils from a Honda 90.

Bernard says it cost next to nothing to build, with most parts coming out of skips.

The grandfather says the car could be driven on the roads as vehicles with tracks don’t require MOTs.

He added: 'I have had so much fun with the Rugged Robin and when I took it to the War and Peace military show it went down really well.

'People were falling about loving it. Everyone seemed to like it, including the ex-military personnel.'

Flipped: Jeremy Clarkson rolls over a Robin Reliant as he mocks the notorious three-wheeler



Stunt: A celebrity helps Jeremy Clarkson turn the car upright after the prank on an episode of Top Gear



Rugged: The off-roader is fitted with tank-like tracks and heavy artillery including a Browning 50 calibre machine gun

Ready for action: The off-roader which Jeremy Clarkson has mocked because it 'repeatedly rolls over'