1981-1985 Bowden Rapier - Trims: -E -ES -Lux -S Options & accessories: -Front driving lights (accessory) -Roof racks (accessory) -Luggage carrier (accessory) -Roof spoiler (accessory) -Short rod metal antenna (accessory) -Chrome wheel trim rings (accessory) -Rubber door buffers (accessory) -Front and rear mudflaps -Electric front windows -3 speed automatic gearbox (not for 1.3 & V8 models) -5 speed manual gearbox (1.6 engines, opt. for pre-83 V6) -Sport steel wheels -Opening rear windows Body types: -3dr shooting brake Engines: (petrol) -1.3 60PS I4 (1980-1983) -1.6 75PS I4 (carburettor, 1980-1983) -1.6 89PS I4 (fuel injection) -2.5 120PS V6 (not on E, ES) -4.0 149PS V8 (SIII, S 1984-85 model years) Transmissions: -4 speed manual -5 speed manual (standard on V8 models, n/a on 1.3) -3 speed automatic (not available on 1.3 & V8) Drivetrains: -Front engine, RWD Dates sold: April 1981 - 1985 Prices used (2026): £3,000 to £4,500 (spares/very rough) £5,500 to £6,000 (fair condition, high mileage) £5,000 to £7,000 (good condition, lower mileage) £9,000 to £18,000 (great condition, low mileage) £20,000 to £35,000 (immaculate V8 models)
@dom06 for the original project! JUST TO CLARIFY, A RAPIER IS A TYPE OF FANCY SWORD!!! --- The Rapier was a shooting brake version of the Septent III, adding an extra bucket seat and extra cargo area in the rear. It was marketed as a family hauler turned sporty, mainly marketed towards fathers who wanted a sporty car but the wife said they needed something big for their kids. Bowden brought on UK designer Frank Karon, who at the time worked for Elkhorn. He helped Bowden design the vehicle even though he could risk being caught and sued by Elkhorn for working with a rival car company. The vehicle was originally made to be a option for the Septent, having a removable roof and roll bars in the interior, kind of like a Ford Bronco (Only a few prototypes were produced, and most of them reside in museums or in private collections). Then, higher ups realized that was stupid and just had the designers come up with a design that had the roof part of the body itself. It released in 1981 to mixed opinions. People thought it looked ugly and was a crapshoot attempt to get more sales. Surprisingly, Bowden sold enough of them to give the designers the go-ahead to redesign the car a bit for the 1983 model year. It sold alright for the 83-84 model years, which Bowden, again, gave the go ahead to facelift it. It didn't last very long. Only about 2,000 of them sold in 1985. Bowden realized that they were wasting too much money on this car for it to be doing bad in terms of sales. So, they killed it off after 1985. In the 90's, Bowden attempted to revive the Rapier, showcasing a prototype (that I will most likely not draw) at the 1997 British Motor Show. People thought it was cool, but they never actually produced it.
