was intended to compete in Mediterranean countries with vehicles such as Piaggio Ape. RHD version For the right-hand drive domestic market, a payload of 800 kg (1760 lbs) was envisaged, but with only 700cc's on tap, the Ant struggled to handle such a large load even with a very low rear axle ratio of 6.5:1. Nonetheless, Commercial Motor's test of an Ant pickup, fully laded with 800 kg of sandbags, found that on a 15-mile motorway round trip the truck averaged 48.5 mph but was capable of 68 mph downhill and 57 mph on flat stretches of road. The magazine asserted that the speeds "did not prove a hindrance to other road-users" but pointed out that "the engine laboured quite a bit" on "even slight inclines". However, Commercial Motor did not see this as a significant problem as "it must be remembered that the model was not intended for long-distance work, but for local deliveries". "The price for a chassis and cabin was quoted as £451" upon its introduction in 1967. A 748cc engine replaced the 701cc unit in 1972 and the price of a cab-and-chassis rose to £582 the same year. Engines Early versions of the Ant used Reliant's 701cc engine, which had "a claimed 27.5 bhp (20 kW) of power" but the 1972 engine capacity increase to 748cc brought power up to 32 bhp (23.5 kW). Performance benefitted and it is possible that newer 848cc Reliant engines may have been retro-fitted in some vehicles. Another source indicates that after 1975 Reliant itself fitted its 848cc, 45 bhp engine, giving the truck the ability to attain 50 mph and get a claimed 60 mpg. Customer base The Ant had a long production run because, at the time, no other vehicle offered as much variety in terms of vehicle configuration for so many jobs. "Target customers in the UK were mostly local government agencies". The Ant was often sold as just a cab-and-chassis, allowing customers to fit whatever body they wanted, such as flat-beds, closed delivery vans, small water tankers, refuse collectors, street drain cleaners, snow ploughs, road sweepers and articulated tractor units. Although originally intended to be sold only outside the UK, councils in England, Wales and Scotland bought large numbers of Ants as roadsweeps in the 1970s and 1980s, along with other versions of the truck. The Dublin Corp. in Ireland purchased 60 Ants for various municipal duties.