Project Dollywobbler's Invacar - Ongoing

[Cheggers]

It’s gone beyond my attention span, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about it in a more straightforward way soon

 

 

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[HMC]

An LDV 400 that dw helped assemble during his mid 90s work experience, tracked down to a field in Sussex

[barrett]

Heres one of the ones he missed out on. I had my eye on a couple, but it never worked out. Probably for the best...

 

[quicksilver]

New magazine hitting the shelves soon, Invalid Carriage Monthly?

[richardthestag]

crikey this is like removing a wheel with a locking wheelnut fitted

[dollywobbler]

Sorry folks. I've been tearing about the countryside with a huge grin on my face.

 

Sadly in the Lexus, not the Invacar. However, a plan has been formed to get my TWO Invacars back to Wales. Actually, one is an AC Model 70, the other is an Invacar Model 70 - AC's design, built in two different factories and all but identical.

 

Let's have a look inside TWC, which is the oldest surviving Invacar known! It's in pretty decent condition bodywise.

 

28,000 miles is pretty high mileage for one of these. I saw one with under 7000.

 

Anyway, no further progress until they land in Wales. A friend in Sussex needs to collect some vehicles from Wales, so this is all looking spiffing at the moment.

[Sloth in a bowl]

OMG

[John F]

Imagine the fun you'd have turning up to an AC Owners Club meeting in your AC Model 70

[richardthestag]

I used to drive past a yard full of these things just west of Croydon back in the mid 1980s.

 

rare find and utterly useless.

 

top bombing

[dollywobbler]

Imagine the fun you'd have turning up to an AC Owners Club meeting in your AC Model 70

 

Sadly, the one I'm getting back on the road is not an AC. Production was split between Invacar and AC, though the design was apparently ACs. 

 

The mechanical layout is very interesting. The engine is Austrian - a Steyr-Puch flat twin similar to those used in their own licence-built 500s, and the Haflinger. They go up to 650cc in size, but the Model 70 uses the 493cc unit. This has a dynastart, and the gearbox is a DAF-esque pulley gubbins built by Salisbury. Drive is sent via Fiat 500/126 driveshafts to the rear wheels. Yes, they're variomatic baby!

 

The handlebars have a typical motorbike throttle control, but the brakes work by pushing the handlebars down! 7 inch drums on each wheel for that, fully hydraulic. Suspension is by coil springs with Spax dampers.

 

Top speed? Apparently 70mph is nae bother!

[vulgalour]

So you'll be taking an interest in the football now?

[Eddie Honda]

[danthecapriman]

I haven't seen one of these in years!

My dad once was on gate duty at HMS Dryad in Southwick when one of these pulled up to go through the gate into the site.

My dad lifted the gate but accidentally dropped it as the invacar was going through! The gate beam crashed down onto the little invacars roof. No damage though! God knows what the driver thought had happened.

 

Great purchase though. Can't wait to see what more!

[mr_fish]

Featured in the 'Ali G' film?

 

[beko1987]

If we have sf18 in Scotland or similar, ill chip in a tenner for a hotel for you if you arrive in one!

[mercrocker]

One of these used to come in the garage where I was a pump jockey.    Checking the front tire pressure was always interesting and I still remember the smell of the resin.   LOL at the football reference, too....

[Coprolalia]

This place...

[Guest Hooli]

My gawd you've actually found something worse than both a renault and a 2cv!

 

Congratulations.

[warren t claim]

I'm off to the match on Saturday and I was wondering if I could borrow one so I can sit pitchside? Thanks in advance.

[oldcars]

Well bought, always been interested in three wheeler's and be great to learn and see more about these. Are the plans to make one good car out of the two? When it finished if i am ever in Wales can i get a go please please please 

[John F]

 

There's a 'stealth cunt' in that video. It's going on your total

[Cavcraft]

Can next year’s calendar fluctuate monthly between DW riding a moped and DW in an Invacar?

[Christine]

There's one in a Cumbria transport museum,( that musta been 10 years ago mind you !) my last holiday ....

 

 

and i guess this is underneath of it ....

 

 

Also ,one of those very safe aircraft too...

 

 

 

I loved that place ....where was it ?

[Guest Hooli]

The Peel microcars are now parked by that door & you'd have a Trabant behind you to take that shot. However the Flying Flea is still in the same place.

 

It's the https://www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/

[dougiefourspeed]

According to wikipaedo, the top speed of a Styer-Puch equipped Invacar is EIGHTY-TWO MILES PER HOUR. 

 

That must be terrifying. 

[Christine]

According to wikipaedo, the top speed of a Styer-Puch equipped Invacar is EIGHTY-TWO MILES PER HOUR. 

 

That must be terrifying.

 

Chicken..

[dougiefourspeed]

Chicken..

 

Yes. I would sooner do 82 MPH on a chicken, you're right.

[vulgalour]

The desire to get in one, don a bobblehat, and overtake Audis on the A1 is very strong now.

 

EDIT: "one" being an Invacar.  Not a chicken.

[Christine]

The Peel microcars are now parked by that door & you'd have a Trabant behind you to take that shot. However the Flying Flea is still in the same place.

 

It's the https://www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/

Suddenly I have a road trip urge ....

[dougiefourspeed]

Has anyone got a spare Hyabusa engine knocking about?