Project Dollywobbler's Invacar - Ongoing

[davocano]

All those weeks ago when the distributor shenanigans were occurring, I thought to myself "He's not gonna get this on the road"....

 

Very happy that my fears were unfounded. Bravo Mr DW!

[Uncle Jimmy]

My sphincter only just made it through the section where there was mud on the road! Fantastic film

[PhilA]

Is there a spring adding any kind of upward tension to the handlebars?

 

If so, could an assister spring be added door long journeys?

 

Phil

[vulgalour]

What's really strange is if you were on a moped, arguably a more dangerous conveyance, it wouldn't feel anywhere near as terrifying as this!   You can see why they had the huge appeal they did, people were able to get about on their own protected from the elements in a way they simply wouldn't be able to otherwise, which is marvellous.  You can also see why people wanted rid, when you see it wobbling along in modern traffic it looks incredibly vulnerable, much more so than they did when new.

[HMC]

Ordered a hub nut sticker in celebration here

[madrat]

I liked the way right at the beginning with the footage from the Nippa, Mrs DW is giggling.

Yes this made me chuckle, as did the dramatic difference in noise from both cars.

As I said on youtube, cut a hole next to fuel gauge and put wiper switch there, it was like watching someone play the church organ.

[Zelandeth]

Yes this made me chuckle, as did the dramatic difference in noise from both cars.

As I said on youtube, cut a hole next to fuel gauge and put wiper switch there, it was like watching someone play the church organ.

I *may* know a source of a dash with the lighting and wiper switches on the left if it annoyed DW too much...

[PhilA]

You mean lean over a bit and frantically spin one wheel in a slow circle?

[mat_the_cat]

Unergonomic wiper switch location......

 

Shoot me down now, but an ideal candidate for an auto wiper conversion?

 

Great to see this back on the road, and if you're interested in the world's most incongruous convoy down to Buckinghamshire, I might be up for it...

[dollywobbler]

When are you heading down? Naturally, I'll be making the trek on the Friday. The 13th...

[chaseracer]

We should make the convoy like 'Convoy' - ie. picking up more along the way - but with chod... 

[Broadsword]

Loved the MoT video. My imagination might be running a bit wild, but when you broke the 50 mph barrier for the first time the whirring from the Invacar sounded like the warp engines in Star Trek the Original series. I was waiting to hear Scotty shout "She can't take it captain!". Utter terror!

[seth]

Congrats DW! It mostly looks quite terrifying.

[SiC]

I want to see a video of this going down Santa Pod.

[Zelandeth]

I want to see a video of this going down Santa Pod.

I'm game for putting the pair against each other on the strip...got to be gold for YouTube right there...

[puddlethumper]

^^Trailer both to the Nurburgring? Tee hee.

[quicksilver]

We should make the convoy like 'Convoy' - ie. picking up more along the way - but with chod... 

Sounds like a plan. Your crazy convoy can easily pick up a Maxi and possibly a Renault 6 as it nears its destination.

[mat_the_cat]

When are you heading down? Naturally, I'll be making the trek on the Friday. The 13th...

TBH I hadn't planned that far ahead yet, but I'll keep that in mind.

[chaseracer]

DRIVE both to the Nurburgring? Tee hee.

 

EFA.

[skoda_fan]

Fabulously entertaining video. Looks pretty scary. Well done sir. It's right up there with the YouTube vid of the two old fellas taking a trip in a '20s Trojan Tourer.

[seth]

Oh, I meant to ask how the front brake balance was at the MOT.

[Louise2cv]

What is this boring obsession some people have with putting a different engine in it?

 

How many times has this highly original and useful, well needed "upgrade" been suggested now?

[wuvvum]

/\ True dat.  20bhp is more than enough in something like this anyway - just get the engine it already has running properly and it'll be fine.

[Zelandeth]

/\ True dat.  20bhp is more than enough in something like this anyway - just get the engine it already has running properly and it'll be fine.

 

Exactly this.

 

It's a bloody lovely little engine with bags of character too.  Would far rather have that than any screaming bike nonsense.

[spartacus]

I haven't watched the video yet but even allowing for a 10% over read 55mph is an impressive figure for that vehicle I think. Have you had to modify the seat for your huge balls of steel?

[dollywobbler]

What is this boring obsession some people have with putting a different engine in it?

 

How many times has this highly original and useful, well needed "upgrade" been suggested now?

 

It is seriously tiring. Might have to get a T-shirt made that just says NO. 

[The Moog]

That was a fascinating video - some excellent videos and just shows how wonderful the internet can be. 

[dollywobbler]

Thanks!

 

Poor TWC is a bit chilly at the moment...

[oldcars]

Snow + three wheelers =             

[Talbot]

The issue with having to hold the handlebars up, rather than being able to rest the weight of your arms on it.. Given the mechanical simplicity of the steering/braking arrangement, a spring should be fairly easy to get in there somewhere (or a bigger one if there already is one) and if balanced properly, you should be able to get it comfortable* to drive, without wearing your arms out, but still easy to press down to brake.

 

...how hard do you have to press down to brake?

 

 

 

I find the same with a lot of accelerator pedals, particularly in smaller cars. If I relax my foot, I floor it. 99% of the time I have to hold my foot up, which is very tiresome. Bigger spring on the accelerator return, and much much more comfortable. Had this when driving a Berlingo 1.6HDi a while back. It's a cable-less accelerator pedal (IE just a pedal, plugged in to the vehicle) and the spring is completely inaccessable. Given that I had 600 miles to drive, I fitted a bungee cord around the pedal up to the dashboard. Made it massively less tiring to drive, and improved my economy by about 5MPG.