invacar LightBulbFun's Invacar & general ramble thread, index on page 1, survivors lists on Pages 24/134 & AdgeCutler's Invacar Mk12 Restoration from Page 186 onwards, still harping on...

[dozeydustman]

On 8/24/2019 at 12:33 PM, LightBulbFun said:

interesting  why where they exempt and how long did they exemption last?

As a kid in the 80s my grandparents lived in the Greater London/Kent borders - Bexley/Erith/Abbey Wood area - and I certainly remember Fleetlines and B15 Titans running around with at least 1 white on black number plate. Normally the front with a reflective yellow one at the rear. I only remember Olympians with reflective front & rear plates from new.

I asked my dad why London buses got away with old fashioned plates. he couldn't answer, I thought my dad knew everything!

[LightBulbFun]

engage excitement mode!

 

could be a Late villiers block or very early Model 70 block, I really dont know!

time to go through them one by one and hopefully find out!

block is GPD790J-GPD829J I think!

so only 40 cars, so leaning more towards late villers machines, but it starts with G, like GPG-K block does so who knows!

but still very exciting, and any blocks i come across villiers or Model 70 is always good

[LightBulbFun]

went through, none made into Chassis look up range, but a few made it into the 1990s

which could be an indication that they where specialized villiers machines that where only withdrawn when the push to withdraw villiers machines happened

or it could be Model 70's since most villiers machines did not make it to the 1990s in the first place LOL

sadly none have their engine size listed as that would quickly tell me whats what

 

either way my method for finding missing and new blocks is working well

[busmansholiday]

4 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

Fairly sure it is, been a few weeks but it's a storage building off a roundabout in Llandudno Junction, always locked up and lately seems to be the storage for the audi and bmw dealer over the road. Great news if loads got saved there were a fair few there."

Google Street view?

[LightBulbFun]

3 minutes ago, busmansholiday said:

Google Street view?

I sadly cant spot it on street view/google earth

however if it was only dragged out of its hiding hole recently, I dont think the imagery would of updated for it yet

(I know the street view is from 2016)

[busmansholiday]

3 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

(I know the street view is from 2016)

Google have been around here earlier this year, my HiAce is no longer on the drive, replaced by the TF, but no C3 or Merc, so probably April May time.

[LightBulbFun]

7 minutes ago, busmansholiday said:

Google have been around here earlier this year, my HiAce is no longer on the drive, replaced by the TF, but no C3 or Merc, so probably April May time.

yeah they updated it at different times for different places I think

 

 

BTW for @egg stuart wanted me to tell you that "note that Invacar Mk 12's have pressed front number plates, but with no border"

something to do with the front and maybe rear number plate sections in the fibreglass

and he wanted to make you take note of that when you order plates up

[egg]

48 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

BTW for @egg stuart wanted me to tell you that "note that Invacar Mk 12's have pressed front number plates, but with no border"

Cool, thanks, if Mr C can advise of an appropriate supplier that meets that requirement- I'm all ears. Ta.

[LightBulbFun]

7 minutes ago, egg said:

Cool, thanks, if Mr C can advise of an appropriate supplier that meets that requirement- I'm all ears. Ta.

ill ask  (tho I think the only people doing the sort plates he describes are tippers https://www.tippersvintageplates.co.uk/ )

 

in related news, Just plugged the 200 car gap between OPD-L and and PPE-L

was fairly quick to find thankfully as evidence pointed to it being a 200 car block

so I was able to go up in steps in 200  

its from OPL341L to OPL540L for those wondering

 

 

(BTW I noticed OPJ3L is a Citroen Ami, I thought we did not get the Citroen Ami in the UK, or did someone import a LHD one new?)

[LightBulbFun]

I just had something occur to me

how the hell do you remove the rear body work on a later Model 70 that has a rollover bar?!

[busmansholiday]

10 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

I just had something occur to me

how the hell do you remove the rear body work on a later Model 70 that has a rollover bar?!

The opposite way to the method you used to assemble it!

[LightBulbFun]

3 hours ago, busmansholiday said:

The opposite way to the method you used to assemble it!

Yeah me and stuart are not sure how they did that either!

heres a picture of WOO871S, where someones hacked off most of the body work, and hacked off the rollover bar

but you can see the stubs by the wheel, and they look welded to the chassis

so unless the rollover bar is actually removable at the point of those stubs I dont see how you could get the rear bodywork off LOL

(and getting on they would of had to have welded the bar on with the body work already in place which I cant imagine was easy)

its something for me to inspect closely on REV next time i see her  

[Tartan58]

I am disturbed at how interesting I'm finding this thread, although only came to it recently so haven't read everything.

You may be interested to know (or maybe do already) that GPG 721K is residing in the Glasgow Transport Museum (in mid take-off for reasons I'm not entirely sure of) and looks to be in fine fettle, next time I'm there I'll take a closer look.

[LightBulbFun]

38 minutes ago, Tartan58 said:

I am disturbed at how interesting I'm finding this thread, although only came to it recently so haven't read everything.

You may be interested to know (or maybe do already) that GPG 721K is residing in the Glasgow Transport Museum (in mid take-off for reasons I'm not entirely sure of) and looks to be in fine fettle, next time I'm there I'll take a closer look.

im glad people are still finding the thread interesting

esp as at some points esp during the reg block finding iv been doing the past couple days I imagine a few people probably muttered 'he has finally lost it!"

indeed GPG721K is known, its the Oldest known surviving Model 70, we think its 111th off the production line, sadly its story of where the musume got it from is a bit unknown

other than it may of been donated by its user, when its user bought it for £1 back in 1980

indeed its very nice shape, and a really good reference for how Model 70's would of looked like when new

id love to go see it in person and perv over it go over it with a fine tooth comb and grab lots and lots of pictures for my records  (its only what a 7 hour drive from here to Glasgow? LOL)

as to why its in mid take off, well I was told that the early Model 70's had so much rear weight bias that apparently if you launched one hard enough they would pop a slight wheely  so maybe thats why?  

tho how you launch a Model 70 is not yet known! (you cant exactly "drop the clutch"!)

 

[Tartan58]

1 hour ago, LightBulbFun said:

id love to go see it in person and perv over it go over it with a fine tooth comb and grab lots and lots of pictures for my records  (its only what a 7 hour drive from here to Glasgow? LOL)

 

Happy to take some close ups next time I'm there if there is anything particular you want to see!

It's less than an hour from me and we're probably due a visit with the kids again soon.

[LightBulbFun]

7 minutes ago, Tartan58 said:

Happy to take some close ups next time I'm there if there is anything particular you want to see!

It's less than an hour from me and we're probably due a visit with the kids again soon.

a Picture of the VIN plate car if possible would be epic  it should look something like this, however its inside the car so it might be a bit tricky to get to!

also a picture of the chassis number on the chassis itself would also be epic, again tho might be a bit tricky to get to!

 

if you have an FS880 key you should be able to open all the locked doors/hatches however 

 

just general detailed high rez clear shots of the entire car and interior would be much appreciated

[quicksilver]

The manufacturer 'AC (Electric)' on the DVLA records is actually really weird as there has never been a manufacturer called AC (Electric) and AC Cars made far more petrol vehicles than electric ones. Did no one at the DVLA ever query the obvious disparity between "Manufacturer: AC (Electric)" and "Fuel type: petrol" or why they were recording vehicles under a non-existent manufacturer name? It doesn't just affect Model 70s as I found a 3000ME licensed as an AC (Electric) despite having a big old Ford V6 in the back.

Come to think of it, the 3000ME is a fibreglass AC with the engine behind the driver so it's just* like a Model 70 really.

[LightBulbFun]

21 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

The manufacturer 'AC (Electric)' on the DVLA records is actually really weird as there has never been a manufacturer called AC (Electric) and AC Cars made far more petrol vehicles than electric ones. Did no one at the DVLA ever query the obvious disparity between "Manufacturer: AC (Electric)" and "Fuel type: petrol" or why they were recording vehicles under a non-existent manufacturer name? It doesn't just affect Model 70s as I found a 3000ME licensed as an AC (Electric) despite having a big old Ford V6 in the back.

Come to think of it, the 3000ME is a fibreglass AC with the engine behind the driver so it's just* like a Model 70 really.

indeed I have wondered the same it seems for the most part All AC vehicles were registered as "AC (ELECTRIC)" im not sure why either

because the only electric vehicle they made was the Model 64 which was made on request of the MoH

 

21 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Did no one at the DVLA ever query the obvious disparity between "Manufacturer: AC (Electric)" and "Fuel type: petrol"

well someone did with KPC400P at least

I have also seen some recorded as "A C" or "AC" or "A C 70" or "AC 70" (GPG721K) and even Model 67 as "AC 67"

and one down as "AC CARS" (only seen one like this)

 

I have an entire sub folder in my invalid vehicle pictures folder, dedicated to weird and wacky DVLA results that I have found in my DVLA bashing 

 

but as you say the Majority are down as "AC (ELECTRIC)" and that seems to be the norm

stuart said at one point that "AC (ELECTRIC)" was just for ACs invalid vehicles, but as you say I have seen plenty of not invalid vehicles, show up as "AC (ELECTRIC)"

21 minutes ago, quicksilver said:

Come to think of it, the 3000ME is a fibreglass AC with the engine behind the driver so it's just* like a Model 70 really.

apparently the 3000MEs are Model 70 blue under the paintwork  but sadly i have not seen one stripped back to confirm that 

[LightBulbFun]

thanks to a Tip off by @OliD-E

I found a Model 67 survivor I was not aware of before now  (and I dont think stuart is either, so  I have sent him the picture/details)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1rXivgF-rP/

sadly it seems like there's some Ringing going on, as thats not from 1963!

also looks to have been plate raped on top of that

(tho on that note maybe it is one stuart knows about, just not under that reg!)

not everyday you come across a new Model 67 survivor let alone one in such good shape!

sadly untaxed since a 1989, so I dont think its in regular use

but its the most roadworthy looking 67 I have seen this side of the pond

[Rovorsche]

I noticed a troop of local Luvvies seem to be performing in Oxford Covered market at present.

One of the stage props seems to be a three wheeler carriage of some description in Beige, if you use a beige flash.

 

https://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/don-quixote/

 

 

I am happy to door knock and make enquiries if this is of any interest when they have finished with it.

[LightBulbFun]

5 minutes ago, Rovorsche said:

I noticed a troop of local Luvvies seem to be performing in Oxford Covered market at present.

One of the stage props seems to be a three wheeler carriage of some description in Beige, if you use a beige flash.

 

https://www.creationtheatre.co.uk/whats-on/don-quixote/

 

 

I am happy to door knock and make enquiries if this is of any interest when they have finished with it.

IIRC Stuart had the first one to be road legal/road registered in the UK

but its not a an invalid vehicle, its a French sans permis car, mini comtesse IIRC

But I appreciate you keeping an eye out for me and that your willing to get info for me

[Rovorsche]

No bother, I saw it and thought Hmmmmmm.

[Dannyk]

Guessing you've already seen theese but found them looking for something else. VPG245S and KPC513P

[egg]

1 hour ago, LightBulbFun said:

mini comtesse IIRC

Yes, that's what it is.

 

[xkjagnz]

5 minutes ago, egg said:

Yes, that's what it is.

 

They bought one of those on American Pickers as a "company car" for Danielle

https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g38077-d2272527-i84399155-Antique_Archeology-Le_Claire_Iowa.html

[LightBulbFun]

9 hours ago, Dannyk said:

Guessing you've already seen theese but found them looking for something else. VPG245S and KPC513P

indeed well aware of those IMCDB ones  if you look you can find REV there as well  (sadly aside from REV I dont think any other movie Model 70's are known to survive)

 (VPG-S is the last known AC Model 70 block, but there are about 46 more that we are yet to ID ahead of said block (well 48 if we incorporate the 2 NI Model 70's from that block that we do know about) so I have been thinking if there was a Block after VPG-S or is it all NI cars? the thing that makes things tricky for me is I have no idea what size the theoretical block is, VPG243S-VPG269S is only 27 cars big for example)

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_270730-Thundersley-Invacar-Model-70-1967.html

heres one I have been trying to ID, sadly the picture is postage stamp sized, and they dont say what episode its from so i cant find the episode and look at it in higher detail

I THINK its a OVW-P car however

[busmansholiday]

Try the 1984 "Dirty Movie"

or this site.

3wheelers.com/tvmovie2.html

 

 

[LightBulbFun]

10 minutes ago, busmansholiday said:

Try the 1984 "Dirty Movie"

or this site.

3wheelers.com/tvmovie2.html

 

 

Oh thanks  

 

 

OVW-P car as I thought, Survived until 1991ish it looks like, so I wonder how they got it for the episode

paid off a pensioner to borrow it for a while?

[LightBulbFun]

prompted by the above posts about "AC (ELECTRIC)" I figured I should post a montage of sorts of all the whacky DVLA results I have turned up in the 1000+ Model 70's I have looked up at this point LOL

 

 

Seen plenty of dates of first registration a good few years after they where made, but this one was registered before K suffix was even a thing according to the DVLA LOL

Nice try but you cant hide from me this easily LOL

one that shows up as "AC70" with a 100 liter engine!

 

late registration and engine size fun, a lot of these early Model 70's have all sorts of nonsense for engine capacity from 250cc to 993cc

 

I do wonder if this one however really was 650cc, as its the only Model 70 I have seen actually come back as 650cc, so I wonder if someone did it on purpose?

as shown in the above posts 

letters going walkies entirely

 

 

not come across one down as Brown... yet.

 

a motivational support vehicle

 

 

one down as "AC" and "Green"

 

and turquoise 

 

meanwhile in Russia?

 

 

from above as well  

 

a couple AC's down as just "INVALID"...

 

 

 

another one along with REV453R that did not last very long at all..

 

covering all bases!

 

"INVA... what is it again? *looks out of window* Oh right car..."

 

who knew computers can stutter too!

 

and a fairly mundane OCR fail to cap it off

anyways I think thats most LOL I may have a couple more on the laptop, but otherwise yea

it seems like the DVLAs OCR really struggled with "INVACAR" LOL

 

I also have a few more, but there just ones that have odd engine sizes or dates of first registrations like 1980 despite being made in 1972 or such

 

[LightBulbFun]

not sure if I posted it here at the time but I sent the creators of this tool http://www.whomademybike.com/ an email to see if they could fix a bug with it

in that, if the chassis number of whatever registration you stick into it is less then 5 digits long, it throws an error rather then giving you the chassis number, which means the tool is GR8 for doing Invacar Model 70's but useless sadly for doing AC Model 70's 

so I sent them an email asking if they could fix the bug, and they actually got back to me! which is more then I was expecting tbh! LOL

 

although sadly I dont think they quite understood my email

so I have sent response detailing, that I dont need the tool to decode the chassis number

I just need the tool to just give me the chassis number regardless of length, and that once I have the chassis number i am able to decode it myself for my research

hopefully they will understand my issue and fix the bug, but we will see!

(I gave them an example of how PPC373R errors out but PPJ445R does not)