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...

[UltraWomble]

3 hours ago, Christine said:

I always hankered after a Bond Bug ,and then  Scott gave me a ton of old Motor magazines .. The Bond Bug got such a slating  on its road test it put me right off !  

I rather fancy a Bond Mark B or C

I have however driven a C before so have no illusions on how they handle on the road.

[Dobloseven]

51 minutes ago, UltraWomble said:

I rather fancy a Bond Mark B or C

I have however driven a C before so have no illusions on how they handle on the road.

What about an 875?Think if I was going down the Bond three wheeler road, that'd be my choice.

[LightBulbFun]

1 minute ago, Dobloseven said:

What about an 875?Think if I was going down the Bond three wheeler road, that'd be my choice.

funnily enough, with regards to the previous top speed talk, I was thinking about those

one of those set a sub 1000cc lap record at I think it was brands hatch? at 100mph! 

 

I would love to see footage of that! Go go 3 wheeled fibreglass Hillman imp!

[Dobloseven]

3 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

funnily enough, with regards to the previous top speed talk, I was thinking about those

one of those set a sub 1000cc lap record at I think it was brands hatch? at 100mph! 

 

I would love to see footage of that! Go go 3 wheeled fibreglass Hillman imp!

Think they were fitted with the low compression van engine to reduce performance.Also would run on 2 star petrol,which was a consideration for the impecunious back in the day.

[Yoss]

2 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

Yeah they where indeed geared and would do 70, and so was the even heavier/longer 8 Ton RCL (Routemaster Coach lengthened) but they and the RMA's (Routemaster Airport) did have bigger 11.3L AEC AV690 engines tuned for 169hp, vs the standard 9.6L AEC AV590 (and Leyland O.600) tuned for 115hp as you say  

so not quite as impressive from a HP to speed perspective sadly, but its still fun to know there are 70Mph Routemasters out there

I have heard that an RMA with it high speed diff, but fitted with a normal small engine will top out at about 55mph, and if you take a standard Routemaster, with its low speed city diff, and fit it with an AV690 large engine, it can climb buildings and other vertical inclines LOL

 

I also know the AEC AV760 engine can be made to fit Routemasters, a few swaps have been done with them, but I dont know what their performance figures are like in an RM

 

I did find this thread tho

https://www.trucknetuk.com/t/aec-av760-l12-tl12/111081

which goes with the fact I noticed that in the enthusiast space in general, most people dont Like Routemasters or the their enthusiasts! I know even on the forum a lot of the resident bus enthusiasts are explicitly not fans of the RM, I think its just me and Yoss as Routemaster enthusiasts 

I notice specifically that it seems a lot of distain for the RM is simply the fact it survives in large numbers while other buses dont survive 

 just because it survives why does it have to be hated so much? (obviously I think its very sad so many bus types are extinct, and I wish they where preserved, but I dont see why the Routemaster should be hated for it LOL)

I guess this is how MGB owners feel

I can confirm most of this. A friend of mine had an RMA with a standard engine, RMA 10 to be precise, it would cruise at around an indicated 60, though that, of course could be optimistic like most speedos at that speed. it was still ok round town but with more use of first gear than a standard RM. We once took it to Hastings and tried taking it up all the steepest hills we could find just to see if it would go up them and it did, though we only had half a dozen passengers. Could have been very different with a full load.

And a different friend still has a standard RM with an AV690 and it is ridiculous. Not just the acceleration which is rarely used anyway but the flexibility. It will pull cleanly from walking pace in 4th gear. I believe the short lived RM operation of Halifax Joint Comitee had 690s fitted to theirs due to the hilly terrain they operated.

Again, I think RMs are unpopular with bus enthusiasts because they are so common, and even I get bored of them at bus rallies and like to see something different. But the reason they are so common is because they were so well built. London Transport (and its successors) couldn't have kept them going as long as they did if they'd ordered East Lancs bodied Atlanteans. The Routemaster is designed to be infinitely repairable.

[brandersnatch]

9 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

funnily enough, with regards to the previous top speed talk, I was thinking about those

one of those set a sub 1000cc lap record at I think it was brands hatch? at 100mph! 

 

I would love to see footage of that! Go go 3 wheeled fibreglass Hillman imp!

 

[LightBulbFun]

Just now, brandersnatch said:

 

Maximum Send!

[Christine]

t

[RayMK]

33 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

What about an 875?Think if I was going down the Bond three wheeler road, that'd be my choice.

I have not driven any Bonds  but have been a passenger in a later Mark (G or F?) Villiers engined front wheel drive 4 seater.  It was good fun and nicely weird.  John Surtees managed to get an 875 around Brands Hatch in record time, achieving over 100mph in the process.  His prowess on 2 and 4 wheels probably indicates a high level of adaptability and skill.  The 875 was known to be a rapid machine with its detuned Imp engine and rear suspension set-up but was notoriously sensitive to side winds, as are most rear engined cars.  If they were not so fragile I would have liked one.  Unlike a Reliant or an Invacar, they did not have a chassis and were prone to cracking where the Imp subframe was anchored to the fibreglass bits - which were lightweight because of the weight limit to satisfy the tricycle vehicle class.  Their interior made the very basic interior of a Reliant seem luxurious by comparison.   

Edited February 6, 2024 by RayMK
Acknowledging previous posts which beat me to it!

[LightBulbFun]

5 minutes ago, RayMK said:

I have not driven any Bonds  but have been a passenger in a later Mark (G or F?) Villiers engined front wheel drive 4 seater.  It was good fun and nicely weird.  John Surtees managed to get an 875 around Brands Hatch in record time, achieving over 100mph in the process.  His prowess on 2 and 4 wheels probably indicates a high level of adaptability and skill.  The 875 was known to be a rapid machine with its detuned Imp engine and rear suspension set-up but was notoriously sensitive to side winds, as are most rear engined cars.  If they were not so fragile I would have liked one.  Unlike a Reliant or an Invacar, they did not have a chassis and were prone to cracking where the Imp subframe was anchored to the fibreglass bits - which were lightweight because of the weight limit to satisfy the tricycle vehicle class.  Their interior made the very basic interior of a Reliant seem luxurious by comparison.   

to expand on that, theres a pretty decent dive into one here

https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/211619/bond-875-rebuild-improvement

where you can see how one is all put together

 

I have always found them curious machines, I'd love to see a proper @dollywobbler review or such on one  

well really, im waiting for @Mrs6C to get one, to complete the collection of all things Lawrie bond  

 

I will say tho, im still not sure what I think about the face lift Mk2's I cant shake the fact they look so much like a 1960's dodgem car from the front!

[Christine]

S

[Christine]

On 06/02/2024 at 17:49, LightBulbFun said:

 

@dollywobbler  @Mrs6Cim 

I

[brandersnatch]

1 hour ago, LightBulbFun said:

Maximum Send!

Maximum “fuck me! That was close!”

[Yoss]

3 hours ago, chadders said:

That's nonsense, sadly.

How many MGB owners do you actually know?

There's at least 4 just on TDW that I know of and no comments about their cars being hated.

LOL

 

Not entirely. Hated is probably too strong a word but indifference certainly. If I was at a car show I would walk straight past an MGB without even seeing it. I'm sure they are probably quite entertaining to drive but in my mind they are just too common to be of any interest. I know they're not as common as they used to be but when I started driving they were everywhere and my brain still sees them that way.

It's not helped by the old MG Triumph rivalry of course. Back in the day it was like football, you had to pick your team and stick to it, you weren't allowed to like both and I was very much in the Triumph camp so my views might not stand too much scrutiny. Having said that, Spitfires don't really do anything for me either. And there's a couple of MGs I'd really like. The ADO 16 MG 1300 and Farina style Magnette with red interior.

[wuvvum]

I owned a Bond 875, although I only briefly drove it on the road and didn't get anywhere close to its top speed.  It was still scarily nippy though, even with the detuned engine - in a completely different league to the similarly-aged Regal I'd owned before it.

[UltraWomble]

2 hours ago, Dobloseven said:

What about an 875?Think if I was going down the Bond three wheeler road, that'd be my choice.

Now you see, in my eyes thats not a proper Bond with its rear engine.
Its more Reliant than Bond in its make up despite its Imp derived donkey and design by Lawrie (the design being basically nicked wholesale by Reliant when they closed Bond in 1970)

Look at how happy this family look in their C

Give me 197cc of Villiers powah slapped on top of the drive/steering wheel for maximum fun*

 

[LightBulbFun]

@Snake Charmer you would not happen to recognise this would you?  

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204643754704

just popped up on eBay, but I dont think its Model 70 related, I mean they have 3 fuses, but only 1 of them is inline, where as this bundle of wires has 2 inline fuses, nor do Model 70's have separate looms like this

a Model 70 has one big loom, and the dash loom, and thats it. theres no physically separate engine bay loom or such.

but the "AC Cars Ltd" price tag sticker is curious! its got the proper curvy AC logo n all

[warren t claim]

Actual footage of the aftermath of trying to use an Invacare for a run to the chippy and back.

 

[LightBulbFun]

9 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Actual footage of the aftermath of trying to use an Invacare for a run to the chippy and back.

 

thats interesting still, do you have a link to the youtube video its from?

its a curious one, almost looks like its being carried to safety!, but weirdly it looks like its missing its fuel tank? some sort of training exercise? 

 

[warren t claim]

It's being moved by the RUC after a bomb in Ulster.

[LightBulbFun]

1 minute ago, warren t claim said:

It's being moved by the RUC after a bomb in Ulster.

interesting! I wonder if its this chaps Invacar?  

On 10/06/2022 at 23:58, LightBulbFun said:

when researching the Northern Ireland aspect of Invacars I have wondered if any where directly caught up in the troubles at all

turns out according to this poor chap yes! Invacars literally bomb proof!

https://www.facebook.com/springchicken.co.uk/posts/1433221766863035?comment_id=1433471656838046

@Datsuncog you would not happen to have a link to the video or such? i'd like to scope it out for fine details (specifically the fact the MIA fuel tank, I dont see any evidence of a neck or cap, although there is a black smudge next to hole which might be the cap maybe they took it off to inspect inside the fuel tank for some reason?!) 

[warren t claim]

FFS.

 

[LightBulbFun]

1 hour ago, warren t claim said:

FFS.

 

thanks I had a good look frame by frame (3:09 mark) you cant see much sadly but the black smudges are clearly just debris on the car, and im guessing the low resolution/highly compressed footage just hides the detail of the fuel filler neck and cap so it looks like just a hole

 

I think I might of said it before, but i have learnt more about the (and history of the) ROI, NI and the Troubles through my Invacar research then I was ever even remotely taught at school!

[ETCHY]

4 hours ago, warren t claim said:

Actual footage of the aftermath of trying to use an Invacare for a run to the chippy and back.

 

 Up the AC...

[chadders]

13 hours ago, Yoss said:

Not entirely. Hated is probably too strong a word but indifference certainly. If I was at a car show I would walk straight past an MGB without even seeing it. I'm sure they are probably quite entertaining to drive but in my mind they are just too common to be of any interest. I know they're not as common as they used to be but when I started driving they were everywhere and my brain still sees them that way.

It's not helped by the old MG Triumph rivalry of course. Back in the day it was like football, you had to pick your team and stick to it, you weren't allowed to like both and I was very much in the Triumph camp so my views might not stand too much scrutiny. Having said that, Spitfires don't really do anything for me either. And there's a couple of MGs I'd really like. The ADO 16 MG 1300 and Farina style Magnette with red interior.

Sorry for the tardy response.

I know that people hate MGBs but so what, my issue was with LBF 'knowing' how MGB owners felt. Even though I've owned mine for 40+ years its not part of my identity, people are entitled to their own views. It's like me making assumptions about people who like buses, my only interest in them is are they on time?

Just for 'interest' regarding MG/Triumph rivalry I'm looking out for a TR8 convertible to add to my small fleet of cars.

[chadders]

Just to add to that does anyone know of a good TR8 convertible for sale?

The missus has just had a new summerhouse built and part of the deal was an additional 'toy' car for me. I've always wanted one since seeing the review of a US Spec TR8 in Car Magazine as part of the pre launch publicity .

Incidentally TR7 V8s are fine, I'm not a purist hung up on things like correct chassis numbers etc. and there wouldn't be any issues as to whether the carb should have a 2 or 3 in the 5th position of its name.

[brandersnatch]

19 minutes ago, chadders said:

Incidentally TR7 V8s are fine, I'm not a purist hung up on things like correct chassis numbers etc. and there wouldn't be any issues as to whether the carb should have a 2 or 3 in the 5th position of its name.

That’s no way to carry on. Everyone knows that they should be kept completely as they came from the factory. Even pumping up a flat tyre anywhere other than the factory is a bit dodgy. 

[chadders]

I'm sure somewhere someone could tell me what they believe the exact spec is, just as I'm sure someone else would say something different. I guess because they're enthusiasts rather than fanatics.

Regarding the tyre the factory has been demolished and have you seen the price of Triumph air?

It makes Lucas smoke seem cheap.

I shall plough my own furrow and if that means pins being stuck into a voodoo doll representing me sobeit.

[Agila]

9 hours ago, warren t claim said:

 

 

 

9 hours ago, warren t claim said:

It's being moved by the RUC after a bomb in Ulster.

Sadly looks disappointingly remarkably sadly intact. LOL.

[Mr Pastry]

12 minutes ago, chadders said:

Regarding the tyre the factory has been demolished and have you seen the price of Triumph air?

I have French air imported specially for the tyres of my 2CV, and I can tell you the difference in ride and handling and the quintessential Citroen experience  makes it well worthwhile.  Though since Brexit it is looking increasingly cost-effective to drive to Paris and blow up the tyres actually on the site of the old factory, so I am looking into that.