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...

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

36 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

Excellent! Welcome to the fold. Did the person who retrieved your Model 70 remember to pick up the sliding door glass that was on thr ground, leaning up against the RHS door? If not, you might want to arrange for that to be rescued and sent on to you...

Many Thanks, much appreciated, I'm hoping so I did ask the driver to, fingers crossed for tomorrow........

[LightBulbFun]

6 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

ill drop you a personal message about whats what with regards to reuniting your Model 70 with its identity  

as a precursor to that @OhNoWhatHaveIDone I highly recommend giving @Zelandeth's Model 70 page and its FAQ a read, to get you up to speed on all things Model 70, it also includes links to the full workshop manual  

https://zelandeth.org/cars/ac-model-70/index.htm

https://zelandeth.org/cars/ac-model-70/FAQ/faq.htm 

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

18 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

Hello Fred! Welcome to the forum! its awesome to have you as part of our group! I would love to hear your stories as someone who as a period Invalid vehicle user  do you recall the registration mark of the vehicles you used in period?  espically as it sounds like you where on the last users, as you say officially the scheme came to an end on the 31st of March 2003, (although the last machine was not actually withdrawn until the 14th of October 2004, TJN352R "belonging' to Marion Webb)

its awesome to hear you picked up the eBay Field Car! I would love to hear about the history you have of it  

ill drop you a personal message about whats what with regards to reuniting your Model 70 with its identity  

Thank you for such a lovely welcome! Really kind... Off the top of my head I can't remember the registration numbers now as it was so long ago,  I became disabled relatively young through an accident, and through the DHSS as it was I had two Invacars, one was quite tempremental, as I remember, don't get me wrong, it was reliable but silly things, leaky windscreens, doors not latching properly, that kind of thing, there was always something,  yet the second one was totally trouble free!

Onto 'Pallet' the EBay field find....The farmer who I bought it from was a really nice chap to deal with, and has been really helpful.

He bought it from a local friend and scrap dealer for his (then) young teenage children to drive around the farm in.  This was 20 years ago he said, so ties in exactly when they were being recalled by the government.   He said it never broke down and was in good order when he got it.  The plates had been removed by the yard but luckily not the chassis plate!

As the children grew older, it was parked up and forgot about!  The piece missing from the roof was a little bit of 'high spirited cornering' apparently!!

I will look out for your PM. Thank you. Fred.

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

25 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

as a precursor to that @OhNoWhatHaveIDone I highly recommend giving @Zelandeth's Model 70 page and its FAQ a read, to get you up to speed on all things Model 70, it also includes links to the full workshop manual  

https://zelandeth.org/cars/ac-model-70/index.htm

https://zelandeth.org/cars/ac-model-70/FAQ/faq.htm 

Thank you. Bookmarked... Chuffed!

[LightBulbFun]

1 hour ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

Many Thanks, much appreciated, I'm hoping so I did ask the driver to, fingers crossed for tomorrow........

are you able to PM me/start the chain? I tried sending you a PM but its saying you cant receive PM's (I presume due to you being a fresh member) 

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

10 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

are you able to PM me/start the chain? I tried sending you a PM but its saying you cant receive PM's (I presume due to you being a fresh member) 

Good morning @LightBulbFun  I don't think I can, on the RH SIDE at the top where the controls are there's no options....it'll be because I'm in sheltered housing ! LOL. they won't let me loose on such things!!  I've attached a pic of the chassis plate, if that helps?   All I can tell is it's from 1975.... Looking back at cars my Dad had it would make it N or P reg??  Cheers Fred!

Photo removed by Moderator

[Mrs6C]

@OhNoWhatHaveIDone  - may I suggest removing that photo, as this is a public forum and for security, it's best not to share vehicle ID details online.

You will need to be a Full Member to access the PM functionality. You'll need to have 10 approved posts and 5 or so positive reactions to them, to move to the Full Member group, so there are only another few posts to go! That might be easiest.

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

24 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

@OhNoWhatHaveIDone  - may I suggest removing that photo, as this is a public forum and for security, it's best not to share vehicle ID details online.

You will need to be a Full Member to access the PM functionality. You'll need to have 10 approved posts and 5 or so positive reactions to them, to move to the Full Member group, so there are only another few posts to go! That might be easiest.

Will do. Hopefully LBF has seen it now !  Cheers. Too trusting I am !

[Mrs6C]

50 minutes ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

Will do. Hopefully LBF has seen it now !  Cheers. Too trusting I am !

I have deleted the photo for you...

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

Just now, Mrs6C said:

I have deleted the photo for you...

Thank you so much O:-) 

[Floatylight]

So for @OhNoWhatHaveIDone's benefit a quick roll call of forum Invacar Owners, from memory:-

@Zelandeth @dollywobbler

@LightBulbFun @Mrs6C @AdgeCutler

Am i missing anyone?

[Mrs6C]

6 minutes ago, Floatylight said:

So for @OhNoWhatHaveIDone's benefit a quick roll call of forum Invacar Owners, from memory:-

@Zelandeth @dollywobbler

@LightBulbFun @Mrs6C @AdgeCutler

Am i missing anyone?

There are a few more, but of course they may prefer to remain anonymous!!!

 

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

20 minutes ago, Floatylight said:

So for @OhNoWhatHaveIDone's benefit a quick roll call of forum Invacar Owners, from memory:-

@Zelandeth @dollywobbler

@LightBulbFun @Mrs6C @AdgeCutler

Am i missing anyone?

Hello 👋Everyone. Thanks for having me onboard!  I've wanted one for ages since my 'DHSS' one was recalled in 2003!  

[Mrs6C]

1 minute ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

Hello 👋Everyone. Thanks for having me onboard!  I've wanted one for ages since my 'DHSS' one was recalled in 2003!  

If you have any photos of your previous Invacars, then please do post them.

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

1 minute ago, Mrs6C said:

If you have any photos of your previous Invacars, then please do post them.

I will do, I had two over the years, I will have to go hunting around!

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

Does anyone here have classics also?  My 'everyday' well if I'm going further than my mobility scooter can take me.... is a sidevalve Hillman Minx, a long term running project, currently at the oily rag stage..... But getting there, hope you like.....

[egg]

35 minutes ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

is a sidevalve Hillman Minx, a long term running project, currently at the oily rag stage..... But getting there, hope you like.....

Well that's confirmed you're in the right corner of the internet! Would be interested on a thread on that....

Welcome.

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

2 minutes ago, egg said:

Well that's confirmed you're in the right corner of the internet! Would be interested on a thread on that....

Welcome.

Cheers Egg. Glad to be here

[auntiemaryscanary]

44 minutes ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

Does anyone here have classics also?  My 'everyday' well if I'm going further than my mobility scooter can take me.... is a sidevalve Hillman Minx, a long term running project, currently at the oily rag stage..... But getting there, hope you like.....

At this rate @OhNoWhatHaveIDone it wont be long before you qualify for private messaging. Be prepared for a wealth* of information from @LightBulbFun !

Nice motor mister.

EDIT: You can now PM. On your marks, get set, lbf GO.

Edited August 20 by auntiemaryscanary
PM is go

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

Thank you very much Auntie!  It's on SORN at the minute as I'm catching up with some jobs on it while the weather's good before cracking on with the invacar! 

[RayMK]

@OhNoWhatHaveIDone Very interested in seeing more of the Hillman.  My dad had a slightly later one but still sidevalve.  It was his second car and I have many memories of me and my brother laughing our socks off as we kneeled and fell about on the rear seat looking out of the rear window as the Minx heeled over on corners at a sedate 50mph.  Back then it seemed very fast because dad's previous car was a 1933 Austin 7 which  cruised at 30mph.

I've owned a Reliant Regal MK6 since 1992.  It has been roadworthy more or less continuously* since 2005 after a long restoration.  Photos below.

 

[LightBulbFun]

18 hours ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

Thank you for such a lovely welcome! Really kind... Off the top of my head I can't remember the registration numbers now as it was so long ago,  I became disabled relatively young through an accident, and through the DHSS as it was I had two Invacars, one was quite tempremental, as I remember, don't get me wrong, it was reliable but silly things, leaky windscreens, doors not latching properly, that kind of thing, there was always something,  yet the second one was totally trouble free!

Onto 'Pallet' the EBay field find....The farmer who I bought it from was a really nice chap to deal with, and has been really helpful.

He bought it from a local friend and scrap dealer for his (then) young teenage children to drive around the farm in.  This was 20 years ago he said, so ties in exactly when they were being recalled by the government.   He said it never broke down and was in good order when he got it.  The plates had been removed by the yard but luckily not the chassis plate!

As the children grew older, it was parked up and forgot about!  The piece missing from the roof was a little bit of 'high spirited cornering' apparently!!

I will look out for your PM. Thank you. Fred.

thats very cool to hear that you had 2, do you know why the first one was replaced in the end? and do you recall if it was Model 70 or was it an earlier Villiers machine? from what I have been able to work out the Ministry generally replaced a users Machine every 7 years, until of course the end of the Model 70 production, then machines where just replaced on an as needed basis

glad to hear that they where otherwise reliable  indeed from what I have heard from most people who used them in period the Model 70 was never an unreliable machine of any sort, the only main issues being snapped throttle cables, failed condensers on the ignition side of things and the odd snapped CVT drivebelt, most of which where wear/service items anyhow, so its nice to hear from yet another user that they indeed where pretty reliable for the most part

I am not sure how much of my thread you have read, so forgive me if you have seen it already, but a while back I came across this recount of Model 70 "ownership" by another Ex User, figured perhaps you might find it interesting, a comparison of notes of sorts  

https://autoshite.com/topic/32723-lightbulbfuns-invacar-general-ramble-thread-index-on-page-1-survivors-lists-on-pages-24134-adgecutlers-invacar-mk12-restoration-from-page-186-onwards-still-harping-on/page/206/#comment-2322161

and interesting to Hear the Story of Pallet  I have heard of a few that ended up like that, as field cars etc

PS: you should have my PM now with the details regarding machine identification  

 

(also page 386, the computer ethusiast/nerd side of me is happy LOL)

[DVee8]

 

 

North East Restoration Club

Anyone feeling strong? Classic car fans wanted! My Invacar project was delivered today but the ‘dollies’/skates’ to move it with didn’t arrive as promised so the guys delivering it have left and it’s outside of the garage it needs to be in…. The ‘dollies’/skates’ are arriving tomorrow (Wednesday) now me being an old crip, with spine and neck damage and heart failure will struggle to get it in on my own… are there two or more kind willing helpers who can help me get it in the garage (about 10 ft away) so I can start the restoration?

I restore invalid vehicles and carriages for Military and Disabled Charities on free loan for their fundraising, you may have seen me out and out on my 1930s carriage!

Any help at all to get ot in there would be greatly appreciated. Shouldn’t take long.. thank you xx

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

7 hours ago, RayMK said:

@OhNoWhatHaveIDone Very interested in seeing more of the Hillman.  My dad had a slightly later one but still sidevalve.  It was his second car and I have many memories of me and my brother laughing our socks off as we kneeled and fell about on the rear seat looking out of the rear window as the Minx heeled over on corners at a sedate 50mph.  Back then it seemed very fast because dad's previous car was a 1933 Austin 7 which  cruised at 30mph.

I've owned a Reliant Regal MK6 since 1992.  It has been roadworthy more or less continuously* since 2005 after a long restoration.  Photos below.

 

What a lovely selection of classics     any of them would float my boat!

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

3 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

thats very cool to hear that you had 2, do you know why the first one was replaced in the end? and do you recall if it was Model 70 or was it an earlier Villiers machine? from what I have been able to work out the Ministry generally replaced a users Machine every 7 years, until of course the end of the Model 70 production, then machines where just replaced on an as needed basis

glad to hear that they where otherwise reliable  indeed from what I have heard from most people who used them in period the Model 70 was never an unreliable machine of any sort, the only main issues being snapped throttle cables, failed condensers on the ignition side of things and the odd snapped CVT drivebelt, most of which where wear/service items anyhow, so its nice to hear from yet another user that they indeed where pretty reliable for the most part

I am not sure how much of my thread you have read, so forgive me if you have seen it already, but a while back I came across this recount of Model 70 "ownership" by another Ex User, figured perhaps you might find it interesting, a comparison of notes of sorts  

https://autoshite.com/topic/32723-lightbulbfuns-invacar-general-ramble-thread-index-on-page-1-survivors-lists-on-pages-24134-adgecutlers-invacar-mk12-restoration-from-page-186-onwards-still-harping-on/page/206/#comment-2322161

and interesting to Hear the Story of Pallet  I have heard of a few that ended up like that, as field cars etc

PS: you should have my PM now with the details regarding machine identification  

 

3 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

(also page 386, the computer ethusiast/nerd side of me is happy LOL)

They were both Model 70s. The first one was just over 6 years I had it, it was reliable but niggly problems, windscreen leaking in, doors sometimes not catching properly, rocker switches breaking,  silly things but annoying, yet the second one was trouble free....

 

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

1 hour ago, DVee8 said:

 

 

North East Restoration Club

Anyone feeling strong? Classic car fans wanted! My Invacar project was delivered today but the ‘dollies’/skates’ to move it with didn’t arrive as promised so the guys delivering it have left and it’s outside of the garage it needs to be in…. The ‘dollies’/skates’ are arriving tomorrow (Wednesday) now me being an old crip, with spine and neck damage and heart failure will struggle to get it in on my own… are there two or more kind willing helpers who can help me get it in the garage (about 10 ft away) so I can start the restoration?

I restore invalid vehicles and carriages for Military and Disabled Charities on free loan for their fundraising, you may have seen me out and out on my 1930s carriage!

Any help at all to get ot in there would be greatly appreciated. Shouldn’t take long.. thank you xx

This was only part of the hassle of getting 'Pallet' out of the van...!  If anyone's interested I'll post the saga when I'm not so shattered over the next day or so.....   I just admit I like this pic.... Jacked up at the front, to get it over the  rear bumper of the van.......'Flying Invacar'! LoL

 

 

 

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, OhNoWhatHaveIDone said:

This was only part of the hassle of getting 'Pallet' out of the van...!  If anyone's interested I'll post the saga when I'm not so shattered over the next day or so.....   I just admit I like this pic.... Jacked up at the front, to get it over the  rear bumper of the van.......'Flying Invacar'! LoL

 

 

 

Please do, we like stuff like that  

[Snake Charmer]

Would any Model 70 owners on this thread like an AC keyring? I have a few used ones, this addition brings an Invacar up to "fast road" specification. Any Invacar with Spax fitted becomes LeMans spec. 👍

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

10 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Please do, we like stuff like that  

Will do High Jetter.... I was just worn out when I got in yesterday evening. It took the guys and me from around half two until half five to get it out of the van and to the side of the close, back for round two today with some kind helpers to get it into the garage!!  Here's a couple of taster pics!! LOL. 

[OhNoWhatHaveIDone]

APOLOGIES!! Long post and loads of pics..... Part one...Pallets rescue and unloading....when things go Pete Tong, and do!!

As my profile name says ' What have I done?'... When Pallet turned up on eBay after languishing a Farmers field South of Brighton for 20 years, after being bought to keep his teenage children entertained and as a run around for the farm...

One booking later, and the helpful farmer loaded Pallet, on a pallet into the back of a van with a fork lift, making its way to the North East...

Unfortunately, it turns out my hired van driver was ill prepared to handle or unload Pallet, he had ramps, but built in, they could not swing out as the Pallet that Pallet was on was in the way!  You could not make it up.....  He did not have a trolley jack or skates, the skates and heavy duty jack I had ordered had not arrived.......

So.....We tried fixing heavy duty straps around the pallet, the wooden one! And a nearby lamp post (sorry LBF!). it moved about two inches then jammed solid.....I couldn't see why, neither could the driver.....

Eventually the driver noticed that his plywood floor, as it was in sections, rather than all one piece was getting ripped up by the pallet ! (LOL) and getting wedged.... It explains the lamp post wobbling! LOL.

After using a pry bar and taking it very steady, because the lamp post was starting to lean (!) By driving the van away slowly, the pallet tilted, the front was jacked up with a tiny scissor jack (!) And he pulled the van away... Leaving Pallet looked like she was flying !!!

Said driver was starting to grumble about how long this was taking.... (Errrrr, you're being paid well, what you quoted me...) AND he didn't have the equipment he needed.

Because my garage is in the corner he said there was no way he could get Pallet in there, so he pulled the pallet straight to the kerb at the top of the Close about 20ft from where it needed to be, totally unsecured.   I thought, 'that's it, it's going to be smashed up in the morning...' Or the coppers will have it towed away (mind you, good luck with that!)

He said, that's it, I have heart problems, I can't be done or afford arguaments, talk about gobsmacked.  I paid him and he b+ggered off!...... Best but was when I got home, I had my tea, looked on Facebook and he slagged off doing the job about collecting Pallet, and unloading it.......and how long it took!   I was so tempted to reply....but no......not worth it......

Keep em peeled for Part Two....   Hope you've enjoyed so far! LOL

 

 

 

 

Spoiler alert!

By some miracle, Pallet was all well this morning when I went over and started work to make arrangements to move her....whilst its not Beirut here, it's nowhere near like Chelsea! lol