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...

[Cavcraft]

This will be the fella...

My Life & Cars – Richard Usher, CEO, Great British Car Journey | evo

[lesapandre]

I think this is on this badge too - though blurred.

 

[adw1977]

Programme link

Only available for 24 hours, though!

They also have a rather nice Sierra Sapphire which they compare to a modern blob.

Here's a slightly better screengrab:

[D.E]

Parked Invacar at 3:32?

Also, AC Frua driving toward the camera at 6:17, and stuck behind a Taunus 17M at 6:29!

[uk_senator]

On 25/12/2024 at 17:33, LightBulbFun said:

 

I`ve got some similar to that in the loft! I`ve got no housings for them, or connectors, I cant even remember where they came from now! 

I`ve not been on for quite a while, so I missed all of this, including the resurrection of REV! Congrats! I hope to spot him randomly chugging around that there London at some point! 😁

[LightBulbFun]

8 hours ago, D.E said:

Parked Invacar at 3:32?

Also, AC Frua driving toward the camera at 6:17, and stuck behind a Taunus 17M at 6:29!

indeed Invacar Mk12D or Mk12E  

[LightBulbFun]

14 hours ago, Cavcraft said:

This will be the fella...

My Life & Cars – Richard Usher, CEO, Great British Car Journey | evo

 

10 hours ago, adw1977 said:

Programme link

Only available for 24 hours, though!

They also have a rather nice Sierra Sapphire which they compare to a modern blob.

Here's a slightly better screengrab:

Mmmm all the more intriguing that will be YVX281L then, which is that Model 70 that keeps popping up on eBay where no one can message the seller!

[LightBulbFun]

7 hours ago, uk_senator said:

I`ve got some similar to that in the loft! I`ve got no housings for them, or connectors, I cant even remember where they came from now! 

I`ve not been on for quite a while, so I missed all of this, including the resurrection of REV! Congrats! I hope to spot him randomly chugging around that there London at some point! 😁

Thanks  if you can get pictures of those similar lightbulbs in the loft, then REV might come chugging right to your front door

[lesapandre]

32 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

Mmmm all the more intriguing that will be YVX281L then, which is that Model 70 that keeps popping up on eBay where no one can message the seller!

Probably a fake ad based on pirated photos. Someone trying to rip people off.

[Mrs6C]

11 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

 

Mmmm all the more intriguing that will be YVX281L then, which is that Model 70 that keeps popping up on eBay where no one can message the seller!

Here's a thought... now you know the name of the CEO of the 'Great British Car Journey', you could write to him (or email) and say you saw him on TV, noticed the Model 70 and Larmer car in the background and would like to find out more about them and their history, as you are an enthusiast and historian of invalid carriages and like to research and make a record of all those you find etc.

I bet you he would be more than happy to help you out with information. Any details you could fill in about their history for him might be welcomed too, as it's more info. the GBCJ can add for those vehicles, which in turn helps them to promote their business.

I have just been making enquiries about some NG railway coaches I acquired last year, contacting owners of sibling vehicles to try to piece together their collective history. They have all been very helpful with info. and photos and are keen themselves to know more about their own, as well as help me find out about mine.

Ask and you may receive!

[LightBulbFun]

5 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

Here's a thought... now you know the name of the CEO of the 'Great British Car Journey', you could write to him (or email) and say you saw him on TV, noticed the Model 70 and Larmer car in the background and would like to find out more about them and their history, as you are an enthusiast and historian of invalid carriages and like to research and make a record of all those you find etc.

I bet you he would be more than happy to help you out with information. Any details you could fill in about their history for him might be welcomed too, as it's more info. the GBCJ can add for those vehicles, which in turn helps them to promote their business.

I have just been making enquiries about some NG railway coaches I acquired last year, contacting owners of sibling vehicles to try to piece together their collective history. They have all been very helpful with info. and photos and are keen themselves to know more about their own, as well as help me find out about mine.

Ask and you may receive!

I did ping them an email a while back but they never responded sadly

On 11/02/2024 at 16:56, LightBulbFun said:

On 11/02/2024 at 16:48, quicksilver said:

Bringing things back to Invacar chat, Steph idriveaclassic's latest video contains something of interest.

The Great British Car Journey have just acquired this Model 70 that isn't yet on display. No plates unfortunately but it's a handlebar-control Invacar. Any ideas which one it might be?

indeed that one be YVX281L  

I did ping them an email offering my services if they need any help with it, applying for its logbook, and help getting it back on the road etc but sadly they never did respond to my email.

and before anyone suggests it, I did ask @dollywobbler if he has any contacts over there, but sadly he does not

 

[Mrs6C]

3 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

I did ping them an email a while back but they never responded sadly

That's OK. You can still send another and/or use 'Reply to all' on the original email and ask something along the lines of 'Have you had the opportunity to consider my enquiry below?' then add the bit about the TV, cars in background etc.

I had to send two or three to the Science Museum at Wroughton before anyone replied re. the Harper. We got there in the end.

 

[lesapandre]

1 hour ago, Mrs6C said:

That's OK. You can still send another and/or use 'Reply to all' on the original email and ask something along the lines of 'Have you had the opportunity to consider my enquiry below?' then add the bit about the TV, cars in background etc.

I had to send two or three to the Science Museum at Wroughton before anyone replied re. the Harper. We got there in the end.

 

I always think it's better to write.

Emails are a very degraded form of communication.

Type and print a nice letter with some choice photos of Rev and offer to do a full write-up on their cars?

I think this museum is the one where you get to drive cars. That being the case they may well be intending to get their Invacar going soon and might welcome some technical and parts assistance too?

I'm sure the museum is run by nice folk.

Their own Invacar is shown here at 2:50 on.

Like any smallish organisation they'll get inundated with informal enquiries and emails they don't get time to answer - so better to do something better in a letter 😄

Or even set up a visit to see Rev-2 sometime? Looks like it's in their reserve collection store at the moment.

[andy18s]

[LightBulbFun]

16 minutes ago, andy18s said:

seen that do the rounds a few times on social media  , had to double take the first time I saw it as I thought it was an estate near here, but I dont think it is, but is of an estate elsewhere in London, that must of been part of the same project (same design of buildings/general layout) 3 wheeler there is a Reliant Regal tho, no Invacars sadly

[lesapandre]

They are London County Council public housing estates  - they all follow a common template and style - dotted all over the LCC area. Mostly built in the 1930's - though some are late 40's too. Well built and most still in use. Some similar ones also built by the individual London Boroughs.

The LCC went on to become the Greater London Council after local government reorganisation. 

Disbanded by Thatcher and reinstated now as the Greater London Authority.

[LightBulbFun]

so its been a couple weeks but today (well yesterday now!) was time for another trip out in REV  

well almost! first of all I wanted to take a look at at few things, first thing on the agenda was a headlamp, I just wanted to disassemble one to familiarise myself with the process and asses the wiring/layout of things in preparation for fitting the relay harness I have, decided to have a look at her left one as that looked the ropiest

the headlamps themselves where replaced with H4 units back in 2021, but I noticed the rest of the hardware was untouched, and this one would rattle slightly

soon realised why! the bottom 3rd mounting tang/lug is just completely MIA!

I also note the bowl itself is not mounted flush with the bodywork 

I dont think its lose, but I dont think its meant to be poking out so far!, it appears to be held in with plastic raw-plug devices, which are original fitment, you can see 2 here in the workshop manual

so I think some new head lamp hardware is required! if anyone has any recommendations I am all ears, I mean I know its just standard 7 inch stuff, but those raw plug devices I am not sure I have seen those used elsewhere? the kits I see online have rectangular stamped metal pieces

the 4 black things in that photo for example, I cant see why those would not work in place of the raw plugs but I figured i'd double check incase there is a good reason things are different! and I should seak out replacement plugs/re-use the existing ones instead  I also had a good look at the wiring to suss out how ill want to do things when I fit the relay kit (and replacement headlight hardware)

and noticed someones been chucking number plates down the drain?!

also you know that nut I dropped when replacing the voltage regulator, well looky what I spotted/found again!

 

and then I took care of this, I noticed recently while doing my routine checks (oil leve, lights, tyre pressures, general condition of things etc) that this fuel line had been chafing on this bit of the chassis, 

so I zip-tied it in place good n proper  

I then went and head a look at the windscreen seal, as you can see its fairly knackered and a gap has opened up between the ends, which I think might be letting water in

I would like to replace this seal, and I am wondering if on that front anyone has any tips or tricks or pit falls I should be aware of (is there any sort of sealant that should go round the windscreen aperture when fitting new windscreen rubber for example? and what might be the best way of removing the old seal?)

my main concern is clearance to the dashboard and although its tight, I dont think it needs to come out, which is good! (the workshop manual makes no mention of it needing to come out for a windscreen refitting at least), I then checked/photographed a few other small things for personal refrence etc, buttoned everything up and then headed out

first step was get some petrol, because I wanted to see how my fuel economy was after the motorway run, 23270 miles at last fill up, about 23335 miles this fill up, got 9.52L in the tank (and some slightly down REV's front whoops) so 65 miles since last fill up for an milage of 30 mpg or so if I am doing the maths right?, ill take that  

I had a small group of people pose on REV for photographs! who then kept asking me for money/spare change! because this box-o-rattles apparently screams money now?,

ah well, eventually the last of them finally left me to go bother others on the forecourt and I was soon on my way 

popped into a small retail unit with a Halfords and ASDA attatched to pick up a few* nick-nacks from Halfords and some house shopping from Asda, I wonder which one is mine

obligatory bakery run

and then finally home!  

 

as an aside to all this, @Zelandeth since I know you have done it a few times now, do you have any tips or tricks with regards to replacing the main CVT drivebelt? I would to replace REV's one just because I dont know when it has last been changed, so I figured i'd ask about it before I get stuck in  im also thinking of maybe replacing the pulleys themselves since I do have at least 1 pair of shiny NOS ones in stock, again if you have any tips or tricks I should be aware of when doing pulley replacement do let me know  I was hoping to inspect the drive-belt and pulleys also but did not quite manage it

[MarinaJosh]

On 18/02/2025 at 10:03, LightBulbFun said:

I did ping them an email a while back but they never responded sadly

 

I know somebody who works at the GBCJ if there's a message you'd like to try and get through to them.

[Mr Pastry]

1 hour ago, LightBulbFun said:

the 4 black things in that photo for example, I cant see why those would not work in place of the raw plugs

They are called speed nuts.  You could use them, but access behind may be difficult and you may need longer screws than the kit supplies because of the thickness of the fibreglass.  Normally there is a rubber gasket between the lamp bowl and the body as shown in the kit.

I'd re-use the existing plugs if possible for simplicity, or you could replace with Rawlnuts if you are able to drill or file the holes out.  These are a flanged rubber tube with a threaded insert and work well in fibreglass, as being flexible they will not cause cracking.  

This sort of thing always takes massively longer than you expect, so wait for warmer weather and longer evenings! 

 

 

[Mally]

Being pedantic you refer to the left hand light. This is looking at the car from the front.

The light you removed is actually referred to as right hand, as viewed from the drivers seat. and can also be identified as off side light.

Makes no difference here but may later if you ever need a suspension part for a proper* car.

Sorry 😀

[martc]

Have we had this one? Labelled as  'photo taken by Steve Chapman in 1977 showing Bradlows Betting Office on Hodge Lane, Langworthy flats in the background'. We're in Salford.

Out of interest I had a look on google maps, although Hodge Lane is still there the betting shop has long gone and it's all flats now. Behind the photographer is the M602.

As I moved along Hodge Lane I found myself on the motorway and in the back of the google maps car! Not sure how unusual this is.

[LightBulbFun]

25 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

They are called speed nuts.  You could use them, but access behind may be difficult and you may need longer screws than the kit supplies because of the thickness of the fibreglass.  Normally there is a rubber gasket between the lamp bowl and the body as shown in the kit.

I'd re-use the existing plugs if possible for simplicity, or you could replace with Rawlnuts if you are able to drill or file the holes out.  These are a flanged rubber tube with a threaded insert and work well in fibreglass, as being flexible they will not cause cracking.  

This sort of thing always takes massively longer than you expect, so wait for warmer weather and longer evenings! 

 

 

interesting I did wonder if they used the rawl-plug type devices because of Fibreglass reasons, ill have to see if I can salvage the original hardware, I was tempted to try and see if I could at least get the head lamp sitting flush, but I realised that would probably mess up my headlight aim (if it has been set properly!) so just left it be for now, those rubber rawlnuts look quite interesting/nifty tho! funnily enough one of the things I picked up from Halfords was a box of various U shaped speed-nuts to replace the missing ones on REV's parcel-shelf/transmission-access-hatch.

indeed my original plan has been for to leave many of these jobs for a FoD weekend, or as you say when the weather is a bit nicer and days are longer, but  I have got a roughly month long commitment coming in the middle of march to roughly the middle of April, where ill be using REV for a couple long motorway jaunts, and in between those 2, using her everyday, so I have somewhat fast-tracked things, to try and spruce her up best I can for that month of day-in-day-out use

although my work yesterday was curtailed not because of the weather but my disabilities sadly, if I ever managed to land myself a place with a garage, first thing im doing is installing some sort of ramp, so I can raise and lower the car to my preferred hight for whatever job it is im doing!

[Snake Charmer]

https://www.carbuilder.com/collections/all

https://www.holden.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwtu9BhC8ARIsAI9JHaklu0xDPDtiTeZcGr7tj-UB1sVWdTHufNLDydGtHQxGAhQN1uLbyVUaAh9nEALw_wcB

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/performance/car-care/

https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/

These companies will be your friends. 😁

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Spotted! The comments... are as you'd expect. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AtyGxACYi/

 

[Eyersey1234]

12 minutes ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

Spotted! The comments... are as you'd expect. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AtyGxACYi/

 

Beaten to it, @LightBulbFun you are famous

[beko1987]

Still learning the size of it? Tons of room infront of you in that space 😂

[barefoot]

Have you found a friendly local garage to do odd bits on it for you yet?

[Heidel_Kakao]

1 hour ago, barefoot said:

Have you found a friendly local garage to do odd bits on it for you yet?

That reminds me I was going to suggest this place after seeing them work on Harry's Garage Fiat 500. They specialise in Italian cars but work on other stuff by the look of it and an air cooled Fiat is somewhat similar to an Invacar mechanically.

https://www.proietti.co.uk/italian-car-servicing-london.htm

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, Heidel_Kakao said:

That reminds me I was going to suggest this place after seeing them work on Harry's Garage Fiat 500. They specialise in Italian cars but work on other stuff by the look of it and an air cooled Fiat is somewhat similar to an Invacar mechanically.

https://www.proietti.co.uk/italian-car-servicing-london.htm

Good shout, if it's not all poof for tv.

[plasticvandan]

Those plastic inserts are standard on Reliant bodies,and used to hold almost everything to the body,come in various sizes.what looks like has happened is the screw has corroded and swelled inside the insert,and the whole lot popped out of the body.simple enough to remove and replace with new. Land rover defenders of the mod variety use a lot of square plugs like these as well.

Plenty of options about for bowls,I tended to go for plastic bases as that way they won't rust again.

Screen seal has just shrunk with age,some silicone in the join will sort that.it doesn't look too bad condition wise.

I would suggest finding a thick piece of rubber to wrap around that fuel pipe before tiring it right against that metal bar,it will still vibrate and move about but is now up against the steel.