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...

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 13:14, quicksilver said:

* pedant (Sorry couldn't resist the obvious opportunity for further pedantry).

In other news, take a look at page 10 here: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1017/3257/files/Globe_242.pdf?v=1583827193

Not a bad potted history of the invalid carriage although the myth of the 600 engine has appeared again; I wonder where it came from as it's very prevalent despite absolutely no evidence to support it. Now we know the model Model 70 will be the Bubblecar Museum's KPK71P, which presumably is the one they measured to make it.

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ah very cool!

that was a fun and also amusing read, because to someone like me its fun playing the game of knowing/figuring out where the info came from!

a lot of it is obviously from the virtual gaz website!

and they sadly they still don't differentiate AC from Invacar, and they make it seem like the "invacar" was 1 constantly changing Model, when there where many different invalid vehicle models!

the engine thing is even more amusing when you realise that, Steyr puch never made a 600cc engine, they made 493cc engines and then went straight to 643cc or 660cc (depending on if its a Haflinger or such engine or a TR/TRII performance engine)

the 82Mph top speed thing is also reported again, im still waiting for someone to verify that

but its very cool to see which Model 70 they measured up etc (it is amusing that they used a pre rollover bar AC Model 70 for it, which is about as removed from Invacar as you can get in this situation!)

10,548 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 13:14, quicksilver said:

* pedant

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There's always one.

2,200 · March 11, 2020

On 09/03/2020 at 23:39, LightBulbFun said:

do you think this would be able to be done during the 4/5th (with the tyres already on hand/at the garage of course)

or is this something that will have to be done ahead of time? (just wondering since the 4/5th is a weekend and all that!)

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@LightBulbFun

There is a local independent tyre dealer close to where I work in Buckingham that I always use so I called in today and asked them what they could offer in 145R80x10. They only list one type suitable for cars, made by a company called Falken, which are a good mid-range choice, in fact we have them on the family Hyundai Getz and they seem to be quite good for the money they cost. They can do them for £48 each all in, i.e. including fitting, new valve, balancing and disposal of the old tyre, so you could get all three for less than £150). They do not keep them in stock but can get them within a couple of days. Apparently their supplier currently has 50 in stock, so availability shouldn't be a problem.
It is called Buckingham Tyre and Exhaust Centre and has been in business for as long as I can remember. It is still run by the same three guys, two of which I think are father and son, as when I first used them more than 30 years ago, and they are not always the cheapest but are very friendly, efficient and accomodating.
So, some options:
They are about a ten minute drive from the FoD and are open on Saturday mornings from 8:30am until 12:30pm, so if you ordered them in advance and someone could get to the field, remove all the wheels from REV and get them there by about 11:30am or so, they could be fitted there and then.
Unfortunately I cannot volunteer for this as we are potentially busy that weekend.
Or @Mrs6C could join the party and you could buy 6 and have them all fitted together. No discount for quantity though, I did ask!
Or, assuming I can get access to the field beforehand, if you fancied sending me the £150 by PayPal I could go to the field in advance, remove all three wheels from REV (I have axle stands to put it on), take them in for you and get the new tyres fitted, then take them back to the field and (assuming no broken studs) refit them.

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 15:23, Slowsilver said:

@LightBulbFun

There is a local independent tyre dealer close to where I work in Buckingham that I always use so I called in today and asked them what they could offer in 145R80x10. They only list one type suitable for cars, made by a company called Falken, which are a good mid-range choice, in fact we have them on the family Hyundai Getz and they seem to be quite good for the money they cost. They can do them for £48 each all in, i.e. including fitting, new valve, balancing and disposal of the old tyre, so you could get all three for less than £150). They do not keep them in stock but can get them within a couple of days. Apparently their supplier currently has 50 in stock, so availability shouldn't be a problem.
It is called Buckingham Tyre and Exhaust Centre and has been in business for as long as I can remember. It is still run by the same three guys, two of which I think are father and son, as when I first used them more than 30 years ago, and they are not always the cheapest but are very friendly, efficient and accomodating.
So, some options:
They are about a ten minute drive from the FoD and are open on Saturday mornings from 8:30am until 12:30pm, so if you ordered them in advance and someone could get to the field, remove all the wheels from REV and get them there by about 11:30am or so, they could be fitted there and then.
Unfortunately I cannot volunteer for this as we are potentially busy that weekend.
Or @Mrs6C could join the party and you could buy 6 and have them all fitted together. No discount for quantity though, I did ask!
Or, assuming I can get access to the field beforehand, if you fancied sending me the £150 by PayPal I could go to the field in advance, remove all three wheels from REV (I have axle stands to put it on), take them in for you and get the new tyres fitted, then take them back to the field and (assuming no broken studs) refit them.

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Oh thats sounds pretty good! doing some googling im guessing the Tyres are Falken SN807's?

I very much appreciate the offer of you fitting them for me ahead of time for me! that would take care of one big thing ahead of time and be one less thing to worry about on the weekend

I think ill take you up on that very kind offer, but ill also just wait a little bit to see if @Mrs6C has anything to say or if any other shitter has anything to say etc

(it will be interesting to see what colour combination of wheels REV's ends up on, she originally had 2 black rear wheels, but one ended up at the front, and one ended up on Dolly well I dont know what colour her front wheel was so she could of had a set of 3 all black wheels at some point)

I was thinking it would be neat to reunite REV with her black wheels, but I don't want to over complicate things!

which reminds me I must ask her previous owner if he has a higher resolution version of this picture

its the only picture I have of REV before my ownership apart from stills taken from her movie role!

2,200 · March 11, 2020

They didn't say what model the tyres were but you are probably correct. I wouldn't imagine Falken would do more than one tyre in that size.
Do you have any spare wheels or only the ones that are on REV and Dolly?
It wouldn't be a problem to selectively remove a matching set from both cars if that would be OK with @Mrs6C
But by all means wait until she has seen and replied to these posts.
I guess it wouldn't be a problem if this didn't get done before the tinkering weekend, I could still do it afterwards, but it would be a good step forward.
Obviously I would need the money up front before ordering the tyres, but you can trust me, honestly (testimonials available on request ?).

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 16:14, Slowsilver said:

Do you have any spare wheels or only the ones that are on REV and Dolly?

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there Might be one or 2 wheels with knackered tires kicking around, I know @Zelandeth dropped off a 10 inch wheel for Dolly during the FoD open days of 2019 so theres at least 1 extra somewhere

but otherwise its just whats on Dolly/REV AFAIK, and im not sure where the extra wheel ended up! (or more accurately dolly's old wheel since Zels donated wheel was fitted to dolly since it actually held air!)

but it is worth noting my Model 64 trailer im pretty sure is still on its MoH spec 12 inch wheels which I think will fit REV/Dolly if you need something to hold a car up etc

On 11/03/2020 at 16:14, Slowsilver said:

It wouldn't be a problem to selectively remove a matching set from both cars if that would be OK with @Mrs6C

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ah cool that's good to know and yeah of course if @Mrs6C wishes to keep Dolly with REV's old black wheel/wheels thats perfectly fine by me

On 11/03/2020 at 16:14, Slowsilver said:

Obviously I would need the money up front before ordering the tyres, but you can trust me, honestly (testimonials available on request ?).

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haha, yeah thats not a problem

9,545 · March 11, 2020

A very generous offer by @Slowsilver there and the tyre prices sound good. We''ll need four each (three on and one for the spare wheel) for REV and Dolly, so I would go for a set of eight when the time comes. I'd rather not try to deal with taking off wheels while REV is in the paddock beforehand though, but make use of the FoD weekend to get REV out of the field on the current wheel+tyre combinations and up onto the hardstanding. Then REV (and Dolly in due course) can be put in a place in the yard where vehicle elevation can take place safely and easily and the car can be left up on stands while wheels are removed and the other works are done.

REV is wearing one of Zel's 10" wheels currently I recall, with Dolly wearing the one of REV's that had the worst tyre. We'll have a swap around to get REV's set reshod as a set. They will all need a good clean and there is the opportunity also to give them a rub down and repaint while they are off the car, before the nice new tyres get fitted.

Once the wheels are off REV then if Slowsilver is happy to help, the tyres can be ordered and when they come in, he and I can get the wheels over to the tyre dealer, have the tyres fitted and then put the wheels back on REV after that first weekend.

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 19:05, Mrs6C said:

A very generous offer by @Slowsilver there and the tyre prices sound good. We''ll need four each (three on and one for the spare wheel) for REV and Dolly, so I would go for a set of eight when the time comes. I'd rather not try to deal with taking off wheels while REV is in the paddock beforehand though, but make use of the FoD weekend to get REV out of the field on the current wheel+tyre combinations and up onto the hardstanding. Then REV (and Dolly in due course) can be put in a place in the yard where vehicle elevation can take place safely and easily and the car can be left up on stands while wheels are removed and the other works are done.

REV is wearing one of Zel's 10" wheels currently I recall, with Dolly wearing the one of REV's that had the worst tyre. We'll have a swap around to get REV's set reshod as a set. They will all need a good clean and there is the opportunity also to give them a rub down and repaint while they are off the car, before the nice new tyres get fitted.

Once the wheels are off REV then if Slowsilver is happy to help, the tyres can be ordered and when they come in, he and I can get the wheels over to the tyre dealer, have the tyres fitted and then put the wheels back on REV after that first weekend.

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sounds like another good plan

I had hoped that the tyres would be something that could be sorted in time for or during the weekend, but if you think thats not feasible/safe/have a better plan then thats perfectly fine by me!

again I sadly have little real world experience trying to sort/arrange these sorts of things, so im reluctant to say too much if that makes any sense LOL

I guess the main thing on my end is just trying to figure out when the tyre thing is happening, so I can know when to have the money available, as Tyres is one of the more expensive things that REV currently needs

(and as mentioned the insurance cleaned me out so I have to be extra careful with how I manage the ol fiances!)

9,545 · March 11, 2020

A thought... does your insurance come with breakdown cover (roadside fix and/or recovery)? If not, that is another thing you will want to factor in to your running costs...

While a FTP may never happen to you, if it does, then you will want to have the means to get you and REV home/to somewhere REV can be fixed...

Worth investigating the various providers if you are not covered already, so that you know what's what by the time you need to use REV on the open road.

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 19:47, Mrs6C said:

A thought... does your insurance come with breakdown cover (roadside fix and/or recovery)? If not, that is another thing you will want to factor in to your running costs...

While a FTP may never happen to you, if it does, then you will want to have the means to get you and REV home/to somewhere REV can be fixed...

Worth investigating the various providers if you are not covered already, so that you know what's what by the time you need to use REV on the open road.

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Yah breakdown cover is included with my insurance (well it was an add on but for like £42 for the year its a bit of a no brainer!)

but yeah hopefully I dont end up in @Barry Cade's thread!

2,200 · March 11, 2020

Never even thought about spare wheels.
Do REV and Dolly actually have 8 rims between them?
Do they have a place to mount a spare wheel? I don't remember seeing any Model 70s with a spare wheel attached.
Obviously 4 new tyres will be nearer to £200 per car.
@Mrs6C's idea of moving the cars onto the hard standing before jacking them up is eminently sensible as the paddock is probably pretty soggy at the moment. If they can be moved during the tinkering weekend I am happy to get the tyres fitted after this.

4,744 · March 11, 2020

Are they currently parked on the field, if so with the wet conditions is the jcb or a 4x4 available to assist

9,545 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 23:43, mitsisigma01 said:

Are they currently parked on the field, if so with the wet conditions is the jcb or a 4x4 available to assist

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They are both parked in the paddock. The JCB is a heavy old thing and would sink up to its axles! I don't really want to churn up the ground unnecessarily with it or the tractor or a 4x4.

There isn't any real need to move either Model 70 for now. By the first weekend of April, I hope the ground will have had the opportunity to dry out a bit. Being lightweight, REV should then be able to drive out of the paddock, especially with a couple of folk behind to give a push if needed.

20,563 · March 11, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 23:26, Slowsilver said:

Do they have a place to mount a spare wheel? I don't remember seeing any Model 70s with a spare wheel attached.

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not from the factory no, but thats not stopped some people! (not that I approve that much, drilling holes in hard to replace body work then blocking off a vent is probably not a good idea!)

funnily enough TJN352R (the Invacar Model 70, REV spent 15 years living with) has/had a spare wheel slung in her footwell, the pros of not having any foot controls! although I dont think she was driven around like this, probably something the museum that has her slung in for safe keeping! (I can only imagine the havoc it would wreck should you get into an accident LOL)

On 11/03/2020 at 23:26, Slowsilver said:

Never even thought about spare wheels.

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but yeah, I had briefly thought about it, but otherwise not really gave it much thought because as you say theres no real way to stow a spare wheel in a Model 70 although having one at home is not a bad idea its not my highest priority either

so im happy with just 3, the pros of a 3 wheeler tyres are always just that little bit cheaper then an equivalent 4 wheeler

a 4th wheel is not immediately required to get REV roadworthy in this case so I rather worry about that at a later date and save the cash!

(also as you say im not entirely sure if there's 8 rims to go round)

BTW I noticed the metrinch set Im eying up as recommended by @somewhatfoolish is back up on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313016917728

so have stuck it back on the watch list, strongly considering getting a set as it seems to be exactly what im looking for, relatively small and compact, while catering to both metric and imperial stuff

just waiting to see how the tyres play out, as those are more critical to getting REV on the road

oh and speaking of Invalid vehicles, got the £25 refund from the DVLA today, by cheque of course... but at least I got it!

27,528 · March 11, 2020

I will double check tomorrow but I don't think I have any more serviceable wheels. Maybe one 12", but I know all the 10s are either there or attached to TPA. Might still be useful as a "placeholder" or something though.

61,130 · March 11, 2020

Those 10" Falkens are popular for Minis - they seem to be a pretty decent tyre.

20,563 · March 12, 2020

On 11/03/2020 at 23:56, wuvvum said:

Those 10" Falkens are popular for Minis - they seem to be a pretty decent tyre.

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ah that's good to hear I was wondering if any people with minis etc had anything to say on them

1,817 · March 12, 2020

I think you have been driving longer than me, now. :lol:

Why isn’t the machine being fitted with OE spec rubber? I has a disappoint.

20,563 · March 12, 2020

On 12/03/2020 at 00:08, Out Run said:

I think you have been driving longer than me, now.

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do I at least get a "London component"? LOL

On 12/03/2020 at 00:08, Out Run said:

Why isn’t the machine being fitted with OE spec rubber? I has a disappoint.

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because she is on OE Spec Rubber!

currently on 3 very sad Camac BC110 5.20-10 Bias ply tyres

which you can still get them if you want!

https://www.vintagetyres.com/shop/tyres/camac-bc110-520-10-64l

but i think ill go with some modern radials instead

1,817 · March 12, 2020

On 12/03/2020 at 00:19, LightBulbFun said:

do I at least get a "London component"? LOL

because she is on OE Spec Rubber!

currently on 3 very sad Camac BC110 520-10 Bias ply tyres

which you can still get them if you want!

https://www.vintagetyres.com/shop/tyres/camac-bc110-520-10-64l

but i think ill go with some modern radials instead

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Nah, no excuses. Get that test passed (I know you are waiting on the date and have a mock next lesson). Good luck with it. :-)

Aye, OE ATM, bud fucked. Get the Caramac’s for true and tasty original spec, or can you get R888’s in 10”? Those RS6’s etc won’t know what hit ‘em!

20,563 · March 12, 2020

On 12/03/2020 at 00:25, Out Run said:

Nah, no excuses. Get that test passed (I know you are waiting on the date and have a mock next lesson). Good luck with it.

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LOL, thanks! Hopefully I do pass first time, especially because of time and money reasons!

On 12/03/2020 at 00:25, Out Run said:

Aye, OE ATM, bud fucked. Get the Caramac’s for true and tasty original spec, or can you get R888’s in 10”? Those RS6’s etc won’t know what hit ‘em!

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I dunno, but same wheels as a Mini so im sure you could find some racing slicks or something silly if you really wanted to LOL

20,563 · March 12, 2020

Woo! REV is showing as Taxed on the DVLA now (seems like the DVLA computer operates/updates on the same odd hours I operate at LOL)

(now to update the survivors list )

20,563 · March 12, 2020

seeing as it looks like the tyres will be happening a bit later on, I decided to order the socket set, I previously mentioned (this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313016917728 ) so hopefully ill have that on hand for when REV comes home

20,563 · March 13, 2020

had my 37th lesson today

was supposed to be a mock test but tbh it felt like any other recent lesson so either he forgot about it being a mock test or im just "used to it" ? LOL

either way, it went pretty well today, he said I only made one mistake this lesson so hopefully come test time I wont make any! I have prepaid/booked all my lessons to and including the test date

so hopefully assuming I pass! (I sure hope I pass iv had so many hours its embarrassing!) I won't have to worry money wise about driving lessons anymore, and can focus more of my savings on getting REV on the road etc

next lesson is on tuesday

10,548 · March 15, 2020

Are you aware of Ball & Jones, or Jones & Ball on Meadow Lane, Long Eaton?

Chap in the pub had tales of Villiers engines...

20,563 · March 15, 2020

On 15/03/2020 at 14:59, barefoot said:

Are you aware of Ball & Jones, or Jones & Ball on Meadow Lane, Long Eaton?

Chap in the pub had tales of Villiers engines...

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no I dont think I am aware of them, iv only ever been to 1 pub and that was as a 4 year old!

I remember being fascinated how they could make any Drink fizzy, so I had a glass of fizzy orange juice! LOL

on a separate note someone uploaded a picture of WOO848S and MHJ107P together in one shot to flicker, I knew they had been to the same show together, but nice to see them in the same photograph together

I know WOO848S changed hands recently, although I sadly don't know who it changed hands to, but I wonder if MHJ107P also changed hands at the same time or if WOO was bought by the owner of MHJ107P?

I still very much want to find who the owner of WOO is and finally figure out of WOO is WOO848S or XEV87S!

https://flic.kr/p/2iDhNur

BTW I was wondering @Andyrew if you have a picture/know what the H4 headlamp kits look like? ideally id like something that looks fairly stock and not overly flashy or such, but im not going to be fussy at this point in time, just curious thats all

(ill take what I can get, aim of the game is get her road legal, once she is home all that stuff then I can worry about things like cosmetics!)

4,744 · March 15, 2020

Have you seen this on bfi film player?

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-prince-charles-meets-disabled-drivers-1981-online

Various assorted bits but a brief glimpse of something blue with a registration plate just before the end

4,744 · March 15, 2020

And this one about the recall by Alf Morris...

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-probe-alf-morris-announces-the-recalling-of-the-invacar-1976-online

4,744 · March 15, 2020

A different kind of blue in this clip with other old motors as well

20,563 · March 15, 2020

On 15/03/2020 at 15:27, mitsisigma01 said:

Have you seen this on bfi film player?

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-prince-charles-meets-disabled-drivers-1981-online

Various assorted bits but a brief glimpse of something blue with a registration plate just before the end

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On 15/03/2020 at 15:30, mitsisigma01 said:

And this one about the recall by Alf Morris...

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-probe-alf-morris-announces-the-recalling-of-the-invacar-1976-online

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indeed I have seen those,

the first one was first dicussed in this thread on page 49 https://autoshite.com/topic/32723-invacar-model-70-acquired-general-ramble-thread-index-on-page-1-phase-25-getting-lessons-and-a-licence-37th-lesson-had-insurance-got-thoughts-on-a-model-70-tinkering-day-at-the-fod-on-the-45th-april/page/49/

and the second one goes right back to the start of this thread

but I appreciate the heads up incase I had not seen them

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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...

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