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...

2,584 · October 24

4 hours ago, chadders said:

What sort of driving gloves though?

Stringbacks are associated with British Sports cars, what sort are associated with Invacars?

Highway to hell?

19,376 · October 24

Edit: you can even get them in light blue! Perfect.

11,117 · October 24

He'll be heading for redlight district to recreate period scene photograph

4,199 · October 25

So are you getting it delivered this weekend Dez? Start off with some off peak late evening trips to get some confidence built up. I genuinely hope you have a great ownership journey with Rev. The only thing I would suggest is immobilising it when parked up. Assuming it has one removing the rotor arm after every trip out is a quick and easy way to stop someone hot wiring it. Get yourself a little toolkit together so you can do basic things within your capabilities. I keep a tool roll in every vehicle I own incase of issues and I'm not much more able bodied than yourself these days. I'm assuming rev has a heater in it for the colder weather?

18,743 · October 25

2 hours ago, dean36014 said:

So are you getting it delivered this weekend Dez? Start off with some off peak late evening trips to get some confidence built up. I genuinely hope you have a great ownership journey with Rev. The only thing I would suggest is immobilising it when parked up. Assuming it has one removing the rotor arm after every trip out is a quick and easy way to stop someone hot wiring it. Get yourself a little toolkit together so you can do basic things within your capabilities. I keep a tool roll in every vehicle I own incase of issues and I'm not much more able bodied than yourself these days. I'm assuming rev has a heater in it for the colder weather?

all being well, hopefully Sunday is the day indeed as per when I had her home in 2021 ill have some security measures in place and I have a fairly comprehensive toolset in a carry case I can take with me for the early and longer trips

I also plan to have in REV a spare drive belt, a spare throttle cable/bowden cable with suitable ends, and ignition condenser as those are the 3 things most likely to fail on me, although at some point I do plan to preemptively replace the condenser with a proper polypropylene capacitor setup as per Zel's TPA

https://autoshite.com/topic/29443-zels-motoring-adventurespeugeot-renault-rover-trabant-invacar-volvo-a-sinclair-c5-updated-0910/page/117/#comment-2254821

(I actually measured the capacitance value of REV's current condenser back in 2021, and funnily enough it came out to exactly 0.22uF which is exactly the value of capacitor Zel Used to replace his )

I do also need to get a phone mount, I did get one back in 2021, but I appear to have lost it!

6,256 · October 25

Have you got a spare wheel in it as well?

22,342 · October 25

If there is no space for spare wheel, a 12v compressor or a battery one is something I would recommend.

9,033 · October 25

How old are the tyres on it?

3,757 · October 25

Thinking about what is likely to be unreliable - points/condenser as mentioned, fuses corroding in holders, bad earths on lamp units - particularly a problem on fibreglass bodies. Also I would be concerned about how well the dynastart will keep the battery charged on short runs. Perhaps worth fitting a voltmeter and a basic electronic ignition, even one which retains the points. All fairly easy stuff to deal with. I may have an old- style voltmeter somewhere if you would like it.

18,743 · October 25

18 minutes ago, Mr Pastry said:

Thinking about what is likely to be unreliable - points/condenser as mentioned, fuses corroding in holders, bad earths on lamp units - particularly a problem on fibreglass bodies. Also I would be concerned about how well the dynastart will keep the battery charged on short runs. Perhaps worth fitting a voltmeter and a basic electronic ignition, even one which retains the points. All fairly easy stuff to deal with. I may have an old- style voltmeter somewhere if you would like it.

I have actually got a Combined volt-meter and USB charging "gauge" that I plan to wire in and hopefully find somewhere under the dashboard I can zip tie in place (the Dynastart's charging ability or lack their of on short runs is a concern, but it is one of the reasons I last year bought a massive overkill lithium jump pack https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09CZ89QQ9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 )

On 08/08/2019 at 21:26, LightBulbFun said:

eBay was throwing a £5 voucher at my face

so I thought it was good opportunity to get a couple small items iv been wanting

1st thing is this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282475427399 for doing silly computer experiments regarding hanging a Desktop PCIe GPU off an AppleTV or some Poor abused MacBook I have kicking around via said machines mini PCIe wifi slot

and the second thing I got which makes it relevant to the thread is this Combo USB charger and car volt meter for the Invacar https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202735513982 (note you can get them cheaper I just went for the slightly more expensive listing to get me past the £10 min order amount for the voucher to work)

I was going to get one like the one DW has but I think the one I found fits the rest of the dash atheistic better plus it looks quite 1980s and I am a sucker for that sort of thing (also going to tag @Zelandeth since I know he is too )

On 13/08/2019 at 11:43, LightBulbFun said:

voltmeter/USB charging thingy has arrived for the Invacar shown here running off a 9V battery I have kicking around (the 1 bar was blinking on and off probably to indicate that your battery is very low this being for 12V systems)

also charged my phone off the 9V battery, well it was at 100% already so not a massive load but the phone register being plugged into a power source so thats good

and funnily enough unbeknownst to me at the time I really was not all that far off when buying this because it fits fairly well the heavy set black plastic bezel atheistic featured on the rest of the gauges on REV, as The Ministry did actually "release" a digital fuel-gauge option for the Model 70 right towards the end of the scheme!

On 01/04/2023 at 13:52, LightBulbFun said:

and now for something a bit different! recently this was found with a cache of Invacar parts, its a Jiffy bag, but with a Model 70 Ministry stock/part number on it you may

and inside is a box with a Ministry store number on it also, a mysterious one

and inside the box, is this! the 4th type of fuel gauge used in the Model 70!

the very rare digital* dash option!

On 02/04/2023 at 17:43, LightBulbFun said:

so did anyone think this was some sort of bad April fools joke? (because tbh it sort of is im not very good at this sort of thing LOL) but the joke is its not one! its an anti-fools joke, this genuinely is a Model 70 fuel gauge, and this genuinely was a 4th type of Gauge, After the 2 Smiths gauges, and the later Veglia replacement fuel gauge, came this Curtis Digital fuel gauge, right at the end of the scheme! I had no idea they where a thing until it was unearthed a few months ago in a cache of Model 70 parts

here is the corresponding letter that went with it, (this letter in itself has been quite useful as I had always wondered how they handled the voltage regulator that was fitted to Post March 1976 Model 70's when fitting the later Veglia gauge)

this one of those things that really show, how seriously the government took the whole Invacar scheme, how no matter the time or the situation they would go out of their way to keep machines functioning, keep in mind this was 4 years to the end here and they where still developing new parts! this is right up there with the stainless steel floors they fitted to all Model 70's in 2000 or so

I find it quite funky, in a sort of retro-futuristic sci-fi sort of way, a glimps into what might of been, if the Model 70 was never withdrawn from service, or never ended production! especially the fact its an 80's style LED bar graph

I will admit it does not fit the circular atheistic at all, I think a vertical arrangement like the Veglia would of been better in this case, but its still nifty to see in and of itself I do wonder how many got fitted in the end! I cant say I have ever seen a Model 70 with one, I have seen a few late survivors with the Veglia gauge, but never this Curtis LED gauge!

I also find it quite amusing because if you wind the clock back a few years ago, you may recall I bought a USB Charger and volt meter thing with the intention of zip-tying it to the bottom the dashboard rail and I selected the one I did because I found its bezel matched the bezels on REV's existing gauge and clock set and I liked the 80's atheistic of its LED display, so I find it quite amusing that, turns out there unknowingly already was something much like this for the Model 70! but if you told me about it Id of had a hard time believing you! (as an aside I still need to fit this USB charge-volt-gauge)

I do wonder how many actually got fitted? I have never actually seen a Model 70 fitted with one, but I do wonder if there are any out there!

40,249 · October 25

On 22/10/2024 at 17:16, Christine said:

now had a white Robin Reliant , the cute one , with round headlights.

Now that is as rare as hens teeth. The Reliant Robin was far more common (they had round headlights as well).

40,249 · October 25

On 23/10/2024 at 12:28, IronStar said:

As likely as British Invacar. We were never part of USSR nor were relations that tight to ever get these (or any other USSR-specific oddities).

Did you get the Czech Velorex invalid carriage?

https://oldmotors.net/velorex/

Or the East German Simson Duo?

40,045 · October 25

On 22/10/2024 at 16:32, wuvvum said:

That's only the Tigers, and they're rare as rocking horse shit (and fetch stupid money). The KR200 is much more common and also has insufficient wheels, although it is still somewhat quicker than a Villiers-engined Invacar.

I was a passenger in a tiger and the driver was determined to scare me. He was successfull.

1,814 · October 25

36 minutes ago, martc said:

Did you get the Czech Velorex invalid carriage?

https://oldmotors.net/velorex/

Or the East German Simson Duo?

Never seen any of those. Yugoslavia’s relations with Eastern block countries, especially when those were new were…complicated. Yugoslavia was too west-oriented for USSR and co liking.

13,135 · October 25

3 hours ago, HMC said:

I was a passenger in a tiger and the driver was determined to scare me. He was successfull.

Was that before he started it up? Not mushroom in them.

11,117 · October 26

They were made from left over bits of WWII German aircraft , canopies , tailwheels etc .. :razz:

2,584 · October 26

14 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

I do also need to get a phone mount, I did get one back in 2021, but I appear to have lost it!

Silence the bloody thing and leave it in your pocket. 🙂 Concentrate on the lnvacare experience as it would be when REV was new and you are that new driver. I know you have driven it before but take in the excitement of being let loose on the open road in the 70/80s without the technological distraction.

Film it yes, but be that rare young inexperienced driver out on the road, learning and surviving as we all did in/on our first bikes or cars. You are doing it in a unique vehicle and not many people will be able to say they have experienced that first time new driver drive in an Model 70.

I built a 125cc Honda from the crate for a young lady in the mid 80's, left it out back of the shop then had the job of handing it over to her. My heart sank when she asked how the controls worked and could I show her having never riden before. I took her into into a quiet side road and showed her the basics then felt like a concerned father letting her go off into the big wide world for the first time, I often wonder how she fared to this day. I'm sure you will be OK once out on the open road. 👍

4,331 · October 26

3 hours ago, Christine said:

They were made from left over bits of WWII German aircraft , canopies , tailwheels etc ..

Willy's business hit the skids on 7th May 1945 so he had to do something else.

The armour plated glass canopies might be useful now in parts of London, as would the armoured seats.

18,743 · October 26

2 hours ago, Snake Charmer said:

Silence the bloody thing and leave it in your pocket. 🙂 Concentrate on the lnvacare experience as it would be when REV was new and you are that new driver. I know you have driven it before but take in the excitement of being let loose on the open road in the 70/80s without the technological distraction.

Film it yes, but be that rare young inexperienced driver out on the road, learning and surviving as we all did in/on our first bikes or cars. You are doing it in a unique vehicle and not many people will be able to say they have experienced that first time new driver drive in an Model 70.

I built a 125cc Honda from the crate for a young lady in the mid 80's, left it out back of the shop then had the job of handing it over to her. My heart sank when she asked how the controls worked and could I show her having never riden before. I took her into into a quiet side road and showed her the basics then felt like a concerned father letting her go off into the big wide world for the first time, I often wonder how she fared to this day. I'm sure you will be OK once out on the open road. 👍

its not for filming! (tho I probably will try and record things at some point) but its wanted for for navigation, again I live in Central London, unless your a black cab driver who has passed The Knowledge, your very much going to need some sort of navigation aid

58,389 · October 26

10 minutes ago, LightBulbFun said:

navigation aid

October 26

Has this been collected yet? If not, why not? The Scottish division has delivered the goods on time. Too much talk and not enough action, it's been a week now.

20,693 · October 26

I do hope that you are not heading right into London. All the Robinson supports are out there doing their best to block the roads.

6,256 · October 26

Well one of the seventies nicknames was mobile roadblocks

October 26

1 hour ago, plasticvandan said:

Well one of the seventies nicknames was mobile roadblocks

I'm quite sure the average speed in London now is less than it was when the horse was the main form of transport around the Capital.

58,389 · October 26

3 hours ago, R Lutz said:

Has this been collected yet? If not, why not? The Scottish division has delivered the goods on time. Too much talk and not enough action, it's been a week now.

Scheduled for tomorrow innit?

33,953 · October 26

Exciting times for you, Dezmondo. Don’t be afraid to take it easy or ask for help or take the bus. There’s always tomorrow when you leave an old banger at home, but not if you take it out!

The only other thing I taught my own son, is how you can calm even the most angry of motorist with a hand up and a sorry. I did this by deliberately breaking down in the middle of a busy junction in Ipswich and saying to him “Watch this”. I just put my hand up to say sorry and everyone immediately became patient and sympathetic. It was like flicking a switch.

Remember - slow and steady wins the race.

Good luck man.

25,782 · October 27

I stopped by to give Rev a quick check over and test drive today. Seemed worthwhile to do given I'm at least somewhat used to how these cars behave. At least you'd hope so after ~5K miles in one.

Yes it was also a good excuse to get TPA out for a decent run, she's only really had a couple of local runs this year, so a good half hour run on proper open roads probably did the world of good.

Plenty of little jobs to keep Dez busy, but she seems to be running, driving and stopping just fine. Only thing we found that seems to have given up the ghost was the horn. May be that can be revived by whacking it with a screwdriver or something, but likely easiest just to change it. Looks like an Invacar equivalent to the patented BMC choke clothes peg might also be needed as that didn't really want to stay fully on, so you kind of need three hands during a cold start.

Needs a good clean, a bit of paint on the front end over a couple of cracks from historic damage where it's started to flake a bit, and I'm sure once you start digging there will be a dozen other little things once some miles are being covered. As far as I can tell though, she's as ready as she's likely to get. All the vital systems and lights seem to be working properly as best I could tell spending an hour or so with the car.

I'd have loved to offer to help in a more material way with the actual prep, but I just know I'd never find time with how poorly I'm keeping up with my own fleet at the moment never mind anyone else's and I wouldn't want to promise anything I couldn't deliver.

18,743 · October 27

Awesome! many thanks for taking time out of your day to pop over and give REV one last final check-over, espically as you say, you have plenty of real world Model 70 experiance, so would be able to tell if something was off or wrong with how she drove or peformed or behaved in some manner, so its very reassuring to see you have had a go and theres nothing to really report it all checks out

on the horn front, I do actually have REV's original Lucas horn in a box here at home, its mostly a lump of rusty metal, but I do note that upon cleaning up the terminals and applying voltage to it, it draws plenty of power and I can tell its trying to work, so I do wonder if I can open it up and clean it out/get it working again, its OnTheList(TM) of things for me to do eventually when the fancy takes me

her bodywork has always been like that since I got her, I am told it happened when the previous owners daughter drove her into a tree, it would be good to get it all sorted at some point, but for now I am not worrying too much about it, mostly looking forward to driving about

7 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

I'd have loved to offer to help in a more material way with the actual prep, but I just know I'd never find time with how poorly I'm keeping up with my own fleet at the moment never mind anyone else's and I wouldn't want to promise anything I couldn't deliver.

really dont worry about it, you have helped me out immeasurably in many other ways, which without your help there is a good chance I would not have REV today and just having someone with lots of common interests who is there as a friend and never too far away, has been immensely helpful and good food for the ol mental-health side of things, so dont feel like you have not helped! its very much the opposite, you have helped me out immeasurably and for that I am eternally grateful and will always be there for you in kind

6,256 · October 27

A horn will be vital in London I'm sure with all the pedestrians staring at their phone, plenty of universal fitment ones about,and could probably upgrade to a louder one as I'm sure it will have had the cheapest one in the Lucas catalogue when new

18,743 · October 27

12 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

A horn will be vital in London I'm sure with all the pedestrians staring at their phone, plenty of universal fitment ones about,and could probably upgrade to a louder one as I'm sure it will have had the cheapest one in the Lucas catalogue when new

no no, the fun and games is seeing how close you can sneak up to them, then stick your head out the window and shout "Boo!"

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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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