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...

[Weird Car]

  On 28/04/2025 at 11:43, Heidel_Kakao said:

@LightBulbFunI am curious about what makes REV so comfortable for you compared to a regular car? From my admittedly short blat around the FOD I can only imagine a five hour journey at speed with all the noise and vibration etc being much more tiring than a regular car where you could just set the cruise and relax.

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The biggest killer for me when I owned both VJN953S and TPE409S was the insane amount of cramping I’d get in my wrist from holding the throttle at 3 quarters for extended periods, the seat was relatively comfortable/supportive by design, also not having anywhere to rest my arms as you’re smack bang in the middle of the car was an annoyance for sure  

[lesapandre]

Central drivers seat - up there with some exalted company like McLaren road cars.

[Weird Car]

  On 28/04/2025 at 14:21, lesapandre said:

Central drivers seat - up there with some exalted company like McLaren road cars.

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The only issue I have is it’s unfortunately forbidden to carry passengers in an Invacar so unlike the McLaren F1 I can’t *legally* use my passengers thighs as arm rests ☹️ so it looses points there 

[beko1987]

  On 28/04/2025 at 14:42, Weird Car said:

The only issue I have is it’s unfortunately forbidden to carry passengers in an Invacar so unlike the McLaren F1 I can’t *legally* use my passengers thighs as arm rests ☹️ so it looses points there 

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You could fit a rubber arm to the side of the seat to re-create the experience?

[lesapandre]

Two inflatable dolls?

[MrGTI6]

  On 28/04/2025 at 16:02, lesapandre said:

Two inflatable dolls?

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3 randoms please.

[LightBulbFun]

  On 28/04/2025 at 10:01, Six-cylinder said:

FoD is only 58 miles!

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Yeah so much for going to the FoD and back as the long(ish) distance proving run, that was my initial plan! but this proves that at least getting to the FoD should not be a problem!  

  On 28/04/2025 at 11:43, Heidel_Kakao said:

@LightBulbFunI am curious about what makes REV so comfortable for you compared to a regular car? From my admittedly short blat around the FOD I can only imagine a five hour journey at speed with all the noise and vibration etc being much more tiring than a regular car where you could just set the cruise and relax.

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2 major factors, 1: the seat is surprisingly comfortable, I know it doesn't look like much but it really is,  the good friend who was hosting me, with Mk4 Fiesta took me for a quick run in his car as he had to pop to a cash point to withdraw some money for some streetlights he would be buying, and my lasting impression on that, was "gosh I had forgotten how uncomfortable and hard regular car seats are".

2: the other major factor is its all hand controls with a wide flat floor, due to my Cerebral Palsy in my experience me and cars with pedals dont get on very well! after an hour or 2 I get a lot of pain in my lower back all the way to my legs and feet, one particularly unpleasant experience was driving a Citroen ZX around the roads outside the FoD, I mean the drive itself was fun and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity for that experience , but the 6 months of recovery time before the right side of my body stopped aching, was not fun, and thats an experience I wish not to repeat, it one of the reasons why that in the years that REV was off the road, I was quite reluctant to get another car as a stop gap, in REV the all hand controls and wide open flat floor, mean that my legs and feet can find their happy natural rest positions and I can change positions to maintain comfort (I once bemused myself as I realised I was driving a car with my legs crossed at one point!).

Of course REV is no Rolls Royce and she is quite loud at speed, I certainly would not object to more refinement, a lighter action throttle would be nice (or perhaps some sort of throttle-lock that would disengage when you actuated the brakes or twisted the throttle back), which reminds me I should probably look at getting one of those snap-on-thumb-throttle thingies that @dollywobbler has on TWC, but all things considered I am very pleased with things, especially given that, preliminary data was had running around the FoD and then more data was had running around London, showed good compatibility,  but when on the road for a good few hours, you never know how compatible you are with a car and its setup, until you do it, so there was concern about what if certain show-stopping crippling aches and pains come on, but thankfully that was not the case  (and I think some refinement could be realised, her door seals are quite sad and entirely missing in some places for example, so I have been looking at getting those replaced)

  On 28/04/2025 at 11:11, plasticvandan said:

Going by how filthy the outside of it is I'm not surprised the inside is as well

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sadly the local "pay a bloke a tenner to wash your car" car wash is no more, so my plan there is to pounce on @beko1987 at the next FoD or something and see if I can convince him to give REV's exterior some of his special car cleaning TLC  really REV needs a major cosmetic overhaul/repaint, which I have been thinking about, its certainly something I would like to treat REV too and I have been saving up a set-aside for it, but it would mean REV going away once more for months or maybe even a year, and I dont have another Model 70 to use in the meantime! so its a bit catch 22-ish!

[beko1987]

I won't need much convincing! Just a head up so I can stock up!👌

I'm sure @Six-cylinder can park one or 2 things next to Rev so we get a few things washed at once! I'll stock up on snow foam.

[Mrs6C]

  On 28/04/2025 at 17:02, LightBulbFun said:

really REV needs a major cosmetic overhaul/repaint

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TBH, a good clean and a bit of a rub over with some abrasive paper, then hand painting with a primer layer and pale blue top coat of about the right colour would smarten up REV very quickly and cheaply for now. WIth a decent brush and paint that flows nicely, hand-painting can work well and it's something you could do yourself, a bit at a time.

I'd be inclined to stitch up the crack in the front nose panel too - perhaps for now with some aluminium sheet at the back and countersunk rivets at the front,  at intervals along the crack line - to give it some strength and discourage the two sides from starting to move independently of each other... a bit of flexible sealant over the top of the rivet and a dab of top coat would hide the rivet heads. You could do a more elegant job with GRP repairs later.

[Mrs6C]

In other news, further obscure, senior, petrol-powered vehicles are taking to the roads... well, at least one of them...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx2741yjlqgo

[plasticvandan]

Most decent paint shops would have that in and out in a month,there's not much of it is there,don't take it into an auto car wash for obvious reasons. (3 wheeler's were banned as the roller goes under the front..) What I was saying is if it's dirty outside it will be dirty inside.just needs a clean. Pretty sure there will be tonnes of mobile valeters who would come out and do it,prob for cheap as it would generate interest on their socials. It needs some wax on it which will help stop it getting as bad as quickly.deffo sounds like the timing is too retarded if only getting 27mpg and 66mph flat out. Will need to get that clutch sorted too as can't imagine that is helping either.

[High Jetter]

  On 28/04/2025 at 18:10, Mrs6C said:

In other news, further obscure, senior, petrol-powered vehicles are taking to the roads... well, at least one of them...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx2741yjlqgo

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At 12 mph, they were the definitive 'slow coach'. Made in Britain, in Brighton, for entertainment on Madeira Drive. Wonderful.

Edit: Have a link: https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/places/placesea/peter-pans-playground/peter-pans-playground-2

[LightBulbFun]

  On 28/04/2025 at 18:10, Mrs6C said:

In other news, further obscure, senior, petrol-powered vehicles are taking to the roads... well, at least one of them...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cx2741yjlqgo

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hah yeah! I was reading about that the other day! funnily enough not the first time a Johnstone miniature coach has featured in this thread  my favourite part of them was after doing a bit of DVLA bashing, I found a few that where still road-registered and some even registered as single-decker buses, that the MOT checker thought where genuine PSV/HGV vehicles! I wonder what would happen if you tried to book/bring one in for a PSV MOT! (cough @Inspector Morose cough) "haha very funny, now wheres the actual coach?" No seriously this is it!" *gets punched in the face* (I would actually really quite like to own one, as a bus enthusiast its probably the only sort of bus I could realistically manage by myself, but I imagine they probably command a bit of a premium? but imagine all the bus lanes I could use!) 12Mph seems a bit slow, I seem to recall they could go a bit faster then that, they are 125cc Villiers engined IIRC

  On 06/10/2020 at 02:02, LightBulbFun said:

  On 06/10/2020 at 01:02, Mr Pastry said:

Google Johnstone's Miniature Coaches.  They came in various sizes and were indeed Villiers powered.

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wow thats pretty amazing! surprised I never heard of them before! totally beats the pants off the poxy plastic battery powered things you see these days in argos and what have you LOL

just did some quick googling with the info you provided and I was curious to know if they where ever road registered and indeed some actually got road registered!

and I came across one thats still on the DVLA today FPM404, which amusing is registered as a single decker bus

can you imagine turning up in it at a place that does bus MOT's and asking for one? LOL

that was a neat rabbit hole to delve down into  

and of course the british pathe have a short video on one  

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[big_al_granvia]

you just mentioned something there dez that flicked a wee switch n my head... uncomfortable seats in modern  cars... why not go custom, standard kirkey race seat but with the bin bag mix of foam mounded to your body. 

[LightBulbFun]

 

  On 28/04/2025 at 18:04, Mrs6C said:

TBH, a good clean and a bit of a rub over with some abrasive paper, then hand painting with a primer layer and pale blue top coat of about the right colour would smarten up REV very quickly and cheaply for now. WIth a decent brush and paint that flows nicely, hand-painting can work well and it's something you could do yourself, a bit at a time.

I'd be inclined to stitch up the crack in the front nose panel too - perhaps for now with some aluminium sheet at the back and countersunk rivets at the front,  at intervals along the crack line - to give it some strength and discourage the two sides from starting to move independently of each other... a bit of flexible sealant over the top of the rivet and a dab of top coat would hide the rivet heads. You could do a more elegant job with GRP repairs later.

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I am not sure I could quite do that myself sadly, I think painting a car involves a fair amount of manual labour, especially the rubbing/sanding down portion of things, I was thinking at one point maybe I could have a go at painting REV's wheel wheels since I think they could do with a bit of tidying up in themselves, but then seeing the amount of work that @dollywobbler had to put in just to paint his *new* 2CV wheels, Eeep!....

the problem also is I think REV needs/could do with a bit more then just that, for example her window frames are bit rusty and crusty in places, so ideally that (and most of her window hardware) wants attention and her floor as well I think could probably realistically do with completely replacing, being a private car she never got the stainless steel floor upgrade that the ministry Model 70's got, then theres the issue of the sagged suspension spring, and the clutch issue that developed just before the trip, hence why I was thinking about how can I get REV the work she needs with the minimal amount of downtime, or if major downtime is inevitable, how can I do it so it causes the least amount of disturbance to me

  On 28/04/2025 at 18:18, plasticvandan said:

deffo sounds like the timing is too retarded if only getting 27mpg and 66mph flat out. Will need to get that clutch sorted too as can't imagine that is helping either.

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indeed its only about 60Mph on the flat and level why I would like just a little bit more grunt, so I can maintain 60Mph on part throttle and have a bit of reserve, so I can accelerate past the lorries rather then elephant race past them, as much fun as it is to watch everyone suddenly have to funnel themselves into the 3rd lane if they cant wait for me to finish my overtake ,

the 66Mph was done on the big downhill bit of the M40 when it goes through a big cutting, on the way back that was fun, as REV slowly started to loose speed and I was thinking "uh oh is something failing?" but then I realised where I was and I was just climbing my way back up where I had previously gone down, she settled to about 45Mph for that climb and then picked back up to the usual 57-62Mph afterwards  (I did notice that my general speed on the way back home was maybe 1 or 2 Mph slower then on the way there, but going how things felt I wonder if I had a bit of a head wind or such)

, 

[plasticvandan]

I would recommend an additive called dipethane which you can get from Halfords to put in the fuel tank,it is meant to work on both petrol and diesel,I use it in my Berlingo van,and it has been very good at cleaning the engine out (emissions),increasing mpg,speed and get up and go,it's about £13 (prob 20 in London) but worth a go given how often you fill it up to see if it improves it.

[LightBulbFun]

as an aside, while waiting at a motorway-interchange, this pulled up next to me, I am curious if anyone knows what it might of been/be? looks to be *quite* old going by the type of tyres on it if nothing else!

[AdgeCutler]

  On 23/04/2025 at 22:18, LightBulbFun said:

tis very awesome to see Brian is out and about once more  and thats a pretty impressive speed your at there! have you managed to take Brian onto a motorway yet?  having driven a Model 70 a fair bit and having confirmed to myself through this driving, that the people who shit-talk about them being unstable or bad handling, unsafe at speed etc, are talking complete and utter bollocks, I am all the more curious to get behind the controls of an older Villiers machine to see how they compare in terms of driving dynamics  

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I'm afraid Dez, that I shall not be trying that. Although, yes, we have disproven the 45mph top speed and at 50 I have let go of the throttle for the sake of the engine and vehicle as a whole, 40mph feels and sounds a happier place for the machine.  That speed is too low for a motorway and would be causing a hazard to everybody around. Aside from that, the wind buffeting would be terrifying and dangerous. Don't forget that the model 70 is a MUCH more refined machine and as far as the stability goes has greater track width and a much more substantial, stiffer, stronger chassis, also the weight increase is a bonus. It isn't a great deal of fun (or perhaps it is albeit terrifying) when you find yourself having to drive through winds and you have to be aware of gaps in hedges or buildings where the wind funnels through, jumping in in these conditions does mean that you have to actively be a driver.

In short, a 70 is a much more refined machine, more stable, speedier and also a much less demanding to drive than its predecessors (especially I guess the full bodied ((wind sail)) ones). 

[beko1987]

Your big downhill stretch was probably Stokenchurch cut. Going out of London it was in the into shot to the Vicar of Dibley opening credits, that helicopter countryside shot is them flying down the cut.

That's my junction too. Going to work I come out 1/4 up the hill going to London! Always a good place to stay in 4th and boot a car to clear it out 👌

[Noel Tidybeard]

don't take too much notice of dollywobblers wheel painting- he was going very OTT due to the way 2cv wheels like to self-destruct

a going over with a wire brush and some lidl/aldi wheel paint would be an improvement if not perfect

[MT606]

'' (or perhaps some sort of throttle-lock that would disengage when you actuated the brakes or twisted the throttle back)''  if you could get something bar like or motorcycle clutch lever (made unmoveable) mounted from either the column or handlebar you could get something like these

they have enough grip to stay stationary at what ever throttle setting you need and when you roll off the throttle they don't impede said movement..... I've got similar on both my motorbikes.....best bit of kit I've got.

[D.E]

This one's got a steering wheel it seems?

[LightBulbFun]

  On 30/04/2025 at 21:35, D.E said:

This one's got a steering wheel it seems?

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indeed it is a steering wheel car, and a picture I have not seen before, very nice find

 

funnily enough a close survivor, LPL837P is also a non-handle-bar machine

[Dobloseven]

Loads of these running round Beijing.They all seems to have petrol engines rather than being electric like most trikes here.And of course can run in the cycle lanes.Also all got disabled stickers.Could be some Chinese Motability scheme?

[comfortablynumb]

@LightBulbFun I was going to message you directly about these, but thought it'd be better to stick it on your thread since it'll need others help.

Sorting through stuff this morning I've found this lovely pair. No idea if they work, or even where they're from.

If they're of any interest to you you'd be welcome to them, but they'd need careful transport from Norfolk to you.

Let me know if you're interested, cheers 

Edited yesterday at 07:45 by comfortablynumb
Missed pic

[comfortablynumb]

And there's more 

These don't seem to work, unless they need a supply other than a standard 240v socket?

Only one of the bayonet fitting

Seem to be approx 150mm long

[LightBulbFun]

  On 05/05/2025 at 07:45, comfortablynumb said:

@LightBulbFun I was going to message you directly about these, but thought it'd be better to stick it on your thread since it'll need others help.

Sorting through stuff this morning I've found this lovely pair. No idea if they work, or even where they're from.

If they're of any interest to you you'd be welcome to them, but they'd need careful transport from Norfolk to you.

Let me know if you're interested, cheers 

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Ooooh yes please! I would be most interested in those  if your in Norfolk, I dont think thats a *million* miles away so I might be able to pick them up in person with REV  

how far away are these from you?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1002978151845051

since I have been looking to go grab those with REV, but if your also in the area, I should factor that in and see if I can grab everything in one fell swoop (ie these tubes are near you, then i'd be happy to pay you to grab em on my behalf, then I can just pick up everything from you directly ) 

I very much appreciate you thinking about me, big lightbulbs especially like the on on the left, are right up my ally!

  23 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

And there's more 

These don't seem to work, unless they need a supply other than a standard 240v socket?

Only one of the bayonet fitting

Seem to be approx 150mm long

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those are sodium discharge lamps, and yeah they require external control-gear to run! if plugged in directly to the mains, they can explode violently, you had a lucky escape that in being external-ignitor sodium lamps, they usually need a high voltage kick to get going, but if they where internal ignitor sodium lamps, or mercury discharge lamps, they would of ignited on the mains and gone *BANG* the one with the BC cap is just an adapters its been screwed into  i'd be interested in these as well! and also the other lightbulbs you advertised! if no one else wants those, keep em for me if you can  

 

funny you should mention lamps in here tho! as I most recently with the help of my brother, managed to get my room tidied up and I managed to gain access and clean up my work desk, which I am most pleased about, so I can start doing all the lightbulb testing and experments I have been meaning to do, but not been able to do

look actual white space!

was not long before I had an experiment on the go/recently acquired vintage lightbulb on test, and Morris deciding to run interference of course  

[comfortablynumb]

Ah, ok, well I didn't test them all 🥺

If you want them Dez you're welcome, but I can't see the Facebook thingy because I don't do Facebook.

[LightBulbFun]

  21 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

Ah, ok, well I didn't test them all 🥺

If you want them Dez you're welcome, but I can't see the Facebook thingy because I don't do Facebook.

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dont worry, since they did not actually ignite  and go bang, they will be fine  

heres a screenshot of the facebook market place listing/tubes I want  I suppose I should tag @wuvvum since I think Norfolk is his neck of the woods also  

 

[comfortablynumb]

Yeah, I think @wuvvum and I are about 60 miles apart.

It's probably a 3 hour drive to me in Rev, and the roads round here test a range rover 🙄 

Let's see if there's anyone who can get them at least closer to you