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...

[keef]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BritishRoadscene1955to1985/posts/24515417514755320/

[Pieman]

On 02/08/2025 at 12:00, danthecapriman said:

Yo @LightBulbFun, I’m disappointed in you! Your thread has left the first page😄 I had to actually look for it.

Anyway, you might have seen this one before but,

From here:

 

That YT channel is a goldmine, thank you for that great find!

[danthecapriman]

9 hours ago, Pieman said:

That YT channel is a goldmine, thank you for that great find!

It is absolutely fantastic. I’m not a huge bus fanatic, though I do like them, but it’s all the stuff in the background and other vehicles running around that interest me most.

If you look in the guys channel there’s videos from other areas of the country too so it’s not just London.

[LightBulbFun]

@dollywobbler with regards to this video and your thoughts about the idea of selling TWC, in my completely unbiased* opinion, I would say dont sell her for a few reasons

look at how reliable TWC has been! despite the fact these days she sits around for months at a time, look at how readily she springs back into action, i'd say of all your fleet members she has given you the least amount of gyp  

similarly, fibreglass body so you dont have to worry about rust issues  with regards to the fact she does not generate the views she once did, I would say that if you did some more adventures in her that might help get the views back, something a bit more then just pottering about to local car shows, do a video on Ms Hubnut driving TWC, or taking her on another road trip, or even abroad! im sure that would get plenty of views  

likewise the TLC that you want to give TWC I imagine those series of videos would do well in the same way her original recommissioning did

and then theres the general thing of Model 70's dont grow on trees (although Invacar Mk12's appear to if how we found @egg/@Mrs6C one is anything to go by  ) so if you end up wanting another, that could prove problematic, not to mention the increased cost of one these days!

so given that she doesn't take up much space, I would elect to hold onto her

 

and also while im giving a completely unsolicited opinion, I would say sell the Berlingo and keep Betty, sure Betty is a lot more thirsty then the  Berlingo, but IMHO its the much cooler/nicer vehicle and its got much more of a story behind it too   

honestly I think your fleet is pretty good where it is currently!

Betty for big road trips/wafty transport and bob towing duties 

Elly the 2CV, for multi-passenger razzing about

and TWC the Invacar for Solo Razzing about

and also of course Ms Hubnut has the Daihatsu as well which can be pinched as a modern local run about when needed

as I understand it at least 1 of the hublets is leaving the nest soon as well, so that will also free up some resources I imagine?  (the Panda will be going which will give you a space back for example)

so that would be the 4 core members of the fleet, and then if you sell the Berlingo, that gives you a 5th slot you can rotate vehicle collection capers in and out of  

 

dont forget also TWC is everything exempt so costs virtually nothing to keep on the road so to speak   but if you do end up deciding to flog TWC, do give me a shout/heads up  

[Andrew353w]

Invacars were made by A.C., and although not strictly "on piste" the A.C. Car Club were present at a hotel in Wales where we stayed. No Invacars were present, which was a pity I thought (although I fear my opinion was in the minority!)  

[dollywobbler]

15 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

@dollywobbler with regards to this video and your thoughts about the idea of selling TWC, in my completely unbiased* opinion, I would say dont sell her for a few reasons

look at how reliable TWC has been! despite the fact these days she sits around for months at a time, look at how readily she springs back into action, i'd say of all your fleet members she has given you the least amount of gyp  

similarly, fibreglass body so you dont have to worry about rust issues  with regards to the fact she does not generate the views she once did, I would say that if you did some more adventures in her that might help get the views back, something a bit more then just pottering about to local car shows, do a video on Ms Hubnut driving TWC, or taking her on another road trip, or even abroad! im sure that would get plenty of views  

likewise the TLC that you want to give TWC I imagine those series of videos would do well in the same way her original recommissioning did

and then theres the general thing of Model 70's dont grow on trees (although Invacar Mk12's appear to if how we found @egg/@Mrs6C one is anything to go by  ) so if you end up wanting another, that could prove problematic, not to mention the increased cost of one these days!

so given that she doesn't take up much space, I would elect to hold onto her

 

and also while im giving a completely unsolicited opinion, I would say sell the Berlingo and keep Betty, sure Betty is a lot more thirsty then the  Berlingo, but IMHO its the much cooler/nicer vehicle and its got much more of a story behind it too   

honestly I think your fleet is pretty good where it is currently!

Betty for big road trips/wafty transport and bob towing duties 

Elly the 2CV, for multi-passenger razzing about

and TWC the Invacar for Solo Razzing about

and also of course Ms Hubnut has the Daihatsu as well which can be pinched as a modern local run about when needed

as I understand it at least 1 of the hublets is leaving the nest soon as well, so that will also free up some resources I imagine?  (the Panda will be going which will give you a space back for example)

so that would be the 4 core members of the fleet, and then if you sell the Berlingo, that gives you a 5th slot you can rotate vehicle collection capers in and out of  

 

dont forget also TWC is everything exempt so costs virtually nothing to keep on the road so to speak   but if you do end up deciding to flog TWC, do give me a shout/heads up  

It's easy to be reliable if you're only doing 100 miles per year...

Truth is, I don't love driving her anymore. She's fun for five minutes but anything after that is just unpleasant in all honesty. I've had my adventures, and greatly enjoyed them but have no desire to repeat them. Which makes ownership rather pointless. The grand overhaul has been promised for years and never happened due to a lack of funds and, I suspect, declining interest.

Not rushing into a decision but I do have other things that need expenditure.

[LightBulbFun]

12 hours ago, dollywobbler said:

It's easy to be reliable if you're only doing 100 miles per year...

yeah but you also did several thousands of miles before that without any issue (especially once you got the NOS set of pulleys ) 

17 hours ago, Andrew353w said:

Invacars were made by A.C., and although not strictly "on piste" the A.C. Car Club were present at a hotel in Wales where we stayed. No Invacars were present, which was a pity I thought (although I fear my opinion was in the minority!)  

did you happen to speak to a Ted Shepard? he is a part of that club and owns an AC Acedes Mk15 Model 67  , I will say, AC never made Invacars, in the same way Ford never made Citroens (AFAIK!) 

[Weird Car]

15 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

yeah but you also did several thousands of miles before that without any issue (especially once you got the NOS set of pulleys ) 

I think the point Ian is trying to make is tastes change, okay its a reliable car but its hardly practical for his family, and I'm with him 100% on the fact its an exhausting car to drive for more than about 10 minutes, why keep a car that he doesn't like anymore ya know? Defeats the purpose of having it really, of course its ians choice to make but I kinda like the idea that was floating around the comments about lending/selling to a museum, British Motor Museum i don't think have one and what with Rustival he must be in pretty good standing with them, means its still in the public eye and he won't have any arguments that selling to Joe public is likely to bring 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

27 minutes ago, Weird Car said:

 I kinda like the idea that was floating around the comments about lending/selling to a museum, British Motor Museum i don't think have one and what with Rustival he must be in pretty good standing with them, means its still in the public eye and he won't have any arguments that selling to Joe public is likely to bring 

This is a great idea. Lend it, still own it and let others look at it. Job jobbed. 

[dean36014]

Depends on whether Mr Wobbler needs the money to put towards a new vehicle.  It's a big thing to lend out a car worth a few thousand and not been worried about the money. Something different will also be good for his YouTube presence. 

[Remspoor]

On 05/08/2025 at 14:49, dollywobbler said:

It's easy to be reliable if you're only doing 100 miles per year...

Truth is, I don't love driving her anymore. She's fun for five minutes but anything after that is just unpleasant in all honesty. I've had my adventures, and greatly enjoyed them but have no desire to repeat them. Which makes ownership rather pointless. The grand overhaul has been promised for years and never happened due to a lack of funds and, I suspect, declining interest.

Not rushing into a decision but I do have other things that need expenditure.

Common old chap there is loads to sell off. The pile of whatever on the side. The camper trailer thing, the rusty 4x4 the USP of the channel is The Ford and TWC. I used to enjoy seeing you do mechanics but now a lot is (in your words) farmed out. The cheaper cars have disappeared so it would seem from the UK market Maybe spend more on less objects.

It is not may channel . But both you an Matt are seemly stuck in the same maze. Too many vehicles not enough "how to videos" as you used to do.

[Mrcento]

Only DW can decide what is right for him, there comes a point where moving a car on is good for the car as well if it's sitting just not getting used and the owner has done all they wanted to with it (I need to take my own advice here with the Cinquecento!😂)

The only thing i can really add is that in TWK's defence, it's not like moving her on will make give a big space in the unit for something else, It's not like it's in its own unit costing more etc, it's a tiny footprint in a large space already being used for other vehicles on the channel, and agree losing it would lose a USP for the channel, but at the end of the day, if it's time for Ian to move TWK on, it's time. No doubt the money would be useful and if the motivation isn't there for it/adventures, then it's unlikely that it'll be making any content to remain a USP anyway.

 

[Yoss]

22 hours ago, Weird Car said:

I think the point Ian is trying to make is tastes change, okay its a reliable car but its hardly practical for his family, and I'm with him 100% on the fact its an exhausting car to drive for more than about 10 minutes, why keep a car that he doesn't like anymore ya know? Defeats the purpose of having it really, of course its ians choice to make but I kinda like the idea that was floating around the comments about lending/selling to a museum, British Motor Museum i don't think have one and what with Rustival he must be in pretty good standing with them, means its still in the public eye and he won't have any arguments that selling to Joe public is likely to bring 

 

21 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

This is a great idea. Lend it, still own it and let others look at it. Job jobbed. 

I think it would be a real shame to confine a fully working and well sorted example to a museum. Now it works it should be used, there are plenty of static examples in museums already. 

[loserone]

A museum would be a better place than languishing undriven at the back of a damp shed (disclaimer, I don't know where it is or how much it's being used).  

[Weird Car]

2 hours ago, Yoss said:

 

I think it would be a real shame to confine a fully working and well sorted example to a museum. Now it works it should be used, there are plenty of static examples in museums already. 

I seem to recall when talking to one of the workers there that the vast majority of British motor museum displays are in fully operational condition and regularly come out for drives/shows soTWC wouldn't just sit there rotting  

[BorniteIdentity]

On 05/08/2025 at 13:49, dollywobbler said:

It's easy to be reliable if you're only doing 100 miles per year...

Truth is, I don't love driving her anymore. She's fun for five minutes but anything after that is just unpleasant in all honesty. I've had my adventures, and greatly enjoyed them but have no desire to repeat them. Which makes ownership rather pointless. The grand overhaul has been promised for years and never happened due to a lack of funds and, I suspect, declining interest.

Not rushing into a decision but I do have other things that need expenditure.

Life is short, and there are many cars to try. And once the novelty of something like this has worn off - and the honeymoon period has passed - the reality is you’ve got money tied up in something you get no enjoyment from. 

You’ve had the highs and, going forward, you’ll probably just have niggles irritations and mediocrity. 

Sell it to the highest bidder and move on. Most of all - keep looking forward. 

[rusty_vw_man]

Whilst pottering around the Oulu motor museum today (more on that to follow) I thought of this thread as it had a curious invalid carriage: 

according to the board and Google translate Erkkola's invalid bicycles were manufactured in 1928. In the early days, the bicycles were mechanically propelled, either by pedaling with the feet, by hand by turning the sprocket wheel or by pulling the traction lever. The bicycle was steered, taking into account the rider's disability, from the handlebars, the handlebars or with the feet.

The first motorized bicycle was manufactured in 1950. At first, the engine was a Rex brand, followed by Solifer and the latest ones were powered by a Sachs engine. In the manufacture of a bicycle equipped with a motor, efforts were also made to take into account the user's needs when riding. Over time, the bike's equipment and comfort were increased by installing a windshield and a canopy for rain protection.

Erkkola manufactured the last bike in 1985, the new owner ended production in 1990.

Erkkola manufactured a total of about 7,500 bikes.

Does make the invacar look rather nice in comparison. The most curious part of the whole thing for me was the rip cord starter for the engine - I know all disabilities are different but I can’t think of many that are improved by a pull starting your carriage engine in the -30c depths of winter….. 

[quicksilver]

On 05/08/2025 at 13:49, dollywobbler said:

It's easy to be reliable if you're only doing 100 miles per year...

Truth is, I don't love driving her anymore. She's fun for five minutes but anything after that is just unpleasant in all honesty. I've had my adventures, and greatly enjoyed them but have no desire to repeat them. Which makes ownership rather pointless. The grand overhaul has been promised for years and never happened due to a lack of funds and, I suspect, declining interest.

Not rushing into a decision but I do have other things that need expenditure.

Seems to me the biggest problem with TWC is that you live in the wrong place to enjoy her. A hilly rural area where you have to make long journeys at fairly high speeds to get anywhere is very much not an Invacar's natural habitat and that inevitably takes its toll on both you and the car. Compare the opportunities you get to drive TWC with the way Dez can use REV in urban London and the latter makes far more sense. You've had your fun, got some excellent content and single-handedly raised the profile of invalid carriages, so maybe it's time to pass her on to someone who lives somewhere more conducive to getting the most enjoyment out of her.

[Christine]

Someone like ...Talbot...