project Invacar MK12 - New owner Mrs 6Cyl

[Yoss]

I can't see many people sharing your idea of a good day out but it sounds good to me.

[Angrydicky]

Well, I'm sure there will be others on here who like that sort of thing!

[egg]

A day out in the Essex archives with a thermos flask and a limp cheese sandwich sounds pretty good to me! I might even do the journey by train and read a copy of 1990s 'Car' magazine cover to cover on the way.

[Spottedlaurel]

Bit late here, but I've been to the ERO three times now looking up old cars and its a good day out. The old ledgers are fascinating! They will I'm sure have the info you need but it will just be a case of finding it.

 

I'd love to spend a day doing that at the Norfolk or Suffolk Records Office, starting in late 1968 hunting through the records for long-lost Datsuns. Do they just hand over the ledgers and let you flick through them?

 

My mum used to work in the Essex vehicle licensing office back in the late '60s. You might end up reading some of her entries - I fear she might not remember details of a specific car however.....

[greengartside]

I'd love to spend a day doing that at the Norfolk or Suffolk Records Office, starting in late 1968 hunting through the records for long-lost Datsuns. Do they just hand over the ledgers and let you flick through them?

 

My mum used to work in the Essex vehicle licensing office back in the late '60s. You might end up reading some of her entries - I fear she might not remember details of a specific car however.....

A day at the Norfolk records office researching my dad’s old cars sounds like an excellent day out! Sign me up!

[Yoss]

A day out in the Essex archives with a thermos flask and a limp cheese sandwich sounds pretty good to me! I might even do the journey by train and read a copy of 1990s 'Car' magazine cover to cover on the way.

The irony is you can probably almost see Southend across the estuary from you. You could get the train to Sheerness and then hire a boat to Southend pier. Must be annoying to have to go all the way into London and back out again.

[egg]

yeah, I think I posted on another thread - so sorry for the repeat, but until the 60's there was a Herne Bay to Southend ferry - the Medway Queen - you can visit the ship

https://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/

 

Edit - that would be a good shiters trip - also the ship was part of the Dunkirk evacuation.

 

It is believed my great-grandparents (who lived in Canterbury) used to get the ferry - as my great-grandmother and family were from Southend/Pritlewell/Rochford/Leigh area.

 

There are plans afoot to re-establish a Sheppey-Essex link - https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/sheppey-to-southend-ferry-becoming-reality-181031

[egg]

Going dangerously off topic here - this BFI film is fantastic - there's a lot to recommend this - the harsh winter of 63 (and a tiny snippet of my favourite modernist Herne Bay house) - the filming of 'French dressing' an early Ken Russell film and also the last sailing of the Medway Queen. Recommended.

 

Brief bus shite too Yoss.

 

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-herne-bay-newsreel-1963-1963-online

[stuboy]

How ironic on one car pages on Fb thiz morning they shared video showing an invacar...

[Sir Snipes]

The irony is you can probably almost see Southend across the estuary from you. You could get the train to Sheerness and then hire a boat to Southend pier. Must be annoying to have to go all the way into London and back out again.

They allow pedal bikes on the Tilbury ferry....but yeah Kent to Essex is not even a quarter of mile as the crow flies in places but that poor wolf has to do a round trip and fight Dartford traffic

They're consulting on another crossing, near Shorne I think.

 

Edit: just to keep with this tangent for a moment, there are three tower blocks visible from Gravesend on the far side of Tilbury docks. I've seen them from afar, even from the opposite side when working in Essex, but always on the horizon. I really want to know what they are called so I Google how they look inside but can't find their names.

[mk2_craig]

Ah yes that cinematic masterpiece that is the Ali G Movie.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeR145YNNM

[stuboy]

Ah yes that cinematic masterpiece that is the Ali G Movie.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeR145YNNM

off topic, i just like to say ive never seen the film.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

They allow pedal bikes on the Tilbury ferry....but yeah Kent to Essex is not even a quarter of mile as the crow flies in places but that poor wolf has to do a round trip and fight Dartford traffic

They're consulting on another crossing, near Shorne I think.

 

Edit: just to keep with this tangent for a moment, there are three tower blocks visible from Gravesend on the far side of Tilbury docks. I've seen them from afar, even from the opposite side when working in Essex, but always on the horizon. I really want to know what they are called so I Google how they look inside but can't find their names.

 

If I remember correctly, they're called Seabrook Rise.  Greenwood House, Davall House and Butler House.  I used to see them every day when I lived in Gravesend.

 

The new wind turbines are really something.  See them for miles and miles.

[brownnova]

This level of detailed research is fascinating!! If I were closer I’d come and join in on that day out!

[egg]

Here is a Mk12 actually taxed, and with a history of MOT passes on the system!

 

[tooSavvy]

^^ .... So... 'Orange'?

[LightBulbFun]

Here is a Mk12 actually taxed, and with a history of MOT passes on the system!

 

greeves-invacar.jpg

 

 

^^ .... So... 'Orange'?

 

Yeah im pretty sure thats the only "active" Mk12 i have come across so far (sadly) 

 

I bet the MOT tester must have fun testing it

 

 

I had wondered about the orange thing in the past

 

but its history from stuart, is that it was officially released by the ministry in the mid 1990s, then went to Combe Martin Motorcycle Museum (now closed) then sold off & went to Hertfordshire and has now ended up Croydon

 

and during all of that it was painted orange at some point

 

 

its worth noting that sadly its been plate raped, with its original registration being LVX 250J

 

 

I love how its just parked on someones driveway like its any other car, I wonder if they use it as a local shop-mobile or or something

[egg]

I'd like to speak to the owner of that one.

 

Two more MK12's were sold in 2017, I asked the seller on ebay and they 'went to a restorer in Scotland' (again no paperwork with these two). Must be said, they look a lot better than mine!

 

 

 

 

[Angrydicky]

I'd love to spend a day doing that at the Norfolk or Suffolk Records Office, starting in late 1968 hunting through the records for long-lost Datsuns. Do they just hand over the ledgers and let you flick through them?

 

My mum used to work in the Essex vehicle licensing office back in the late '60s. You might end up reading some of her entries - I fear she might not remember details of a specific car however.....

Kind of. They are (understandably) very protective of the archive material.

 

You first need to sign up for a readers' ticket, which involves giving them your name and address. They can do this while you wait.

Before you are allowed into the reading room, you need to show you don't have any pens on you - pencils only.

The documents you require need to be 'ordered' on the computer terminals. Once done, you wait for your name to come up on the screen, you go up to the counter, the archivist weighs the document in front of you and hands it over. They are tied shut with ribbon. You can take it to a table where they have book cushions and you are able to leaf through. You can make notes in a notebook (in pencil) and when you are finished, you return the document to the counter. It is weighed and then you can order another one.

 

Strictly no photography in there too. I think they might offer some kind of copying service but it needs to be done officially.

[egg]

Thanks for that, you see, that's the only reason why it might be worth paying for them to search - maybe they can take 'official' photos - which might be useful to send to the DVLA. But my preference is to do the search myself.

[LightBulbFun]

I'd like to speak to the owner of that one.

 

Two more MK12's were sold in 2017, I asked the seller on ebay and they 'went to a restorer in Scotland' (again no paperwork with these two). Must be said, they look a lot better than mine!

 

download.jpg

 

yeah iv come across those 2 before, but where I found the photo had little info on them, so im happy to see you where able to dig up some info on em

 

what is it with Invacars heading up to scotland? almost as bad as volvos   (except you actually hear about said volvo again after its gone to Scotland )

 

I would say yours is probably in the same if not better shape sure its a bit dirtier but all that cleans up pretty well with nae bother (once again look at TPA/TWC), and your top coat/gel coat looks to be intact unlike the one on the right and the one on the left looks like it might be fun* with that head light fibre glass damage

 

(Iv been wondering how do you do head light servicing with a Mk12 since theres no front service hatch or such like? lOL)

[Ben_O]

 

 

(Iv been wondering how do you do head light servicing with a Mk12 since theres no front service hatch or such like? lOL)

I would think they are all sealed beam units so would have no access from the back of the unit anyway.

If that's the case, the chrome ring comes off and the the lamp is released and replaced as with a sealed beam, the headlamp is the bulb

 

Cheers

Ben

[egg]

yeah, the headlights are held on with three screws at the front. Of course, mine are mega rusted, so can't move them so far...

[Pete-M]

 

its worth noting that sadly its been plate raped, with its original registration being LVX 250J

 

 

Plate is close to one of the old works Mk1 Escorts. Roger Clark's works RS1600 was LVX942J, for example.

 

It is quite probably 'plate rape' which has kept this car alive.

[LightBulbFun]

I would think they are all sealed beam units so would have no access from the back of the unit anyway.

If that's the case, the chrome ring comes off and the the lamp is released and replaced as with a sealed beam, the headlamp is the bulb

 

Cheers

Ben

 

 

yeah, the headlights are held on with three screws at the front. Of course, mine are mega rusted, so can't move them so far...

 

yeah, must of been plenty of swearing at the depots tho if while working on head lights, the wiring drops back inside the car or something 

 

*puts lightbulb hat on* I dont think these are Sealed beams, they dont look like it to me, and the Model 70s dont use sealed beams either (they use regular for the time 36W bulbs), will be interesting to see what they have if Egg is ever able to get anything un seised 

 

 

 

Plate is close to one of the old works Mk1 Escorts. Roger Clark's works RS1600 was LVX942J, for example.

 

It is quite probably 'plate rape' which has kept this car alive.

 

I know thats the case for a lot of cars (inc RayMKs reliant IIRC )

 

but I think in this case it would of survived regardless especially as this Mk12E had been saved on purpose by the DHSS

 

(plus I THINK it was only plate raped in 2005, because all the other JBYxxxJ around 503, seem to be on cars imported in 2005 or so)

[egg]

I've got the VIN for for JBY503J - it is 92199 - which is fully in line with expectations given year etc.

 

mystery - WNO55F (August 

 

Pre-MK12 Invacars:

• WVX 947 (Sept 1953) - chassis 20751

 

Updated list of MK12 chassis numbers:

• XGX 224 - 81618 museum of disability - Buffalo, USA 
• NNO 246C (chassis unknown) October 1965 (Untaxed since 01/05/86)
• PEV 627D - 84951 in February 1966 (Untaxed since 01/01/82) - ex-Stondon museum
• WNO 55F (chassis unknown) August 67 - found by greengartside, last taxed May 78.
• Q231 PVL  - 87188 8/9/1967 (the Model 70 with MK12 details) - by the way this should help with my records search - mine has to be after 9th September 1967 and before November 1967
• XWC 468F (built 1967, registered Jan '68) is 87862
• WOO 976F 88011 (November 1967)
• KWC 896J 91943 26/10/70 (Untaxed since 01/09/1993)
• JBY 503J - 92199 in 14/12/1970 (currently taxed)

[LightBulbFun]

nice job on putting together that list so far

 

as always ill keep my ear (or eyes in this case) out for any other Mk12 stuff that pops up

 

BTW its JBY503J

[egg]

Thanks. I've asked the former(?) owner of this one, if they know the chassis number.

 

 

I've also asked about the one in the disability museum in the States, that would be good to know too.

[LightBulbFun]

Ah yeah forgot about that one  (I tried looking it up on the DVLA at the time and got nothing, tried again when you posted it and still got nothing, but 3rd time was a charm, maybe i was making a persistent typo LOL)

 

BTW according to https://cazana.com/uk/car/JBY503J 

 

JBY503J was registered on the 14th of December 1970, (DVLA says 31st, dunno where either one gets the dates from exactly LOL)

 

according to the DVLA checker KWC 896J was registered on the 26th of October 1970, and has been Untaxed since 1st sept 1993 (man must of been one of the last Villiers machines)

 

edit: WOO 976F is 88011

[egg]

Cool, list updated, thanks. As I can't get over to the car this weekend, this is useful displacement activity