AC Invalid Cars. Where are they now?
Discussion
When I was a lad, the roads were littered with those turquoise three wheeled AC invalid cars.
It just occurred to me that I haven't seen one for ages.
Where did they all go?
Why did they disappear?
Have any been preserved?
It seems to me that a common sight on Britain's roads has disappeared without any recognition of the mobility that they provided to thousands of disabled people.
They always seemed to be badly parked, or holding me up, but I still feel a sense of sadness at their absence.
Cheers
Pat
It just occurred to me that I haven't seen one for ages.
Where did they all go?
Why did they disappear?
Have any been preserved?
It seems to me that a common sight on Britain's roads has disappeared without any recognition of the mobility that they provided to thousands of disabled people.
They always seemed to be badly parked, or holding me up, but I still feel a sense of sadness at their absence.
Cheers
Pat
I read a while ago that they were only ever loaned/leased to the drivers and the councils or whoever took them back as they had reached the end of their life and possibly didnt meet some modern standard of some sort.
Consequently they were all crushed (melted??!). You see the odd one on eBAY that has been "saved".
I could be wrong but they were made by AC, of Cobra fame???? Check that one!
Consequently they were all crushed (melted??!). You see the odd one on eBAY that has been "saved".
I could be wrong but they were made by AC, of Cobra fame???? Check that one!
http://pages.zoom.co.uk/elvis/invacar.html
Found this! I am sure a better way of destroying these would be a one make race series with drivers of such talent like griff2be. He might just be able to handle the power!
Found this! I am sure a better way of destroying these would be a one make race series with drivers of such talent like griff2be. He might just be able to handle the power!
"The Invacar was then fitted with a much more powerful 4-stroke 500cc & 600cc Steyr-Puch engine which gave a maximum speed of up to 82 mph and it was the Thundersley Invacar that became the most popular of Invacars as it remained in production until the end of the final DHSS contact in 1977."
82 mph in a 3 wheeled waste bin
82 mph in a 3 wheeled waste bin
A disabled chap at my university hall of residence had one of those. Bedecked with a huge 60" radio antenna, various go-faster stripes and stickers, he invariably roared around in it like a lunatic!
I was once 'making progress' in my MG Midget between South Woodford and Snaresbrook when he went clattering past at the speed of heat in a cloud of oily blue exhaust fumes. I guess it was his way of sticking two fingers up at convention!
I was once 'making progress' in my MG Midget between South Woodford and Snaresbrook when he went clattering past at the speed of heat in a cloud of oily blue exhaust fumes. I guess it was his way of sticking two fingers up at convention!
Not only a bluey turquoise but also a much rarer dark blue and metalic grey on the early ones.
The able bodied version was sold as the AC Petite.
I can't vouch for all of them but, after withdrawal by the DHSS, a fair number ended up in a hangar at Llandow prior to being crushed. There are various uncorroberated reports of unofficial tricar racing taking place in that hangar but I couldn't possibly comment and clearly no socially responsible PHers could have taken part in such a destructive and antisocial event.
The provision of such vulnerable and socially devisive vehicles was, not before time, stopped and replaced by the Motility scheme and an allowance that enables disabled persons to lease adapted mainstream vehicles.
The Thundersley (Greeves) Invacar was a different kettle of fish, built by Bert Greeves for his own use it could almost be described as sporting however I would hated to have crashed either the AC or the Invacar as they offered little ot no crash protection.
The able bodied version was sold as the AC Petite.
I can't vouch for all of them but, after withdrawal by the DHSS, a fair number ended up in a hangar at Llandow prior to being crushed. There are various uncorroberated reports of unofficial tricar racing taking place in that hangar but I couldn't possibly comment and clearly no socially responsible PHers could have taken part in such a destructive and antisocial event.
The provision of such vulnerable and socially devisive vehicles was, not before time, stopped and replaced by the Motility scheme and an allowance that enables disabled persons to lease adapted mainstream vehicles.
The Thundersley (Greeves) Invacar was a different kettle of fish, built by Bert Greeves for his own use it could almost be described as sporting however I would hated to have crashed either the AC or the Invacar as they offered little ot no crash protection.
I think they're all in some bloke's garden near Oddingley, Worcestershire, along with a selection of more interesting vehicles. They are fairly well camouflaged by algae growth but should be spottable at this time of year with the leaves off the hedges.
I think they would be excellent vehicles in which to install some engine which combines low height with high power output. BMW K bike engine, perhaps, or even a 911 engine.
I think they would be excellent vehicles in which to install some engine which combines low height with high power output. BMW K bike engine, perhaps, or even a 911 engine.
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