RUMCars Forum
General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: Stuart Cyphus on December 30, 2005, 03:18:08 PM
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Now heres a thing some of you never expected to see in your lifetime; me doing someting involving a computer! Anyway, the main point is; Stand by for an announcement from the Invalid Carriage Register regarding the NMR 06. A press releace is being prepared right now. Stand by for further developments....
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Who wants an early leak??? dont tell Stuart!
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Oooh cheeky!! By the way, how does one get their "stock list" added to the bottom of their reply like you & Sir Bob of Dobie?
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Hi Stuart you young whipper snapper, Go to edit in Your Profile and fill in Your Signature. Sir Bob.
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Oh yes. Thank you Sir Bob.
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Ok then everybody, you've all read RumCar News. Now you know what the Invalid Carriage Register is up to at this years NMR. I've had enquierys from all over the UK and even from Holland and America, but none yet from RUM members. Surely you're not all waiting till I ask you in May are you? Get your oar in quick is all I can say if you want a chance to definatly be on the line. as space is limited! Just imajen everybody, invalid carriages as far as the eye can see. I have two objectives; One, to outnumber the Messerschmitts, and two, to win the Concurse De Grot. (That's the only trophy that matters!) Ooh we can't wait....! ;D
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I think that the big three (trienkels,messerschmitts and isettas) may have their snobbery and wealth get the better of them if they see a line up of invacars!
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Stuart. Did the wholesale destruction of ivalid cars planned by the ministry actually happen? I remember reading about it some years ago but have heard nothing since. Im no fan of them as you know but the whole idea seamed criminal especially as there appears to be quite a following for them.
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Oh yes,all bar a few hundred which have escaped were destroyed by crusher,along with all brand new spares,for instance 40,000
new villiers clutch plates and unused lead acid batterys.
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I agree with bobbybubble is was crimminal that is why it is all the more reason to preserve what is left. Even if you are no fan you must see that the invalid carriage is part of transports history over the ages and should be recorded. It just so happened way back in the 1980's Micheal Lawrence since deceased first started to keep an historical record of invalid carriages. When an enthusiast wanted to re-register his vehicle Micheal was advised by the DVLA that the Register of Unusual Microcars was the nearest appropriate group authorised to validate the claim that we started working together. It was many years later that Stuart Cyphus enthusiastically took up the challenge. Until that time we just took the odd few under our wing because they had three wheels, small engines and were road going! I was only too pleased when Stuart under took to look after that part of the Register because they were really rather very different from the run of the mill microcar. Nevertheless very worthy of saving.
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I think it would be fair to say that they are microcars for the disabled!
If you look at the history of them right back to the early 30's with the argsons etc,they really are very interesting.
I think that they are a prime example of something that you don't realise how important they are untill they are gone.
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Hello Bob and everybody else, yes, the wholesale ministry destruction did indeed happon, but gradually over at least 30-35 years. To put the numbers scale into perspective, in 1976, the Minisistry had 21,500 vehicles on their books. As far as I can work out on observation, LESS THAN A FEW DOZEN of the "Ministry" vehicles existing today were actully released into the wild (as in legaly!) by the ministry from then to 14/10/04 when the last ministry vehicle came off the road for good. ALL the rest were officaly scrapped. (I have a whole series of photos as proof, including a few of the last known electric AC Acedes being cut up. Which took place as late as 1996!) In addition to this figure, there were manufacturers that only supplied to private buyers, namely Trilox, Nelco (Solocar) and Harding after 1953 to name but three. Their vehicles tended to be in the minority, but it seems that "private" sirvival rate is quite high, I have 172 vehicles on my register right here right now, and the typical "ministry" machines actully only account for a relitivly small percentage. Which is a pitty, as it was mostly the ministry machinces that looked like "proper" small cars.
If I might put a question to the general public, as a case in point. Everybody take a look at my Harding Consort, as seen in my current Register Page. If you had not been TOLD that it was an invalid carriage, would you even know that it WAS one? The point of my argument being why are my invalid carriages less highly regarded just becuse of the purpuse to which they were put 30 years ago than, say, an Isetta? I make a point of not labouring the "Disabled" aspect, treating them instead as the last great "unknown" area of small vehicle history, but at the end of the day, that area is why these vehicles existed at all. Plus, remember there was a time not so long ago when the ownership of "Proper" microcars were seen as purverse. Why drive one of them when you could have a normal big car and all that.
To Bob again. Will you be at Jean's Open Day in July? I would quite like to meet you and have a general chat. Don't worry, I won't try to win you over to invalid carriages....
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P.S to the above.
The history of the invalid carriage goes back even further than that Daniel. 1843 is the earliest referance I've so far found to a specifically-built machine for a disabled persons mobility in the UK.
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Well folk, the countdown is almost up! The invalid carriages will be invading Southwell very very soon. even I dint know exaly what will turn up now. Put it this way, we have more than ten!
BE THERE!
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Ho Humm, it is now less than 24 hours to blast-off and in in the last hour I have had two cancelations. Despite this, the 25-year-old recold is still set to fall on sunday. At the last count, this is whats due to take their place on the line....
Definately.
1961 Harding Consort
1949 Argson Electric
1970 Invacar Mk 12E
1953ish Invacar Mk 8
1947 Trilox Rollsette
1984 BEC Scoota
Plus a couple of others that for some reason I cant recall just now!
Possibly.
1956 Nelco Solocar
1954 Harding De Luxe (from Holland!)
1925 Argson Beaufort (the UKs, & possibly the worlds, oldest powered invalid carriage)
197? Invacar Model 70
1939 Argson Electric
I've done all I can, the rest is up to you now.
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Hi Stuart, so sorry to have been one of your cancellations. Best of luck with the line-up, hope the record falls to you. The line-up sounds very promising - please don't forget to write it up for the next RUMCar News. Regards to all, Nick D. - known to some as Mr Patel...
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WOW, the acedes has got a lot of chat going! As for the NMR, I cannot be there as I have a major gig at Faversham, no deps available, especially as we have been double-booked to appear at the rugby season opening double-header atTwickenham, so we are having to split the fezheads into two teams to make both gigs; not just that, but four days to do two week's work for a new museum show!
I really wish I could get along to NMCR, so I hope you lucky, lucky b's who do go have a great time!!!
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Well folks, those who were there will know, but even in the face of SEVEN cancelations in 24 hours, and Tony's epic pileup on the M1, in which his Solocar was last seen heading down the embankment, five convayances made it to Southwell. Not quite the major resurgence I was hoping for, but the sight of the crowds swarming all over the said vehicles made it all worthwhile. Me and my dad were on the line for seven hours solid ansewing the crowd's questions, so much so than I didnt get a chance to eat anything or go to the toilet the whole day! (and those who know me will know how ofthen I have to go.....)
For the recold, the five vehicles were;
1961 Harding Consort
1949 Argson Electric
1952 Invacar Mk 8
1947 Trilox Rollsette
!970 Invacar Mk 12E
A full report will be in the winter issue.
Didn't my Harding do well, winning 3rd best metal car. To say I was surprised is somewhat of an understatement.
What won the Grot award???
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Congratulations Stuart, not quite the trun out you had hoped for and I am sorry to have missed the line up. I am looking forward to seeing some pics and the report. By the way I thought I had better set the record straight. Poor old Tony did in fact have a rather eventful journey but not quite so dramatic as you portrayed Stu though bad enough. Tony and Nelco Solocar on trailer were crashed into by a young driver who lost his wheels on a slippery wet road. At one point he was racing to Tony head on but managed to correct at the last moment. However, he over-corrected and side swiped Tony on the drivers side and ended up on the grass verge. The trailer was badly damaged, burst the tyre amongst other things, but the Solocar survived without a scratch. The Tony's drivers door was badly bent and could not be opened but thankfully both Tony and Lynne were un-injured and neither was the third party. All shaken but not stirred I think is the phrase. The trailer and Solocar were taken to a recovery depot but Tony and Lynne continued on to Southwell to arrive rather later than they had hoped. I had all this from Tony the next day after he had picked up his Solocar from the recovery depot. Tony doesn't seem to have much luck one way and another. The last hicough is the fact that the computer has decided to go on strike so RUMCAR NEWS may be a little late!