RUMCars Forum
General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: richard on May 10, 2015, 04:52:48 PM
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we should know better than to hope for much , but I shall tape this tonight . " In this edition........enter the world of microcars driving a Messerschmitt........... ill fated Sinclair C5 . They also help an owner restore a vintage FIAT 500 in time for an auction
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Cheers, will look in if I can.
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The series has been reasonably sensible so far so. No one has blown anything up, dropped a caravan onto anything from a great height or any TG style stunts so I'm looking forward to watching it.
Meet you back here at 9.00pm for the post mortem!
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But I find it disappointing how little coverage there is of the restoration process and how much time is spent on TG-style 'storyline'. It's like the producers can't believe anyone would want to see car restoration in a car restoration programme - probably because it doesn't interest them. I mean, it would be like having a programme about opera full of people singing all the time.....
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;D
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;D x 2
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it could have been a lot worse , and just for Bob a mention of Messerschmitts and invalids ;)
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Thoroughly enjoyed it. Even caught a glimpse of my Inter at the museum.
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I paused at the glimpse of your inter Bob and told my dad about it
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Far better than I expected! They got the history wrong, bubbles and micros did not date from Suez 1956 and the Fiat 500 did not set the ball rolling. By accident or design they did perpetrate the "no reverse gear" myth with the Trojan and Messerschmitt both being pushed backwards, but I admit that this might have been because the Trojan was being awkward and it was quicker to push the KR than use its reverse.
On the plus side they did show the fun and strongly argued the point about the huge size of modern cars and moden congestion NEEDING a re-birth of micro cars which are acceptable to most drivers.
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Yes, I thought that about the reverse gear thing. It will leave most watchers with the idea that the cars do not have one. I would imagine the presenters would have known though as reverse is marked on the gate of the Trojan and who ever loaned the schmitt would have explained the dynastart arrangement. The car builder/restorer seems well clued up. We never see any sign of Mr Cooper on these programs featuring the museum, is he camera shy?
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For anyone not in the UK, they have posted the full episode on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFeX6IrHvw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewFeX6IrHvw)
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Thanks Jim for that . Funnily enough one thing I was very aware of throughout was one of the presenters , the taller darker guy, seemed obsessed with his self image . He repeatedly made remarks about what he looked like , perhaps that's just being in the media :) oh and u the way the largest collection ever ? I don't think so :D
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The fellow driving the KR was genuinely enthusiastic about it. The fellow behind was less so. Having driven and been driven in KRs and TG 500s I think that is pretty fair comment, definitely Drivers' Cars!
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The program is on again this evening at 8.00pm on channel 4seven
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I had chuckle at the comment about not wishing to be riding in one after eating a plate of brussel sprouts!
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Better than that James May effort, even if it was surprisingly inaccurate - never mind Suez, why did nobody mention the Fiat 500 Topolino! I also couldn't help wondering how much money they spent restoring that Fiat, there didn't seem much left of the original.
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Restoration costs are small beer compared to other production costs of the program.
They seemed to hack a lot of metal out of the car, but I guess they didn't want to faff about making small repair sections when they only had a fortnight to get the car done.
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I also couldn't help wondering how much money they spent restoring that Fiat, there didn't seem much left of the original.
It is far easier and more cost-effective to purchase replacement parts and metal for that car these days.
I know someone who used to import "restored" Fiat 500s to the USA and the only "original" parts were a chassis piece with the serial number, the dashboard and the steering wheel. Everything else was reproduction.
He said there were several places in Italy cranking out parts and doing these things in very short time.
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I'm pleased that my old C5 managed to gain a few minutes of fame on the show! :D
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I much enjoyed the show.
It seems to me that the one big mistake that Sinclair made was to call the C5 a "car". In the run-up to the announcement (which I remember) the press were saying that the - then very successful, very cutting edge - company would soon release an electric car.
Of course it wasn't a car, it was an electrically assisted pedal trike. I wonder if it would have done better, if promoted as such.
The 15 mph limit still applies now to electric bikes, of course - but to be honest, I'd rather set out on a journey on my electric bike, than a C5 - better visibility, for me and of me, and easier to pedal/steer. It also reverts to a thoroughly usable pedal bike, with not much penalty other than weight, when the battery runs out!
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I remember going to the launch of the C5, which took place at Alexandra Palace in the Pavillion building, erected as a temporary building whilst the main building was reconstructed after the devastating fire which happened in 1980.
I think the biggest problem with the C5 was that a push bike was a better and simpler and probably safer way of getting from A to B. I think the fact that was so low down, made it a liability on the road.
Cedric Lynch's bike (which I have seen regularly on the roads in Barnet and Potters Bar), demonstrates a much better approach, and shows what is possible with today's lithium battery technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omIlvnNqFyc
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I just searched Sinclair by richard and came across our previous discussion a few years ago but cannot link them ;)
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Do you mean this one Richard?
http://www.rumcars.org/forum/index.php?topic=2685 (http://www.rumcars.org/forum/index.php?topic=2685)
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I thought I'd posted this picture before, but I can't find it if I did. This was a Sinclair C5 race in Milton Keynes around 1987, part of a festival of Human powered vehicles (HPVs) that they had on. It wasn't many laps, and there were at least a couple that turned over, but it was good fun to watch.
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Thanks Malcolm that last ones a new one on me , I wonder if they took the batteries out ? Lighter but less stable ?
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C5s are surprisingly stable. I've taken a couple to the edge and only one ever went over on me. The club had a pen at Brooklands where we could ride around. We made a slalom course and did close passes by each other. These things are very nimble and stable, battery or no battery. Until you try you never know. I've driven microcars less stable than these.
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It was years ago, but if memory serves the crashes seemed more a combination of cornering flat out on adverse cambers on a grippy surface, perhaps combined with some over zealous steering inputs rather than any inherent lack of stability. They were racing!
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You've hit the nail on the head there Malcolm! They don't like banks or hills of any sort! I remember taking mine through Burford. Going up the hill was a struggle to say the least. Coming back down was nerve racking. A very good way to have fun though!