Photo to make you smile

[DaveMiller]

Such a lever was original fitment on the A, B and "C Standard"; the "C Deluxe" and subsequent Marks had electric start.

I must admit I never once managed to start my A by pulling the handle, and was mighty glad when I fitted the conversion kit to electric start, that Sharps made available from '53!

Sharps did promote a version of the Minicar for use by disabled people. Perhaps the conversion depended on how the driver was disabled?  Lack of an arm would not affect pedals (or kickstarting), but might require something to hold the wheel while changing gear.  The lack of leg(s) would mean hand throttle and/or clutch ... leaving rather a lot for the hands to do.

[richard]

Just back from Beaulieu . Dave the first Minicar was originally intended to have the 122cc Villiers hand pull would that have been easier to start than the 197cc most upgraded to ?

[DaveMiller]

Just back from Beaulieu . Dave the first Minicar was originally intended to have the 122cc Villiers hand pull would that have been easier to start than the 197cc most upgraded to ?

True indeed - but some A, all B and all C-Standard had the hand pull and the 197!  Perhaps the owners were (or became??) more muscular than I am!

[AndyL]

I remember a chap belonging to a model boat club I once patronised told me a tale of a Bond Minicar back in the 60's which originally had a hand start. Apparently this was defective, and the engine had to be kicked over by jumping under the bonnet. He said it conked out on him once in the middle of the Blackwall tunnel, somewhat bemusing passing drivers as they watched someone clamber into the bonnet and furiously trying to kick the engine back into life.

[DaveMiller]

You've clearly never had a Bond, Andy - perfectly normal activity, that!   I can score doing so in the middle of a 3-lane roundabout, and on the M6 ... though thankfully, I'd made it over to the hard shoulder when it cut out (in really heavy rain).

[plas man]

O' the joys of a Siba Dynastarter 

[Big Al]

Did everyone spot the Scootacar.

Some Scootacars had a conversion to enable a disabled person to drive them.

Yep, had one with a hand throttle. No idea if it was left on the car. If I had kept it I would have done so but not connected the wire in favour of a pedal. So it might be the car in the film. Some of the action is much the same as used to happen at Microcar events. All good fun.

We have mentioned before that it is almost certain that there was a professional conversion of Messerschmitt KR200 to modified control, despite that the official line now is, there was not. Likewise there was the Trojans made for folk who exhibited dwarfism. It might be an unpleasant truth, but the Microcar is joined at the hip with the Invalid Carriage. Only ignoring the history counters the facts.

[milnes]

Thanks for posting the Video's Barry.
A few of the IC i wasn't familiar with, different shape to them, who can name them all i wonder ?