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Invacar Mk 12

Invacar Mk 12

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Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12
Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12Invacar Mk 12
Lot number 3
Hammer value £2,400
Description Invacar Mk 12
Registration PEV 627D
Year 1966
Colour Blue

In 1948, engineer Bert Greeves adapted a motorbike with the help of his paralysed cousin Derry Preston-Cobb as transport for Derry.

Noticing the number of former servicemen injured in the Second World War, they spotted a commercial opportunity and approached the UK Government for support, leading to the creation of Invacar Ltd. The car operation for the disabled began in 1948 when the Ministry of Health established a scheme to lease small three-wheeled vehicles to disabled drivers as part of their disability benefit. All Invacars however, were to remain the property of the Ministry.

Government contracts were eventually signed with eight manufacturers to produce invalid carriages, built to its specifications. Invacar was not the only company to be contracted by the Ministry of Health to produce three-wheeled vehicles for disabled drivers. Others included Harding, Dingwall & Son, AC Cars, Barrett, Tippen & Son, Thundersley and Coventry Climax. However, the brand name ‘Invacar’, became a generic label for vehicles designed for invalids. Unlike conventional cars, the invalid cars skirted some tax and licensing laws and were able to negotiate both roads and pavements.

Early vehicles were powered by an air-cooled Villiers 147cc engine, but when production of that engine ceased in the early 1970s it was replaced by a much more powerful 4-stroke 500cc or 600cc Steyr-Puch engine, giving a reported top speed of 82 mph. During the 1960s and ‘70s the Invacar, with its modern fibreglass shell and ice-blue colouring (nicknamed Ministry Blue after the Ministry of Health) was produced in the tens of thousands. Developments including an extended wheelbase, wider track and use of Austin Mini wheels saw the Invacars right through to the end of the final DHSS contract in 1977, more than 50 variants being produced along the way.

From April 2003 Invacars were banned from British roads because of safety concerns, the veteran vehicle proving incapable of meeting modern-day regulations. As they still technically belonged to the Ministry, the Invacars were all recalled and virtually all were scrapped, including hundreds of stockpiled ones in government warehouses along with all their spare parts. Fortunately, a few examples survive in the hands of private owners and museums in Britain and abroad.

First registered in February 1966, this Invacar Mk 12 is finished in classic ‘Ministry Blue’ with the earlier curvy styling. It had three former keepers before joining the Stondon Museum in August 1999. Bidders are advised that this vehicle is no longer registered with the DVLA. An online check shows that it was last taxed in 1981.

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