Thundersley Invacar - Worth a small fortune?

drunkmonkey

Did anyone see this on done deal, looks rough enough, there were all more or less destroyed in the UK as they became illegal and the government scrapped them along with all the parts.
That would make this a very valuable as (a)it's illegal in the UK and (b) there hardly any left.

Link on done deal: http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2473690

Would it be worth a restoration not for the love of the car but the chance to make big bucks? What's the experts think?

bijapos

Not an expert by any means but heres my 2c worth.

Firstly they are not illegal in the UK. If they have a motorcycle registration (easy to do) then they can still be used. They cannot, however be taxed as an invalid carraige.

From the ad:

Up well u could ask 20,000 or more u just can not buy one of these

Ehhhhh........ you could get a top 911 with plenty of change for driving for a few years, or a Ferrari 308GT4 or a Mondial for that money, I know what I'd rather have.

Its an interesting car, rare indeed and would be a very ideal first time restoration for someone as its mechanically very simple. I've seen them for sale in the UK for £1,500-£2,200, and the one for £2,200 was in very good condition. T

hat one there is overpriced, has been for sale a few times and there has been no scramble from over the water to get it either.

carchaeologist

To bastardise a quote, it's a car only a mother could love.
I think you would really want to be an enthusiast wouldn't you?

macplaxton

That would make this a very valuable as (a)it's illegal in the UK and (b) there hardly any left.[/QUOTE]

Can I have what you're drinking? (a)+(b) does not equal €€€€€€. Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn't.

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Would it be worth a restoration not for the love of the car but the chance to make big bucks? What's the experts think?

Unless it is a sought after rarity, NEVER restore a car UNLESS you are doing it for the love of the car. It's rarely economically viable.

I prefer the swooping line of the AC Invacar 70 myself.

Buford T Justice

bijapos wrote: »

Not an expert by any means but heres my 2c worth.

Firstly they are not illegal in the UK. If they have a motorcycle registration (easy to do) then they can still be used. They cannot, however be taxed as an invalid carraige.

Ummm..... Yes is it

from your link

on the 31st March 2003 the vehicles became illegal to own and illegal to drive on the British Highways

Wiki

In 1948, 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, approaching the Government for support, "Invacar Ltd" was created.
During the 1960s and 70s the Invacar with its modern fibreglass shell, ice blue colouring and chain drive were 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 would be produced. Besides Invacar a number of other manufacturers were licensed by the Ministry of Health to produce similar vehicles, including AC Cars, Thundersley and Tippen.
On 31 March 2003 it became illegal to drive an Invacar on British roads. The veteran vehicle could not stand up to modern day government regulations requiring approval under the Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Scheme as part of a standard set by the European Union. There were still around 200 Invacars in Britain prior to the 2003 recall and scrapping program. Hundreds of stockpiled Invacars in government warehouses were scrapped along with all their spare parts. Examples survive in the hands of private owners and museums in Britain and abroad.
All Invacars were owned by the Government and leased to disabled drivers as part of their disability benefit. Their use had been in decline since the introduction of the Motability scheme - offering disabled drivers a conventional car with modified options.

macplaxton

Buford T Justice wrote: »

Ummm..... Yes is it

Nah it isn't.

Let's make a subtle distinction here: The majority of these chariots were lease jobs from the government and registered/taxed/licenced as "invalid carriages". The odd few were registered privately as "tricycles". Different licence category/different tax/different registration class - same car.

kev1.3s

Hideous! f it aint illegal allready then it's about time it's about time they make it illegal and burn the lot of em.

si_guru

macplaxton wrote: »

Nah it isn't.

Let's make a subtle distinction here: The majority of these chariots were lease jobs from the government and registered/taxed/licenced as "invalid carriages". The odd few were registered privately as "tricycles". Different licence category/different tax/different registration class - same car.

Correct. But very few exist - as they are hideous to drive.

Their value is small - £2000 max for a "restored minter". That seller is trying to get the ad viewer to associate this with a Peel or one of the rarer bubble cars.

drunkmonkey

macplaxton wrote: »

Nah it isn't.

The forced scrapped them all including the spare parts, it is illegal to own one in the UK it has nothing to do with what category the car is in, it's illegal to own.

si_guru

Dreamer... http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2765761

nice filler job...

chevyv8

must be smokin some good stuff, hoping to get that money. all he can do is dream...

ahal

It might be sought after some day in a social commentary context: what they designed for disabled people in an age before they discovered that disabled people have taste too!

Pardon my crudity, but there are some people who would put a lop-sided poop on DoneDeal thinking it's rare and priceless.

carchaeologist

si_guru wrote: »

Dreamer... http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2765761

nice filler job...

What bout the 'tardy brush paint job! That heap isn't worth €450 quid.

ahal

carchaeologist wrote: »

What bout the 'tardy brush paint job! That heap isn't worth €450 quid.

Ultimate irony: it would appear that Trigger does valeting, judging by the sign in the background of one of the pics :pac:

... out of a Del-Boy Reliant Robin

I'm guessing from the wording the seller may be east-yoorpean, not least with 'Privet' ("Hello") used instead of 'Private'

The totally hot girl posing with the car would also suggest same

G Luxel

There used to be one...and a spares one...outside a house next to the Multi-storey carpark in cork city...but that was back in the early 80s...and I havent seen it since!

RobAMerc

si_guru wrote: »

Dreamer... http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/vintagecars/2765761

nice filler job...

I don't know that one looks to have a fairly good chassis. Maybe worth testing the suspension :pac: