1975 AC Invacar

Sold for $4,400 at 2014 RM Auctions - Hershey.
With fuel shortages, especially those of the Suez oil crisis, AC intended on building a low-cost-, fuel-efficient, post-war means of transportation. In 1911, they had gotten their start in the automobile business by producing three-wheelers; in the 1950s, they returned to the model. Soon, production of what was dubbed the Invacar was being supported by the British government, which supplied the vehicles, free of charge, to mobility-challenged citizens.

The Invacar Ltd. Company was started by Bert Greeves in 1948. He adopted a motorbike to help transport his paralyzed cousin Derry Preston-Cobb. In the post-War era, there were a large number of former servicemen who had been injured in the Second World War. Greeves spotted a commercial opportunity and approached the U.K. government for support.

The early Invacar models were powered by an air-cooled Villiers 147cc engine. Production of that engine ceased in the early 1970s and was replaced by a much more powerful 4-stroke 500cc or 600cc Steyr-Puch unit. Tens of thousands were produced during the 1960s and 1970s. They were given a modern fiberglass shell and ice-blue colouring nicknamed Ministry Blue after the Ministry of Health. Modifications and improvements would continue over the years until the final DHSS contract concluded in 1977. By that point in history, more than 50 variants had been produced.

In March of 2003, the Invacars were no longer welcome on British roads due to safety concerns as they were unable to comply with modern-day government regulations. A large number of stockpiled Invacars in government warehouses were scrapped along with all their spare parts. All Invacars were owned by the government and leased to disabled drivers as part of their disability benefits.

These vehicles were designed as a low-speed means of transportation for limited local distances. Most were eventually returned to the government and junked. Survivors are very rare.

This particular example was given a fiberglass and plastic body, rather than the aluminum panels used on earlier vehicles. It is also fitted with a more powerful engine. Power is from a 500cc engine offering 5 horsepower and there is a three-speed manual transmission.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014

A small car adapted for disabled drivers, the Invacar was a dual collaboration by Bert Greeves and Derry Preston-Cobb. After adopting a motorbike as transport for Derry and noticing the large variety of former servicemen injured in WWII he approached the UK government for support, which resulted in Invacar Ltd. The Ministry of Health began a free service of supplying and repairing these motorized tricycles for all who were eligible.

Also called the invalid carriage, the AC Invacar was owned by the government and leased to disabled drivers as part of their disability benefit as a low-cost, fuel-efficient post-war transportation option. An air-cooled Villiers 146 cc engine powered early Invacar models. Eventually, a much more powerful 4-stroke 500 cc or 600 cc Steyr-Puch engine replaced the original engine in the early 1970s and had a reported top speed of 82 mph. The Invacar rode on a 76-inch wheelbase, and had a three-speed manual transmission, independent rear suspension, and rear-wheel brakes.

The three-wheel Invacar was made up of a modern fiberglass shell, and painted ice blue nicknamed Ministry Blue, after the Ministry of Health. More than 50 variants were produced in a total of 21,500 examples. A one-person vehicle, the Invacar was a motorized trike, which made disabled people more mobile and was designed to be used as low-speed transportation for limited local distances like church, shopping, and visiting friends.

Though not necessarily stylish, the Invacar was dubbed as 'Noddy cars' by its owners. Updates through the years included a wider track, an extended wheelbase, and the use of Austin Mini wheels. The Invacar used tillers rather than a steering wheel, was high up, and had a space for stowing a folding wheelchair away. The car itself was quite easy to get into. These developments included up until the end of the DHSS contract in 1977.

Safety concerns led these Invacars to be banned from British roads on March 31, 2003, since the vehicle couldn't meet modern-day government regulations that required approval under the Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Scheme as part of a standard set by the European Union. Since the UK government introduced the Motability scheme the Invacar had been in less demand now that disabled drivers had access to a conventional car with modified options. Sir Bert Massie was the governor for the modern-day accessible car scheme Motability. Today more than 600,000 people take advantage of the program and enjoy independence because of it. Prior to the 2003 recall and scrapping program, there were only about 200 Invacars in Britain. Many stockpiled Invacars in government warehouses were scrapped along with their spare parts.

Today very few examples have survived and the few that have are owned privately or found in museums in England and abroad.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invacar
http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-23061676
http://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1070541

By Jessica Donaldson