'MY' London.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Matchboxmarcel, Yes there is an Aston Martin coming up to pass the Bus and a few cars behind it is an early version of an Invalid Car or generally called a Disabled Car, these were made by a company called 'Thundersley' rather a grand name for such a small vehicle, a little larger than the 'Peel' shown on that episode of 'Top Gear', so no it is not the same car as on the TV show.

Ghosty.

[matchboxmarcel]

Thanks Ghosty, I like this car too.
It was almost the same color.

marcel

[johnboy]

These were a common site on the roads years ago. The one in the video is a darker blue but I only remember the colour of the one in Ghosty's photo. I think they were made of fibreglass and of course there was no steering wheel and they used to go at quite a speed.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Hello Johnboy, yes, these were all over the place at one time, every town or village had one. Regards the colours, I believe the pale blue was chosen as the most pleasing colour chosen by delicate eyes as not to offend anyone. Another colour is a tan as used on hearing aids and national health glasses, but was not used on the cars. The darker blue one in the film is an original colour on an earlier version of the 'Invacar' so it has not been painted by it's owner and believe it or not, the Thundersley Invacar was actually designed and assembled by AC Cars as a Government contract for the National Health service and none of the model 70 cars were owned by the individual person, they were only on loan...!

Ghosty.

[johnboy]

Hello Johnboy, yes, these were all over the place at one time, every town or village had one. Regards the colours, I believe the pale blue was chosen as the most pleasing colour chosen by delicate eyes as not to offend anyone. Another colour is a tan as used on hearing aids and national health glasses, but was not used on the cars. The darker blue one in the film is an original colour on an earlier version of the 'Invacar' so it has not been painted by it's owner and believe it or not, the Thundersley Invacar was actually designed and assembled by AC Cars as a Government contract for the National Health service and none of the model 70 cars were owned by the individual person, they were only on loan...!

Ghosty.

Ah, give me a Greyhound anyday Yes, I remember the government involvement, it was pre-motability days. I knew someone who drove one of these, he was very disabled and used crutches but he used to speed around in the trike like a man possessed. If I remember correctly, he had more than a few accidents.

[motorman]

Those invalid cars really take me back, i remember seeing loads of them on the roads in the 70's and 80's.

[fixer]

I used to work on the same industrial estate where the invacars were made in 1979/80 when I first left school, the factory was the old Greeves motor cycle unit on manor trading estate Benfleet just down the bottom of the hill from Thundersley , the things were all over the place and quite often some of the more "adventurous" youths in the area would climb over the fence and use them as bumper cars in the car park

[fixer]

here's a picture of a Greeves motorbike made in the same factory as the invacar in 1959 the red one behind it is also a Greeves but I don't know which year

[Idris]

Those invalid cars really take me back, i remember seeing loads of them on the roads in the 70's and 80's.

Gone for a decade/

[motorman]

Those invalid cars really take me back, i remember seeing loads of them on the roads in the 70's and 80's.

Gone for a decade/

Hugh, i cant beleive these were only banned back in 2003 as i haven't seen one of these for at least 30 years..............Dementia????