Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17

Thread: Bond Minicar 1949-1966

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    4,218

    Bond Minicar 1949-1966

    Bond Minicar
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Delft
    Posts
    4,487
    Awesome find.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    Here I can help, a Bond MkA at a recent Goodwood Revival meeting, and the Regal Mk1 at Retromobile a couple of years ago.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Way Down South
    Posts
    2,734
    Here's a few shots courtesy of the Microcar Museum. Bonds Mk A through D. The drivetrain is for lulz.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    more interesting is the 1960 Formula Junior, that they produced, FWD and the first monocoque, well before the Lotus 25. Pics later.
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Way Down South
    Posts
    2,734
    I know the car you're talking about, Henk.... Lawrie Bond was an interesting guy, seems like all his projects were outside the box.
    Maybe you could start another thread for his racing cars? You first... for some reason I'm not allowed to start anything in the Hideout.
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg, Holland
    Posts
    27,329
    Quote Originally Posted by csl177 View Post
    I know the car you're talking about, Henk.... Lawrie Bond was an interesting guy, seems like all his projects were outside the box.
    Maybe you could start another thread for his racing cars? You first... for some reason I'm not allowed to start anything in the Hideout.
    The FJ is a car I have in reserve for the Oddball Corner, which will be reactivated in November, (first two more car events and then 2.5 weeks of mission in Central Asia, ending 2-11)
    I'll check about giving allowing you to start something in the hide-out, I am not familiar with the rules there.
    "I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting, but it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously." Douglas Adams

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Mansfield, Ohio
    Posts
    392
    The reasons that these cars, as well as the Reliant Robin, existed is because after World War II, the driving test was modified to include either a written exam or an actual driving test observed by an instructor.

    Under British Law at the time, three-wheelers were considered to be motorcycles, which didn't have the added exam required to get a license. As a result of that exemption, these three wheelers were born. They weren't good cars, with their awkward handling and the Robin's ablitly to tip over when cornered, as demonstated by Jeremy Clarkson on a recent episode of Top Gear. However, they were sales successes until people decided to take the extra drving test to get a much better car.
    Power to me is having the ability to make a change in a positive way. Don't dream it, be it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Way Down South
    Posts
    2,734
    Well... sort of. The British licensing issue of 3 wheelers went back to before WWI, and had more to do with tax rates than driver training. Post WWII, all of Europe was financially weak and fuel costs high, so microcars were what the masses could afford. In the UK, 3 wheelers remained cheaper to MOT than standard cars which is why they were popular. The "extra test" had little to do with it AFAIK, perhaps British UCPers could enlighten us. Reverse trike arrangements work fine, but the shopping cart arrangement not so much. The last Bond was the Bug which retained the tippy and poor-handling layout for some reason.
    Last edited by Ferrer; 08-04-2013 at 05:12 AM.
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Mansfield, Ohio
    Posts
    392
    Well, I read that comment in World's Worst Cars, where the Bond Minicar featured.
    Power to me is having the ability to make a change in a positive way. Don't dream it, be it.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Way Down South
    Posts
    2,734
    No worries... As I recall, the Model T, VW Bus, DAF and a few other undeserving vehicles were included as "worst cars".
    Add glib writing and Wikipedia-level history to produce a typical pop piece ready-made for info outlets desperate for content.

    Even if incorrect. Happens all the time.
    Never own more cars than you can keep charged batteries in...

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    33,489
    Bond Minicar is the name given to a series of economical three-wheeled cars manufactured by Sharp's Commercials Ltd (The company was renamed Bond Cars Limited in 1964), in Preston, Lancashire between 1949 and 1966.

    The basic concept for the minicar was derived from a prototype built by Lawrence "Lawrie" Bond an engineer from Preston. During the war, Bond had worked as an aeronautical designer for the Blackburn Aircraft Company before setting up a small engineering business in Blackpool, manufacturing aircraft and vehicle components for the government. After the war he moved his company to Longridge where he built a series of small, innovative racing cars, which raced with a modest amount of success. In the early part of 1948, he revealed the prototype of what was described as a new minicar to the press.

    Described as a "short radius runabout, for the purpose of shopping and calls within a 20-30-mile radius", the prototype was demonstrated climbing a 25% gradient with driver and passenger on board. It was reported to have a 125 cc (8 cu in) Villiers two-stroke engine with a three-speed gearbox, a dry weight of 195 pounds (88 kg) and a cruising speed of around 30 mph (48 km/h). At the time of the report (May 1948), it was stated that production was "expected to start in three months' time". The prototype was built at Bond's premises in Berry Lane, Longridge where it is now commemorated with a blue plaque.

    Sharp's Commercials was a company contracted by the Ministry of Supply to rebuild military vehicles. Knowing that the Ministry were ending their contract in 1948, and recognising the limitations of his existing works as a base for mass production, Bond approached the Managing Director of Sharp's, Lt. Col. Charles Reginald 'Reg' Gray, to ask if he could rent the factory to build his car. Gray refused, but said that instead, Sharp's could manufacture the car for Bond and the two entered into an agreement on this basis. Bond carried out some further development work on the Minicar, but once mass production was underway, left the project and sold the design and rights to Sharp's.

    The car proved popular in the UK market, where its three-wheel configuration meant that it qualified for a lower rate of purchase tax, lower vehicle excise duty and lower cost insurance than comparable four-wheel cars. The three-wheel configuration, low weight and lack of a reverse gear also meant that it could be driven on a motor cycle license.

    he prototype and early cars utilised stressed skin aluminium bodywork, though later models incorporated chassis members of steel. The Minicar was amongst the first British cars to use fibreglass body panels.

    Though retaining much of Lawrie Bonds original concept of a simple, lightweight, economical vehicle, the Minicar was gradually developed by Sharp's through several different incarnations. The majority of cars were convertibles, though later, hardtop models were offered, along with van and estate versions. Minicars were generally available either in standard or deluxe form, though the distinction between the two was generally one of mechanical detail rather than luxury. The cars were powered initially by a single-cylinder two-stroke Villiers engine of 122 cc (7 cu in). In December 1949 this was upgraded to a 197 cc (12 cu in) unit. The engine was further upgraded in 1958, first to a single-cylinder 247 cc (15 cu in) and then to a 247 cc (15 cu in) twin-cylinder Villiers 4T. These air-cooled engines were developed principally as motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this was a minimal inconvenience, because the engine, gearbox and front wheel were mounted as a single unit and could be turned by the steering wheel up to 90 degrees either side of the straight-ahead position, enabling the car to turn within its own length. A method of reversing the car was offered on later models via a reversible Dynastart unit. The Dynastart unit, which doubled as both starter motor and alternator on these models incorporated a built in reversing solenoid switch. After stopping the engine and operating this switch, the Dynastart and consequently the engine, would rotate in the opposite direction.

    In April 1962, the purchase tax rate of 55% which had been applied to all four-wheeled cars sold in the UK since the war was reduced to 45%. In November 1962, it was reduced by another 20% to 25% - the same rate as that applied to three-wheelers. This rapid change meant that at the point of sale, some three-wheelers became more expensive than four-wheeled cars like the Mini. In response, Tom Gratrix, head of Sharp's sent a telegram to the Chancellor warning that unless a similar tax cut were given to the purchase tax rate for three-wheelers, there would be 300 redundancies and possibly the closure of the Sharp's factory. No cut was forthcoming, sales of Minicars declined rapidly from this point and the final Minicar was produced in 1966. At the end of production 24,482 had been made.

    Source: wikipedia.org
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Barcelona
    Posts
    33,489
    Bond Minicar #5
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    6,153
    ...............
    Attached Images Attached Images
    "A string is approximately nine long."
    Egg Nogg 02-04-2005, 05:07 AM

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    1
    I'm looking for detail photos, parts etc for my 1949 Bond Mark A (A 12 350).

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. New James Bond!!
    By SilverG35SportC in forum Miscellaneous
    Replies: 57
    Last Post: 10-18-2005, 04:59 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •