Bond Minicar
 |
|
| The Bond Minicar was designed by Lawrie Bond and built by Sharp's
Commercials of Preston, Lancashire. The first Bond Minicar was launched in 1949. It
is now often referred to as the Mark A but this designation only came about as the design
evolved. It was a basic vehicle with aluminium body with open bodywork, no doors, no
rear suspension and no brake on the front wheel. It was powered by a 122cc single
cylinder two stroke Villiers engine which sat immediately behind the front wheel, driving
it by a chain through a three-speed gearbox. The Mark B of 1951 had crude rear suspension and the option of a 197cc Villiers engine. 1952 saw the Mark C, now with a front brake and a door (passenger side only). The body style had changed to include front wings making the car look much bigger. The relatively huge area under the bonnet allows the Bond to perform it's party piece. The steering can be turned 90 degrees and the car can pirouette on the spot! (Note to Messerschmitt drivers - be wary of following a Bond down a narrow dead end, they spin around and leave you doing a 19 point turn!). The Mark D of 1956 looked like the C but with minor improvements. 1957 saw the Mark E with a completely new body using a chassis rather than the stressed bodywork of earlier models, and doors on both sides! Mark F was similar but with a bigger 246cc engine and four speed gearbox. The last Bond Minicar was the Mark G in 1961, with hydraulic brakes and 10 inch wheels along with wind up windows for the first time. The Mark G was available as a two seater and 4 seater, and as an estate or Ranger van version. The Minicar survived until 1966 by which time 25,000 had been produced. |
|
| Models of the Bond Minicar | |
| Tober
|
 |
| Unknown Plastic With Friction Drive Made in England Date unknown |
 |
 |
|
| Unknown Hard Plastic 127 mm long With Friction Drive Made in England Date unknown |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| Mark A - Rapide 1:43 Whitemetal Made in England 2006 - present Ref 101 (top down) |
 |
| Mark A - Rapide 1:43 Whitemetal Made in England 2006 - present Ref 102 (top up) |
 |
| Click here for pictures of a Bond in the Microcar Museum. |
|
