INVICTA S-TYPE RE-CREATION A LABOUR OF LOVE
All-British Field Meet is the place to see unusual examples of motoring history
Vancouver’s Oliver Young loves recreating motoring history. First, it was a 1936 boat tail Alvis sports car — re-bodied from an Alvis saloon.
Tomorrow, the Vancouverite will unveil his latest re-creation at the All-British Field Meet at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
The work-in-progress 1929 Invicta S-Type pays tribute to the first low-slung British sports cars powered by high-torque engines. Only 73 examples were produced. The Invicta will be displayed alongside Young’s Alvis.
Invicta S-Type sports cars are so highly sought after that every car has its own nickname. They rarely come up for sale and, when they do, sell for millions of dollars.
Oliver Young, former proprietor of Vancouver’s Octagon Motors, specializing in MG repairs and restoration, heard about an assembly of parts to build an Invicta S-Type that was available in Kent, England. He jumped on an international flight to meet the owner. David Haywood’s project to build an Invicta S-Type had stalled after he had acquired a chassis and collected the necessary parts, which he stored in a garden shed.
A deal was made, Young assembled the chassis, put it on wheels for travel and then had everything packed in a container for shipping to Vancouver.
While the engine, originally from a Lagonda M45, and the Rolls-Royce 20/25 gearbox proved to be in stellar rebuilt condition, Young did the rest of the mechanical work, including the intricate side-mounted exhaust works.
RX Autoworks of North Vancouver, noted for Pebble Beach Concours quality restorations, took over metal fabrication.
The brown Connelly hide leather interior and dark blue Hartz cloth top were stitched by British car interior expert Dave Gallagher.
Making a car out of pieces is no easy task. Young had to borrow a fold-down windscreen and convertible top assembly from Wessex Garages in England to make copies.
Missing parts were fabricated by local machinist Adam Trinder, with others cast by the centuryold Hastings Foundry in Vancouver, copying from original parts. Credit also goes to Jamie Thornton of Tana Industries in Richmond.
An original Invicta S-Type owned by North Shore collector David Cohen provided a blueprint for Young’s re-creation.
The Invicta S-Type was a transitional car introduced to the public with rave reviews at the 1930 London Motor Show. It featured a low-slung body with the rear axle placed above the frame rather than beneath.
It was the brainchild of farmer Noel Macklin, with backing from sugar magnate Oliver Lyle. Assembly took place in Macklin’s barn at Fairmile Cottage on the main London-to-Portsmouth road in Cobham, Surrey. It was a car for the wealthy enthusiast wishing to succeed in rallies and hill-climbing events.
The torquey sports cars won almost every professional race entered, and the Invicta S-Type’s reputation grew.
However, not unlike a lot of specialty-car manufacturers of that era, the Depression caused sales to slump, and the last Invicta S-Type rolled out of Macklin’s barn in 1936.
There is an Invicta Car Club with worldwide membership of about 140 that certifies the existing cars. The secretary is listed as Miss Jo Moss, Nettle Cottage, Barnes Lane, Milford on Sea, Lymington, Hampshire, England.
Oliver Young is hoping to have his “assembly of pieces” recognized by the club with a continuation of the serial numbers the factory gave the cars it produced.
“Presenting the car as an incomplete restoration will give those attending the All-British Field Meet an opportunity to see how very unusual and rare vehicles are put back together,” says event co-organizer and Western Driver Magazine publisher Patrick Stewart.
Dubbed the Greatest Show on British Wheels, the ABFM celebrates its 32nd year by featuring marques including the world’s first sports sedan, Jaguar MK 1 and MK II, along with modified British classics.
Additionally, there will be a special “Britalia” collection, a display of Italian-designed, British-built cars as well as British motorcycles.
There are 60 classes of vehicles in the show, with three awards given per class. There are awards for best debuting restoration, best first-time entrant, best modified car and recognition for the entrant who has driven the furthest to the show.
Sunday will present a second opportunity to see the vehicles when up to 120 of them will tour from West Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler, where they will be displayed in the Olympic Plaza located in the Village Centre. More info at westerndriver.com.
I have not missed many Tom The Tire Guys Mother’s Day Car shows, but last Sunday I spent the day with my wife, our son, our niece and our new puppy.
I did not go to a single car show, or shoot a single car photo — except of our 1966 Austin Healey at my dad’s celebration of life on Saturday.
Dad’s Healey was a hit and lots of people remember him doing house calls in the car. He also let lots of people drive it. My brother will be bringing the car to Saturday’s All British Field Meet, an event that will make up for last weekend’s lack of photos. I typically take around 1,000 photos at the annual Van Dusen Botanical Garden show.
Saturday’s Van Dusen show and the run to Whistler the following day highlight the fact that 60 years ago almost half of all new cars sold in Vancouver were British-made. Not surprisingly, Metro Vancouver garages contain some very cool British classics that are not often seen even in Britain.
Many young, local hot rodders started out by modifying little British sedans as they could not afford the bigger American cars of the day. The ABFM will feature a few of these little cars with American muscle under the hoods ... err … bonnets. And anyone familiar with the Green family will recognize two of the brothers mean little Austins on the verdant Van Dusen lawn.
Featured classes this year are the Jaguar MK 1 and 2, and a special section of highly modified British cars, including a 12-car display of Italian designed, British–built classics, aptly titled Britalia.
One day I have to get around to seeing the Knox Mountain Hill Climb in Kelowna. It’s not in the cards this year, but maybe next year.
The Green family, mentioned above, have relatives that operate an A&W restaurant on King George Highway near 68th in Surrey. For years, they have been putting on a car show every week at their location. This year they are taking a rest, so much thanks for your great efforts to promote this wild hobby of ours.
Which leads me to a request for all of you: please let me know of your favourite cruise nights throughout the province and I will compile a list to spread the news. That way more people will be able to take a kid to a cruise night or show.