101-580: Minicar or mini car may refer to: Bond Minicar , a three-wheeler made by Bond Cars Ltd City car , a European car classification Kei car , a Japanese car classification Mini , a popular British small car made from 1959 to 2000 Mini Hatch , a retro-styled supermini produced in 2001 by BMW Mini 4WD , an AA-powered toy car that used to be popular in Asia See also [ edit ] Car (disambiguation) Small car (disambiguation) Microcar ,
202-402: A Deluxe version was added to the range. This has a Villiers 6E 197 cc (12 cu in) engine, which had an increased output to 8 bhp (6 kW; 8 PS) and a power-to-weight ratio of 51 bhp (38 kW; 52 PS) per ton . There were also a number of modest refinements including a spare wheel and a single wing mirror . The manually operated windscreen wiper fitted on
303-559: A Tourer) were the first cars to drive along Britain's first motorway , the Preston By-pass when it opened on the morning of 5 December 1958. The Sales Department thought it would be a good idea for Bonds to be the first in the line-up when the TV cameras recorded the opening (The Bonds were actually not the first to arrive as an Austin Healey Sprite had already beaten them to it. However, after
404-522: 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
505-601: A bit of negotiating and no doubt some financial recompense, the Sprite owner obligingly moved over and the Bonds lined up as planned). The idea was for the first and third cars fitted with only 197 cc engines (driven by Doug Ferriera in LRN 963 and Alan Pounder in car 3) to hold up the traffic by blocking both lanes (the Preston By-pass was only a dual carriageway when it was first opened) whilst
606-546: 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. 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 cheaper insurance than comparable four-wheel cars. The three-wheel configuration, low weight and lack of
707-445: A central steel backbone girder, a cross member between the rear wheels and further triangular bracing. The single seat was located centrally as was the steering wheel. Steering was by worm and sector , and flared side panels allowed the single front wheel to turn a full 180°, making the vehicle extremely manoeuvrable. The entire engine, drive-train and steering unit could be removed by undoing four bolts to allow for easy servicing. Unlike
808-594: A detachable fibreglass hardtop. Similar aftermarket hardtops had been introduced earlier in the year for every type of Minicar from the Mark A to the Mark C Family by the Sharples Engineering Company, who were also based in Preston. The revised engine was reported to give the Mark D notably better acceleration, better climbing ability and lower fuel consumption in direct comparison with its predecessor. Reverse via
909-557: A famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker . The term is used in the United Kingdom in two senses. It may be used narrowly and specifically to refer to the "official" scheme administered by English Heritage , and for much of its history restricted to sites within Greater London ; or it may be used less formally to encompass a number of similar schemes administered by organisations throughout
1010-501: A folding hood with a roll-up flap at the back of the car to assist loading. The Sharp's Minivan, was introduced alongside the Minitruck. It had the same load capacity and also shared the same extended length of the pick-up, but had an enclosed aluminium compartment behind the driver's seat with a side hinged rear door. A short fabric roof covered the gap between the van compartment and the windscreen. A further final development based on
1111-445: A group with a particular interest in its subject. The London Borough of Southwark started its own blue plaque scheme in 2003, under which the borough awards plaques through popular vote following public nomination: living people may be commemorated. The London Borough of Islington has a similar green heritage plaque scheme, initiated in 2010. Other plaques may be erected by smaller groups, such as residents' associations . In 2007
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#17330931419301212-474: A marketing tool for English Heritage". The vice chair Dr Celina Fox and Dr Margaret Pelling stated that the scheme was "being dismantled and its previous achievements discredited". In April 2015, English Heritage was divided into two parts, Historic England (a statutory body), and the new English Heritage Trust (a charity, which took over the English Heritage operating name and logo). Responsibility for
1313-678: A member of the Windrush generation . In Northern Ireland , Belfast City Council and the Ulster History Circle are among a small number of groups administering blue plaques. Established in 1983, the Ulster History Circle has erected around 260. Its scope extends into the Republic of Ireland , covering all nine counties of Ulster , the northern province in Ireland . Elsewhere in
1414-507: A minimum of 20 years having passed since the death of the nominee, who must have made a significant contribution to human welfare or happiness. At least one surviving building must be associated with the nominee in a form that they would have recognised and the building must be visible from the public highway. The first plaque in the scheme was unveiled in Ilkley , West Yorkshire on 23 February 2024, commemorating Daphne Steele , first Black matron in
1515-456: A much more notable change to the shape of the front grille from the familiar oval to a more angular design (designated Type II). In May 1956, the Mark C was discontinued and the Mark D introduced. The changes between the last Mark Cs and the Mark D are, like those between the final Mark As and the Mark B, almost entirely hidden from view and the cars are externally identical. Beneath the Mark D bonnet however, Villiers had substantially upgraded
1616-606: A new Triplex windscreen and surround was introduced, the dashboard glove box was removed, a two-roll seat replaced the earlier round top variety and the old gearchange and steering shaft u/j's were eliminated. Steel was sometimes used for rear wings when supplies of aluminium became difficult to obtain. The following October's updates redesigned the braking system, introduced rear bumpers on the Tourer models and front bumpers for all Deluxes. Several more minor changes in October 1955 were marked by
1717-717: A plaque was the actor Sarah Siddons in 1876. The plaque, placed on her house in Marylebone , London, was retrieved when the house was demolished in 1905 and is now held in the Victoria and Albert Museum . In total, the Society of Arts put up 35 plaques, fewer than half of which survive today. The Society only erected one plaque within the square-mile of the City of London , that to Samuel Johnson on his house in Gough Square , in 1876. In 1879, it
1818-566: A potter, at his workshop in Chepstow , Wales. Each plaque is made entirely by hand. A small minority of GLC and English Heritage plaques have been erected to commemorate events which took place at particular locations rather than the famous people who lived there. In 1998, English Heritage initiated a trial national plaques scheme, and over the following years erected 34 plaques in Birmingham , Merseyside , Southampton and Portsmouth . The scheme
1919-487: A reverse gear also meant that it could be driven on a motor cycle licence. In April 1962 the purchase tax rate of 55 percent, which had been applied to all four-wheeled cars sold in the UK since the war was reduced to 45 per cent. In November 1962, it was reduced by another 20 per centage points to 25 per cent – 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
2020-464: 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
2121-466: 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
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#17330931419302222-403: A steel cradle bolted to a steeply inclined steel tube that pivoted directly behind the engine through an alloy steering head bracket. This bracket, holding the engine and front wheel unit is bolted to a cast alloy bulkhead which forms a major structural component of the car. The engine mounting was said to have been a regular source of failures on both the Mark A and the Mark B, and this new design
2323-416: A steel rod. This rod is bonded inside a rubber tube which runs through and is also bonded to an external steel housing. The housing is bolted to the underside of the car. The units provide about 3 in (76 mm) of vertical movement to each independent rear axle. The engine mounting was substantially different. Instead of being suspended from an alloy cradle as on the Mark A and B, the engine now sat in
2424-409: A term often used for the smallest size of cars Minivan , an American car classification Model car , including children's minicars Pedal car , including children's car-silhouette quadricycle minicars Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Minicar . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
2525-471: A top speed of 51 mph (82 km/h). Electrics were upgraded from 6 to 12 volt, allowing more powerful headlights with separate side-lights within the headlamp units. All Deluxe models include the SIBA Dynastart . Other changes which had been gradually introduced onto Mark Cs over the years, were carried over to the Mark D. This included items such as strengthened rear suspension, chrome side flashes on
2626-568: The British car manufacturer 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
2727-447: The City of London coat of arms . Because of the rapidity of change in the built environment within the City, a high proportion of Corporation of London plaques mark the sites of former buildings. Many of the 32 London boroughs also now have their own schemes, running alongside the English Heritage scheme. Westminster City Council runs a green plaque scheme, each plaque being sponsored by
2828-588: The Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association erected a blue plaque in memory of Prime Minister Harold Wilson at 12 Southway as part of the suburb's centenary celebrations. In 2021, a Black Lives Matter plaque was erected at the Wolverhampton Heritage Centre (the former constituency office of Enoch Powell , where his Rivers of Blood speech was written) to commemorate immigrant rights activist Paulette Wilson ,
2929-605: The Mini . In response, Tom Gratrix, head of Sharp's sent a telegram to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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
3030-775: The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America and the British Comic Society. There are also commemorative plaque schemes throughout the world such as those in Paris , Rome , Oslo , and Dublin ; and in other cities in Australia, Canada, the Philippines , Russia, and the United States. These take various forms, and they are more likely to be known as commemorative plaques or historical markers. The original blue plaque scheme
3131-524: The National Health Service in 1964. On 24 May 2024, a blue plaque commemorating the childhood home of musician George Harrison in Liverpool was unveiled, and was referred to in the press as "Historic England's first official non-London blue plaque". The popularity of English Heritage 's London blue plaques scheme has meant that a number of comparable schemes have been established elsewhere in
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3232-425: The 197 cc (12 cu in) engine, which now became the Mark 9E. The main changes were a 4-plate clutch, a heavier final drive chain with simplified adjustment and a higher top-gear ratio. The 9E was said to produce a 12½ per cent increase in power over the 8E, providing a claimed 8.4 bhp (6 kW; 9 PS) at 4,000 rpm. This increased the cruising speed to around 45 mph (72 km/h), with
3333-640: The Dynastart unit became an option from October 1956 on the Deluxe models. With the introduction of the Mark E in December 1957, the two/three seater Mark Ds were dropped from the range as were the hardtops and the Standard version of the Family Safety. The Deluxe Family Safety continued in production alongside the Mark E and by August 1958 still accounted for about 25 per cent of production. A four-speed gearbox replaced
3434-491: The Mark B Tourer, but included an extension of the bodywork behind the rear wheel. It also replaced the Tourer's bench seat with a single seat for the driver although unlike the centrally mounted one in the Commercial 3 Cwt, this was conventionally placed on the right. The extended goods compartment and space alongside the driver provided a claimed load capacity of 3 cwt and 24 cu ft (0.68 m ). The open-top vehicle had
3535-594: The Mark B, but added mock front wings , a passenger side door and a valance beneath its oval-shaped grille. By the time of the Earl's Court Cycle and Motor Cycle Show in November 1951, three pre-production Mark C's were on show. On these the front wings had become longer and less triangular in profile than the ESC, the grille was also lower and more rounded and the front valance was now a more defined bumper shape. The new Minicar design
3636-416: The Mark C had utilised the same sliding pillar suspension on the rear as the Mark B, but by September 1952, this had been changed for Flexitor suspension units produced by George Spencer Moulton & Co. Ltd. The Flexitor units were a type of lever arm shock absorber which used bonded rubber in torsion as the shock absorber. On these units a stub axle is mounted upon a trailing-arm with the pivot point being
3737-472: The Mark D ended in November 1958, although the Family Tourer remained listed as "available" until the 1960 range was announced. Announced on 31 October 1956 as a late addition to the 1957 range, the Mark E was radically different in design from any previous Minicar. A deliberate attempt to introduce "modern car lines", the Mark E introduced semi-monocoque construction, both to improve the resilience of
3838-474: The Mark E Saloon Coupe. Externally, because the roof was longer than that on the tourer, this gave the impression that the car was a 2+2 , but internally it was the same size, and simply replaced the convertible's soft top with a full-length fibreglass roof. Though not described as a detachable hardtop , the roof could (with a little patience!) be removed in one piece, if desired. In a publicity stunt for Sharp's, three Bond Minicar Mark Es, (two Saloon Coupes and
3939-417: The Minicar, there were brakes on all three wheels and there was a wooden-slatted floor behind the driver. Though the Sharp's Commercial never entered production, it served as a forerunner to van and pickup versions of the Mark B which appeared in 1952. The Sharp's Minitruck, (initially, they were referred to as Utility in the production records) was the pickup version, which outwardly was very similar to
4040-557: The Minivan was the Bond Family "Safety Saloon". Additional side windows were fitted to the rear compartment of the van and two small hammock type seats were added either side of the rear door facing inwards. With the bench seat of the tourer replacing the single front seat of the van and pickup, this gave enough room for two children and two adults. The number of "Safety Saloons" produced is unknown, as factory records do not distinguish between
4141-507: The Republic, schemes are operated through local authorities and civic societies . Historic Environment Scotland , the Scottish heritage agency, has previously operated a national commemorative plaques scheme but, as of 2023, this was inactive. Regional schemes are run by local authorities. Wales does not operate a national blue plaque scheme, although in 2022 Andrew RT Davies , leader of
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4242-463: The Saloon and the Minivan. Total production for the Mark B was 1,414 vehicles including 240 Minitrucks / Utilities and 84 Minivans (and "Safety Saloons"). Around the same time as the Mark B was launched, work had begun on what was referred to subsequently as a "streamlined version" of the Minicar. Badged as the 'ESC' (England's Smallest Car), this prototype utilised the main body and rear suspension of
4343-462: The Sharp's Bear Cub. However it appears it made little impact and the arrangement was short-lived. As with previous Minicars, the Mark C was improved and developed over time with numerous minor changes. Most notably, Villiers replaced the 6E engine with the 8E version in June 1953. This had the same overall capacity, but slightly increased performance, now 9 bhp (7 kW; 9 PS). In October 1953
4444-449: The Society's plaques, but to make them uniformly blue, with a laurel wreath and the LCC's title. Though this design was used consistently from 1903 to 1938, some experimentation occurred in the 1920s, and plaques were made in bronze, stone and lead. Shape and colour also varied. In 1921, the most common (blue) plaque design was revised, as it was discovered that glazed Royal Doulton stoneware
4545-687: The Standard Tourer or the Deluxe Tourer with a single bench seat, seating two or three people. The Deluxe version included an electric starter along with rear bumpers. The range was expanded in March 1954, when the Standard Family Safety and Deluxe Family Safety versions were added. On these models the bodywork was extended behind the front seat and, like the earlier Bond Family Safety Saloon, two child-size inward facing hammock-style seats were added in
4646-470: The UK. The plaques erected are made in a variety of designs, shapes, materials and colours: some are blue, others are not. However, the term "blue plaque" is often used informally to encompass all such schemes. The "official" scheme traces its origins to that launched in 1866 in London, on the initiative of the politician William Ewart , to mark the homes and workplaces of famous people. The first such scheme in
4747-423: The United Kingdom. Many of these schemes also use blue plaques, often manufactured in metal or plastic rather than the ceramic used in London, but some feature plaques of different colours and shapes. In 2012, English Heritage published a register of plaque schemes run by other organisations across England. The criteria for selection varies greatly. Many schemes treat plaques primarily as memorials and place them on
4848-476: The Villiers 6E engine and Triplex safety glass windscreens. At the motorcycle show in November 1951, Sharp's announced what they described as "a revolutionary design in the field of commercial vehicles ". The Sharp's Commercial 3 Cwt took the concept of the Minicar's light, three-wheeled, utilitarian design, and adapted it as the basis for an open-top lightweight industrial vehicle. The yellow and black prototype at
4949-541: The blue plaque scheme passed to the English Heritage Trust. The 1,000th plaque, marking the offices of the Women's Freedom League , 1908–1915, was unveiled in 2023. To be eligible for an English Heritage blue plaque in London, the famous person concerned must: In cases of foreigners and overseas visitors, candidates should be of international reputation or significant standing in their own country. With regards to
5050-444: The body on stub axles with suspension provided by low pressure "balloon" type tyres. Starting was achieved by using a pull handle mounted under the dash panel and connected by cable to a modified kick-start lever on the engine. The steering comprised a system of pulleys and a cable usually referred to as "bobbin and cable", connecting a conventional steering wheel to the front steering unit. The bobbin and cable steering arrangement
5151-406: The bodywork panels were flat or fairly simple curves whilst the compound curves of the bonnet and rear mudguard arches were pressed out as separate panels. The windscreen was made from Perspex . The car was alleged to weigh only 308 pounds (140 kg) "all-in" or 285 pounds (129 kg) dry and its light weight was regularly demonstrated by one person lifting the entire rear end of the car off
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#17330931419305252-423: The bottom edge of the door aperture. By January 1953, some cars were being fitted with fibreglass rear wings. Bonnets in fibreglass followed soon after, but these were not used on production vehicles until December 1954. The production cost of the fibreglass parts was about the same as those of aluminium, but the parts were said to be both lighter and stronger. Initially, the Mark C was available only as either
5353-407: The car and to allow full-height doors to be fitted on both sides. As announced, the prototype car was completely flat-sided and as with previous models used light alloy for all exterior panels. Beneath the skin, there were two main steel frames, one which made up the principal support for the floor, rear suspension and doors and a second which carried the steering assembly and engine. This second frame
5454-502: The car as the Bond Minicar (Mark B) in July 1951. Much of the design work for the Mark B, in particular the rear suspension, was carried out by the engineer Granville Bradshaw . Bradshaw had become involved with the Minicar at the invitation of his brother Ewart Bradshaw, the chairman of Loxhams and Bradshaws Group of which Sharp's Commercials was a subsidiary . The rear suspension system
5555-427: The car, there were changes to the shape of the fibreglass dashboard and the engine was upgraded to the Villiers 9E/4S with four-speed gearbox. Externally, the overriders seen on the pre-production vehicles were removed from both front and rear bumpers and the car now included two windscreen wipers. The maximum speed was now around 50 mph (80 km/h). In May 1958, a second version of the Mark E became available,
5656-467: The driving seat and allowed the car to be cranked backwards by hand to assist with maneuvering. Progressive development of the Minicar and Minicar Deluxe continued until the more significant introduction of coil sprung independent rear suspension and the much-needed Triplex Safety glass windscreen. (The Triplex windscreen was subsequently offered by Sharp's Commercials as a retro-fit kit for the earlier Minicar.) This provided an ideal opportunity to relaunch
5757-457: The end of production 24,482 had been made. Sold as the Bond Minicar (the Mark A suffix being added only after the Mark B was introduced), the car was advertised as the world's most economical car. It was austere and simple in design, without luxuries. Production began in January 1949, although 90 per cent of the initial production was said to have been allocated to the overseas market. As with
5858-519: The evening news only showed the second and third Bonds amongst the traffic on the opening day. Now part of the M6, this event was recreated for the motorway's 50th anniversary by the BBC's Inside Out programme in 2008. Blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and
5959-604: The front wings of Deluxe models and larger rear lights with integrated rear reflectors . As well as the slight weight increase, Sharp's also noted that ground clearance on the Mark D was now only 6.5 in (170 mm) compared to the Mark C's 7 in (180 mm). Four versions of the car were offered by the factory: the two/three seater Standard Tourer and Deluxe Tourer and the four seat (two adult front seats and two child-size inward facing hammock-style seats) Standard Family Safety and Deluxe Family Safety. The two/three seater models were also available directly from Sharps with
6060-534: The gap. Factory advertising material resurrected the Safety label as part of this model's name, but it was generally dropped elsewhere. The Sharp’s Minitruck continued in production but now incorporated all the new Mark C styling and mechanical features. The last one was made in March 1956. Attempts were made to penetrate the American market in 1953–54 where the car was marketed by Craven and Hedrick of New York and renamed
6161-447: The ground unaided. A test run between Preston and London at an average speed of 22.8 mph (36.7 km/h) gave an average fuel consumption of 97 mpg ‑imp (2.9 L/100 km; 81 mpg ‑US ) for the journey. The car had a single bench seat with a small open compartment behind suitable for luggage. There was also a fold-down hood with detachable sidescreens. The headlights were separate units mounted on
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#17330931419306262-459: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Minicar&oldid=1178357899 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Bond Minicar Bond Minicar is a series of economical three-wheeled microcars which were manufactured by
6363-437: The location of a plaque: Other schemes have different criteria, which are often less restrictive: in particular, it is common under other schemes for plaques to be erected to mark the sites of demolished buildings. Almost all the proposals for English Heritage blue plaques are made by members of the public who write or email the organisation before submitting a formal proposal. English Heritage's in-house historian researches
6464-440: The manufacturers claimed gave a power-to-weight ratio of 49 bhp (37 kW; 50 PS) per ton unladen. The engine unit sat in an alloy cradle ahead of the front wheel, together forming part of its support. Both front wheel and engine were sprung as part of the trailing link front suspension system, which was fitted with a single coil spring and an Andre Hartford friction damper . The rear wheels were rigidly mounted to
6565-455: The market in December 1957 alongside the Mark D. In production, the Mark E was notably different from its prototype with a shorter wheelbase and wider track to correct the stability issues. Rather than widen the entire car to retain the flat sides of the prototype, the extra track width was accommodated by making the bottom part of the rear wings flare outwards. The rear wheels were also moved forward by approximately 12 in (305 mm). Inside
6666-404: The project and sold the design and manufacturing rights to Sharp's. The 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 Bond's original concept of a simple, lightweight, economical vehicle, the Minicar
6767-481: The proposal, and the Blue Plaques Panel advises on which suggestions should be successful. This is composed of 12 people from various disciplines from across the country. The panel is chaired by Professor William Whyte . Other members (as at September 2023) include Richard J. Aldrich , Mihir Bose , Andrew Graham-Dixon , Claire Harman , Gus Casely-Hayford and Amy Lame . The actor and broadcaster Stephen Fry
6868-416: The prototype, a large proportion of the Minicar was made from different aluminium alloys . The main body was a very simple construction of 18 swg sheet with a 14 swg main bulkhead. The integrity of the main stressed skin structure was enhanced by the absence of doors, the bodysides being deemed low enough to be stepped over without major inconvenience (unless you were wearing a skirt ). Most of
6969-421: The purpose of shopping and calls within a 20-30-mile radius", the prototype was demonstrated climbing a 25 per cent 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
7070-462: The remainder hinged forward to allow access to the boot. Lighting was improved with larger headlamps, flashing indicators and rear number plate light. The fuel tank was increased in size to 3.25 imp gal (15 L), but the car retained the Villiers 9E/3 engine with three-speed gearbox. Deliveries of the new car were expected to begin in May 1957. As things turned out, demand for the Mark D Minicar
7171-474: The same 180° steering lock and worm and sector steering system that was seen in the prototype Commercial and the front wings allowed for ample clearance at full lock. They also addressed a demand from customers for a "greater smoothness of line", and allowed a more robust location for the mounting of the front lights. Other improvements included rod and cable operated brakes on all three wheels, which "appreciably shortens stopping distances." During development,
7272-538: The scheme to the whole of England. Many other plaque schemes have been initiated in the United Kingdom. Some are restricted to a specific geographical area, others to a particular theme of historical commemoration. They are administered by a range of bodies including local authorities , civic societies , residents' associations and other organisations such as the Transport Trust , the Royal Society of Chemistry ,
7373-462: The scheme. In the event the scheme was relaunched by English Heritage in June 2014 with private funding (including support from a new donors' club, the Blue Plaques Club, and from property developer David Pearl ). Four members of the advisory panel resigned over this transmutation. Professor David Edgerton and author and critic Gillian Darley were concerned that the scheme had been "reduced to
7474-552: The second car, LCK 479 a Tourer driven by John Woods the Production Manager (and fitted with one of the new Villiers 247 cc engines - as available in the new Mark F), would pull out, overtake the first car and speed off into the lead, ready to be photographed by the BBC . The plan backfired, because the Bond beat the camera crew to the bridge where the shot was to take place. Consequently,
7575-407: The show was powered by an Indian Brave 248 cc (15 cu in) four-stroke side valve engine (supplied by Brockhouse Engineering Co., Southport) and mounted in a cradle ahead and above the front wheel. Though described as "constructed on the stressed-skin principle", large cut outs to allow easy access from either side of the vehicle required much additional strengthening to the floor, with
7676-403: The side of the car, though of such low output, they have been described as providing "more of a glimmer than a beam". At the rear there was a tiny, single, centrally-mounted lamp. The air-cooled Villiers 10D 122 cc (7 cu in) engine had a unit construction three-speed manual gearbox without reverse. This had an output of 5 bhp (4 kW; 5 PS) at 4,400 rpm which
7777-412: The sites of former buildings, in contrast to the strict English Heritage policy of only installing a plaque on the actual building in which a famous person lived or an event took place. The Corporation of London continues to run its own plaque scheme for the City of London , where English Heritage does not erect plaques. City of London plaques are blue and ceramic, but are rectangular in shape and carry
7878-543: The standard car was upgraded to an electric Lucas type. Although this was found to damage the original perspex windscreen, it was not replaced by a Triplex Safety Glass screen until the introduction of the Mark B in 1951. A Bond Minicar Deluxe tested by The Motor magazine in 1949 and carrying only the driver had a top speed of 43.3 mph (69.7 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-30 mph (48 km/h) in 13.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 72 mpg ‑imp (3.9 L/100 km; 60 mpg ‑US )
7979-522: The standardisation of the design in 1921, the plaques were manufactured by Royal Doulton which continued their production until 1955. From 1984 until 2015 they were made by Frank Ashworth at his studio in Cornwall, and were then inscribed by his wife. From 1955 to 1985 the lettering for the plaques was designed in the Roman lettering style by Henry Hooper. Since 2015, the plaques have been made by Ned Heywood,
8080-460: The subjects including Sylvia Pankhurst , Samuel Coleridge-Taylor , and Mary Seacole . In 1986, the GLC was disbanded and the blue plaques scheme passed to English Heritage . English Heritage erected more than 300 plaques in London. In January 2013 English Heritage suspended proposals for plaques owing to funding cuts. The National Trust 's chairman stated that his organisation might step in to save
8181-484: The three-speed version in October 1958 and the model was renamed the Family Tourer. A final version of the Mark D, the Family Four Saloon was shown at the 1958 Motorcycle show. This car had a lengthened rear wings and tail section and a built-in hardtop with side windows and wrap around rear screen. This version never entered production, and only one is believed to have been produced. Production of all versions of
8282-408: The time, this fundamentally affected the car's stability and made it liable to overturn. Weather protection was more sophisticated, the hood now including a front section that could be rolled back as a sunroof while the detachable side screens incorporate sliding windows. The seat was still a single bench, but the backrest was now split, one third allowing for adjustment to suit driver comfort, whilst
8383-482: The two world wars. The LCC formalised the selection criteria for the scheme in 1954. When the LCC was abolished in 1965, the scheme was taken over by the Greater London Council (GLC). The principles of the scheme changed little, but now applied to the entire, much larger, administrative county of Greater London . The GLC was also keen to broaden the range of people commemorated. The GLC erected 252 plaques,
8484-402: The wheel movement whilst the storage area behind the rear seats was also enlarged, increasing the cars overall length slightly and changing its rear profile. Beneath the bodywork, there were improvements to the electrics and to the braking system. The hood was also redesigned to provide more head room inside the car. Only one version of the Mark B Tourer was produced, and all production cars had
8585-681: The world, it has directly or indirectly provided the inspiration and model for many others. The scheme has been administered successively by the Society of Arts (1866–1901), the London County Council (1901–1965), the Greater London Council (1965–1986) and English Heritage (1986 to date). It was initially focused on Greater London , although between 1998 and 2005, under a trial programme since discontinued, 34 plaques were erected elsewhere in England. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 extended
8686-449: 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 dynamo on these models incorporated
8787-475: Was again the work of Granville Bradshaw. The single side door, which had been introduced to around 6½ per cent of Mark B production vehicles after November 1951, became a standard fixture on the Mark C. Because the car's monocoque construction depended principally upon its skin for rigidity, the size of door was severely limited and to overcome the resulting decrease in structural rigidity , vertical steel strengthening brackets were fitted either side and along
8888-412: Was agreed that the City of London Corporation would be responsible for erecting plaques within the City to recognise its jurisdictional independence. This demarcation has remained ever since. In 1901, the Society of Arts scheme was taken over by the London County Council (LCC), which gave much thought to the future design of the plaques. It was eventually decided to keep the basic shape and design of
8989-499: Was cheaper than the encaustic formerly used. In 1938, a new plaque design was prepared by an unnamed student at the LCC's Central School of Arts and Crafts and was approved by the committee. It omitted the decorative elements of earlier plaque designs, and allowed for lettering to be better spaced and enlarged. A white border was added to the design shortly after, and this has remained the standard ever since. No plaques were erected between 1915 and 1919, or between 1940 and 1947, owing to
9090-400: Was described as "semi-floating" to allow the damping out of engine vibrations and to prevent fractures. Further strength was obtained by separating the bonnet from the front grill, allowing the grill frame to add rigidity to the front of the car. Track and overall width of the car were the same as the Mark D, but the wheelbase was extended by 12 in (300 mm). Though not appreciated at
9191-496: Was discontinued in 2005, although English Heritage continued to provide advice and guidance to individuals and organisations outside of London wanting to develop local schemes. In September 2023 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced the reintroduction of a national scheme, with Historic England as the lead developer. From mid 2024, the public will be invited to submit nominations, with eligibility criteria including
9292-401: Was established by the Society of Arts in 1867, and since 1986 has been run by English Heritage . It is the oldest such scheme in the world. After being conceived by politician William Ewart in 1863, the scheme was initiated in 1866 by Ewart, Henry Cole and the Society of Arts (now the Royal Society of Arts ), which erected plaques in a variety of shapes and colours. The first plaque
9393-630: Was formerly a member of the panel, and wrote the foreword to the book Lived in London: Blue Plaques and the Stories Behind Them (2009). Roughly a third of proposals are approved in principle, and are placed on a shortlist. Because the scheme is so popular, and because a lot of detailed research has to be carried out, it takes about three years for each case to reach the top of the shortlist. Proposals not taken forward can only be re-proposed once 10 years have elapsed. From 1923, soon after
9494-399: Was gradually developed by Sharp's through several different iterations. 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 largely one of mechanical detail rather than luxury. The cars were powered initially by
9595-443: Was of the sliding pillar type, a block carrying the stub axle rode up and down on two guide pillars mounted on a solid casting bolted to the side of the body. The block's vertical movement was controlled by coil springs. The front suspension was upgraded with a hydraulic shock absorber Externally, the differences between the Mark A and Mark B Minicar were very subtle. The rear mudguards were slightly smaller but wider to accommodate
9696-469: Was recorded. The test car cost £262 including taxes. Towards the end of 1949 (as unveiled and demonstrated in October at the Motor Cycle Show at Earls Court, London) an optional mechanical reversing device became available which comprised a long lever with a ratchet and a hexagonal socket on the end which fitted onto the centre of the driver's side rear wheel hub. This device could then be operated from
9797-568: Was replaced by a rack and pinion system in October 1950. Brakes were provided on only the rear wheels; they were conventional drum brakes operated by a system of cables and rods. Early on, Sharp's adopted a policy of continual gradual upgrading of the Minicars, either to simplify or reduce maintenance, to redress noted failings or to improve some aspect of performance. Such changes were usually made available as kits to enable existing owners to upgrade their own cars retrospectively. In December 1949,
9898-575: 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
9999-400: Was such that a decision was made to delay the introduction of the Mark E until later. Despite one of the prototypes being used for an extensive European tour in the summer of 1957 by one magazine, it was not until other pre-production cars were tested by the factory immediately prior to full production that issues with the car's handling were revealed. The Mark E Tourer was eventually put on
10100-481: Was unveiled in 1867 to commemorate Lord Byron at his birthplace, 24 Holles Street, Cavendish Square . This house was demolished in 1889. The earliest blue plaque to survive, also put up in 1867, commemorates Napoleon III in King Street, St James's . Byron's plaque was blue, but the colour was changed by the manufacturer Minton, Hollins & Co to chocolate brown to save money. The first woman to be honoured with
10201-414: Was very well received, and was due to go on sale in early 1952. By July however, "owing to supply difficulties" it was still unavailable, and the earliest production cars were not recorded as being built until October 1952. Four of the cars were on display at that year's show along with a Sharp's Minivan. The change in the body style from the Mark B was both functional and aesthetic. The Mark C utilised
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