INVICTA

INVICTA 

In 20-ies. in the UK market was a niche for a free expensive and produced in a limited number of sports cars. Decided to fill it with Noel Macklin (Noel Macklin), and Sir Oliver Lyle (Oliver Lyle). In 1925 they founded in Cobham, Surrey, a small company Invicta ("Invicta"). Until the late 30's. She let out expensive cars in the classic style. An attempt to revive the firm after World War II proved to be unsuccessful.


A figure of Pegasus on the radiator cap appeared on the Invicta Black Prince Road 1949 and resulted in a very difficult car to the end of the production of this company
McLean wanted to make American-style cars, big engine with high torque, easy operation, but keep the manual production of the best British tradition. Each car was a classic example of "team" model, for which selected the appropriate engine, transmission and axles. The required quality first Invicta cars provided a 6-cylinder engines Meadows ("Meadows").


Race cars in the historic Silverstone. Behind the wheel of a low-bed sports a 4.5-liter InvictaS Tour 1931 Byd Bob (Bob Wood)
Since the early 30s. McLean became more and more carried away by the new project - by Railton ("Reylton"), who used American-made chassis. These cars after Invicta moved to London and released at Cobham. Such a change in interest for the Invicta meant the loss of his "driving force", because even with the motor car Blackburne ("Blackburn") with a supercharged failed to maintain the credibility of the firm.

Cordero Violet (Violet Cordery) manages the new 4.5-liter car Invicta. Boileau's Cup in 1928 in Boulogne

In 1937 there were models with engine capacity of 2.5, 3 and 4 liters. Noel Macklin by this time left the company and the production of cars in it is gradually eliminated. After World War II revived the company introduced an ambitious six-cylinder car Black Prince ("Black Prince"), but it was too expensive and could collect only 25 copies.

Invicta 4,5-litre ("Invicta 4.5 liter ') 1929-1935

Invicta 4,5-Utre appeared 4 years after the first cars with engines Meadows. Its cost was high. Price usual gear amounted to almost one thousand pounds sterling. She approached the price of Rolls-Royce 20/25 (the "Rolls Royce").

Model "S Type" frame was specially copied from the machines Delage Grand Prix 20-ies., Which was located under the rear axle, and limited suspension travel. Generally recognized bad exchange rate stability

All models are "4,5-litre" were simple enough with rigid leaf suspension, large diameter wheels and heavy steering. At the same time, they were faster than most competitors - the maximum speed ranged from 129 to 137 km / h

The front axle with "S Type" was a forged I-beam cross section with the curved part down the middle

The most original and very rare model was the low sporty "S" - a very high speed, but have a poor exchange rate stability. This did not prevent her to win many prestigious races and rallies. The most significant was a victory for Invicta in 1931, Donald Healey (Donald Healey) in the Monte Carlo Rally. Very rigid frame model, made like the frame of the car Delage Grand Prix ("Delage Grand Prix"), the 20-ies., Held under the rear axle, and limited vertical movement of the wheels. Body differed sharp edges and studs along the hood, through which pass the outer side of the receiving pipe muffler.

For 4 years were collected 77 such cars. Most of them survived to the present day. Incidentally, the company chose to drive Lagonda ("Lagonda") for its own 4.5-liter models produced prior to World War II.

This version of the model 4,5-litre S Type 1934 with the release of the body Salmons ("Selmons")

Characteristics of (4,5-litre S Type)

Engine: P6, the overhead

Bore and Stroke: 88,5 x120, 6mm

Displacement: 4467 cm3

Maximum power: 115 (140) HP

Transmission: 4-speed manual

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: dependent on semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: drum

Body: 2-seater aluminum timber-framed

Maximum speed: 153 km / h

Variations Invicta with engines Meadows

All Ivicta in the 1925-31 years. had a version of the famous 6-cylinder engine Meadows. The very first 2.5-liter engine Invicta has the dimension of 69x120, 6 mm (2692 cm3). Wheelbase - 2.84 pm It was sold in 1925-27. Next was a 3-liter model with the engine dimensions 72,5 x120 mm (2972 cm3, 95 hp) and a wheelbase of 2.84 or 3.05 m (1926-30 gg.). And finally, the 4.5-liter model (1929-1935 gg.). Its first version of the NLS-Tourer ("Typep") with a base of 3.2 m in 1930 completed the modification of the "Type A" (high frame, a simplified model) and "S Type" (low frame, a sports body).

Invicta 12/45 ("Invicta 12/45"), 1931-1933

Invicta immediately reacted to the economic downturn by releasing a motor vehicle with a smaller working volume of Blackburne. This 1.5-liter engine in naturally aspirated version was called "12/45": The first number indicates the power of the criteria for the Royal Automobile Club, and the second - the maximum effective capacity. A year later appeared with a supercharged version of the Powerplus under the symbol "12/90."

The problem was the lack of experience of manufacturing cars with small engines. The new car has greater mass and demanded changes in the transmission gear ratios to obtain an acceptable dynamics. Even with a supercharged version of the model "12/90" did not reach the speed of 113 km / h and expended 12.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers. Like the old machines with more powerful engines, the new look of sports, but at the price, twice the price counterparts, have managed to build only 50 copies.

Dual Code of the Invicta was talking about the power of the criteria for the Royal Automobile Club and the maximum capacity of 6-cylinder 1.5-liter engine Blackburne. But even with a supercharged version of the engine did not allow a heavy vehicle to develop a high speed

Characteristics (1931)

Engine: P6, the upper cam

Bore and stroke: 57x97, 7 mm

Displacement: 1498 cm3

Maximum power: ND

Transmission: 4-speed manual

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: dependent on semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: drum

Body: 4-seater sedan or tourer

Maximum speed: 121 km / h

Invicta Black Rrince ("Invicta Black Prince"), 1946-1950

During the Second World War, Invicta has allowed its designer, William Watson (William Watson) to continue to build cars. In 1946, a new car is too complicated and Black Prince. He had to compete with the machines the company Jaguar ("Jaguar"). However, for such a small company it was a pipe dream.

Black Prince could become a successful car, if the company had the ability to properly design and carry significantly lower price. Transmission model proved to be too unreliable. The car got a new solid frame and fully independent suspension on triangular lever and longitudinal torsion. The new engine Meadows with two overhead camshafts and the crankshaft polnoopornym had a working volume of 3 liters. Achilles' heel of the machine has the torque converter Brockhouse ("Brockhouse"), which allowed to increase the ratio from 4.27 to 15.0. At first, the endless torment delivered reverse gear, closing solenoid, and the throttle response is poor.

Body invited the company to build Charlesworth ("Charlzuort"), but after the bankruptcy order is passed to the Airflow Streamlines ("Eyrflou Strimlayns") and Jensen ("Jensen"). Also, the problems of the car could be classified as large a mass (1770 kg) and a very high price (GBP 3890). Nevertheless, it was planned to collect 250 units a year. Incompletely car at a price of Rolls-Royce did not attract buyers. This interesting and noteworthy model used the low demand.

Model Invicta Black Prince with failure-prone transmission with torque converter has challenged the British car high society

Characteristics (1946)

Engine: P6, two overhead camshafts

Bore and Stroke: 81x97 mm

Displacement: 2998 cm3

Maximum Power: 120 hp

Transmission: Automatic

Chassis: the steel frame

Suspension: Independent torsion bar

Brakes: drum

Body: 4-seater 4-door sedan or 2-door convertible

Maximum speed: 145 km / h