Sinclair C5

[oneshot]

Just watched a programme on Amazon Prime about the sinclair C5. it interviewed some of the key players in the development.

Interestingly Lotus had a part to play. They were involved in the design.

The guy in charge of the project for Sinclair Vehicles Ltd said to Clive Sinclair that he would only take the job if Clive bought Lotus.

They negotiated the deal only for it to be usurped by David Wickens.

Who knows what Lotus would have been if Clive Sinclair had actually bought it?

[exeterjeep]

6 minutes ago, oneshot said:

they were involved in the design.

think @Kimbers did testing round the Hethel track.

[tim_marra]

Lotus designed the C5 chassis.

[C8RKH]

34 minutes ago, exeterjeep said:

think @Kimbers did testing round the Hethel track.

Probably why it came with a nice wide comfy seat then 🤣😂🤣😂

[Bibs]

He's got the highest accumulation of C5 mileage on the planet! 

[Chillidoggy]

Kimbers’ fastest Hethel lap time - 2 days, 3 hours, 21 minutes, 28 seconds. 

[C8RKH]

Did that include his "refuelling" stop at the Bird in the Hand?

[Kimbers]

Yes when off college for summer my brother and I did a lot of the testing of the Sinclair.

We did around 4500 miles each and had several C5 prototypes. We did non stop miles until they ran out of charge, then made notes on how many laps done, put them on charge and swapped to another. If they broke then did a report, changed the parts if easy to do (Drive belts etc) anything needing more the engineers did them.

It wasn't the main track it was a track built at the old factory (now Classic). Included a 1 in 4 hill built from scaffolding. 

It was great fun I must admit. Tiring, but fun.

[Bravo73]

3 hours ago, Kimbers said:

It wasn't the main track it was a track built at the old factory (now Classic). Included a 1 in 4 hill built from scaffolding. 

(22:02 minutes in)

 

17 hours ago, oneshot said:

The guy in charge of the project for Sinclair Vehicles Ltd said to Clive Sinclair that he would only take the job if Clive bought Lotus.

They negotiated the deal only for it to be usurped by David Wickens.

Who knows what Lotus would have been if Clive Sinclair had actually bought it?

https://sluggerotoole.com/2016/12/30/idb-suggests-clive-sinclair-considered-buying-into-lotus-cars-and-manufacturing-in-de-lorean-plant-at-dunmurry-20yearrule/

[Escape]

On 15/07/2024 at 20:20, tim_marra said:

Lotus designed the C5 chassis.

Must have been the slowest thing they ever did!

[jep]

Yep. Slower than the Type 108 and Type 119 variants. 

[Gjk]

I bet it was still at the pinnacle of “add lightness” though!   👍

[Escape]

15 hours ago, Gjk said:

I bet it was still at the pinnacle of “add lightness” though!   👍

The C5 or @Kimbers?

[Kimbers]

1 hour ago, Escape said:

The C5 or @Kimbers?

I had a 30 inch waist then! Now I have a 30 inch thigh!

[mc21.8]

My Father Bryan helped Clive with this project,have seen the pictures of him and Clive pottering around in them 😁