Bond Minicar

Bond Minicar
1964 Bond Minicar Mark G Tourer
Overview
Manufacturer	Sharp's Commercials Ltd
Production	1949–66 24,482 made
Assembly	Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Class	Microcar
Layout	FF layout

Bond Minicar
1951 Bond Minicar Deluxe 2/3 seater Tourer
Overview
Also called	Bond Minicar Mark A
Production	1949–51 1,973 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 10D 122 cc (7 cu in) or Villiers 6E 197 cc (12 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 5 in (1,650 mm)
Length	8 ft 10 in (2,690 mm)
Width	4 ft 7 in (1,400 mm)
Height	3 ft 6 in (1,070 mm)
Kerb weight	310 lb (140 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark B

Bond Minicar Mark B
1951 Bond Minicar Mark B 2/3 seater Tourer
Overview
Production	1951–52 1,414 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 6E 197 cc (12 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Length	9 ft 1 in (2,770 mm)
Width	5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Height	3 ft 9 in (1,140 mm)
Kerb weight	420 lb (190 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark C

Bond Minicar Mark C
1955 Bond Minicar Mark C Deluxe Family Safety model with the Type I grille
Overview
Production	1952–56 6,399 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 6E & 8E 197 cc (12 cu in) Single cylinder 2 stroke
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Length	9 ft 10 in (3,000 mm)
Width	4 ft 9 in (1,450 mm)
Height	4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm)
Kerb weight	460 lb (210 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark D

Bond Minicar Mark D
1956 Bond Minicar Mark D Deluxe Family Safety
Overview
Production	1956–58 3,761 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 9E 197 cc (12 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Length	9 ft 10 in (3,000 mm)
Width	4 ft 9 in (1,450 mm)
Height	4 ft 2 in (1,270 mm)
Kerb weight	520 lb (240 kg) Family, 470 lb (210 kg) Tourer
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark F

Bond Minicar Mark E
1956 Bond Minicar Mark E Prototype (Experimental 12)
Overview
Production	1956–58 1,189 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible and Saloon Coupe
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 9E 197 cc (12 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Length	11 ft 0 in (3,350 mm)
Width	5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Height	4 ft 0 in (1,220 mm)
Kerb weight	672 lb (305 kg) Tourer & Saloon Coupe
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark F

Bond Minicar Mark F
1960 Bond Minicar Mark F 4-Seater Family Saloon
Overview
Production	1958–63 6,493 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Convertible, Saloon Coupe, 4 seater Family Saloon and Ranger Van
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 31A 247 cc (15 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Length	11 ft 0 in (3,350 mm)
Width	5 ft 0 in (1,520 mm)
Height	4 ft 0 in (1,220 mm)
Kerb weight	672 lb (305 kg) for all models
Chronology
Successor	Bond Minicar Mark G

Bond Minicar 250 G
1963 Bond Minicar 250 G Estate
Overview
Production	1961–66 3,253 made
Body and chassis
Body style	Saloon, Estate, Ranger Van and Tourer
Powertrain
Engine	Villiers 35A 247 cc (15 cu in) single-cylinder 2-stroke or Villiers 4T 247 cc (15 cu in) twin-cylinder 2-stroke
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	5 ft 6 in (1,680 mm)
Length	11 ft 0 in (3,350 mm)
Width	5 ft 2 in (1,570 mm)
Height	4 ft 7 in (1,400 mm)
Kerb weight	826 lb (375 kg) for single-cylinder models or 856 lb (388 kg) for twin-cylinder models
Chronology
Successor	Bond 875

Bond Minicar is a series of economical three-wheeled cars manufactured by 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 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 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 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 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 the project and sold the design and manufacturing rights to Sharp's.