Bond Cars Ltd - Revision history

Red marquis at 19:49, 24 June 2010

2010-06-24T19:49:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:49, 24 June 2010
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	{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.		{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.
	~~[[Image:bondlogo.jpg]]~~

	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==

Mont5ohcmm at 18:54, 23 June 2010

2010-06-23T18:54:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:54, 23 June 2010
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	{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.		{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.
			[[Image:bondlogo.jpg]]

	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==

Red marquis at 07:05, 19 February 2007

2007-02-19T07:05:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:05, 19 February 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.		{{List of {{PAGENAME}} Models}}'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.

	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==

Red marquis: /* Other products */

2007-02-16T08:12:11Z

Other products

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:12, 16 February 2007
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	* [[Bond 875]]: 1965-1970: A three-wheeler with a [[RR layout\|rear-mounted]] four-cylinder 875 cc four-stroke engine [[Hillman Imp]]-derived [[Commer]] van engine.		* [[Bond 875]]: 1965-1970: A three-wheeler with a [[RR layout\|rear-mounted]] four-cylinder 875 cc four-stroke engine [[Hillman Imp]]-derived [[Commer]] van engine.
	* [[Bond Bug]]: 1970-1974: Perhaps the best known of the company's creations, this was, again, a three-wheeler but with a Reliant 700 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 75 mph. Most were finished in bright orange, and were a groovy fashion statement in the 1970s. Entry was gained by swinging the roof forwards on a front hinge.		* [[Bond Bug]]: 1970-1974: Perhaps the best known of the company's creations, this was, again, a three-wheeler but with a Reliant 700 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 75 mph. Most were finished in bright orange, and were a groovy fashion statement in the 1970s. Entry was gained by swinging the roof forwards on a front hinge.
	* [[Motorscooter]]s, a power ski, trailer tents, suitcases, etc.

	<!--''Note from contributing writer (who wrote the text above): would a member of the Bond Owners' Club have any images they would care to upload for this article? I do not wish to "pinch" any photos from your website!''-->		<!--''Note from contributing writer (who wrote the text above): would a member of the Bond Owners' Club have any images they would care to upload for this article? I do not wish to "pinch" any photos from your website!''-->

Red marquis: /* Other products */

2007-02-16T08:12:01Z

Other products

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:12, 16 February 2007
Line 14:		Line 14:
	* [[Bond 875]]: 1965-1970: A three-wheeler with a [[RR layout\|rear-mounted]] four-cylinder 875 cc four-stroke engine [[Hillman Imp]]-derived [[Commer]] van engine.		* [[Bond 875]]: 1965-1970: A three-wheeler with a [[RR layout\|rear-mounted]] four-cylinder 875 cc four-stroke engine [[Hillman Imp]]-derived [[Commer]] van engine.
	* [[Bond Bug]]: 1970-1974: Perhaps the best known of the company's creations, this was, again, a three-wheeler but with a Reliant 700 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 75 mph. Most were finished in bright orange, and were a groovy fashion statement in the 1970s. Entry was gained by swinging the roof forwards on a front hinge.		* [[Bond Bug]]: 1970-1974: Perhaps the best known of the company's creations, this was, again, a three-wheeler but with a Reliant 700 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 75 mph. Most were finished in bright orange, and were a groovy fashion statement in the 1970s. Entry was gained by swinging the roof forwards on a front hinge.
	* [[Motorscooter]]s, a power ski, ~~[[Trailer (vehicle)\|~~trailer~~]] [[tent]]s~~, suitcases, etc.		* [[Motorscooter]]s, a power ski, trailer tents, suitcases, etc.

	<!--''Note from contributing writer (who wrote the text above): would a member of the Bond Owners' Club have any images they would care to upload for this article? I do not wish to "pinch" any photos from your website!''-->		<!--''Note from contributing writer (who wrote the text above): would a member of the Bond Owners' Club have any images they would care to upload for this article? I do not wish to "pinch" any photos from your website!''-->

Red marquis: /* Bond Minicar */

2007-02-16T08:11:47Z

Bond Minicar

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:11, 16 February 2007
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	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==

	Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 ~~[[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples\|~~cc]]. Bodywork was mostly aluminium, though some models used fibreglass for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.		Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 cc. Bodywork was mostly aluminium, though some models used fibreglass for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.

	The Minicar moved on through several different incarnations, culminating in the "Mark G" in 1964. [[Convertible]]s were offered, as were [[van]] and [[Station wagon\| estate]] versions. The engine was upgraded, first to a single-cylinder 250 cc and then to a 250 cc twin-cylinder Villiers 4T (optional on the Mark G). The engines were essentially motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this 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.		The Minicar moved on through several different incarnations, culminating in the "Mark G" in 1964. [[Convertible]]s were offered, as were [[van]] and [[Station wagon\| estate]] versions. The engine was upgraded, first to a single-cylinder 250 cc and then to a 250 cc twin-cylinder Villiers 4T (optional on the Mark G). The engines were essentially motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this 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.

Red marquis: /* Bond Minicar */

2007-02-16T08:11:34Z

Bond Minicar

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:11, 16 February 2007
Line 3:		Line 3:
	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==

	Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 [[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples\|cc]]. Bodywork was mostly [[aluminium]], though some models used [[fibreglass]] for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.		Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 [[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples\|cc]]. Bodywork was mostly aluminium, though some models used fibreglass for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.

	The Minicar moved on through several different incarnations, culminating in the "Mark G" in 1964. [[Convertible]]s were offered, as were [[van]] and [[Station wagon\| estate]] versions. The engine was upgraded, first to a single-cylinder 250 cc and then to a 250 cc twin-cylinder Villiers 4T (optional on the Mark G). The engines were essentially motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this 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.		The Minicar moved on through several different incarnations, culminating in the "Mark G" in 1964. [[Convertible]]s were offered, as were [[van]] and [[Station wagon\| estate]] versions. The engine was upgraded, first to a single-cylinder 250 cc and then to a 250 cc twin-cylinder Villiers 4T (optional on the Mark G). The engines were essentially motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this 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.

Red marquis at 08:11, 16 February 2007

2007-02-16T08:11:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:11, 16 February 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a ~~[[United Kingdom\|~~British]] [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in [[Preston]], [[Lancashire~~\|Lancs]]~~ in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of [[Tamworth]], [[Staffordshire~~\|Staffs]]~~ in 1971.		'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a British [[Automobile\|car]] maker. The company was formed in Preston, Lancashire in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant\|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of Tamworth, Staffordshire in 1971.

	==Bond Minicar==		==Bond Minicar==
	~~[[Image:Bond Minicar red 1959.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|1959 Bond Minicar]]~~
	~~[[Image:Bond minicar engine bay 1959.jpg\|thumb\|250px\|The engine bay of a 1959 Minicar. (Note the unmodified kick-starter on the left of the motorcycle unit.)]]~~
	Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 [[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples\|cc]]. Bodywork was mostly [[aluminium]], though some models used [[fibreglass]] for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.		Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)\|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle\|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering\|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 [[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples\|cc]]. Bodywork was mostly [[aluminium]], though some models used [[fibreglass]] for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.

Red marquis at 08:10, 16 February 2007

2007-02-16T08:10:49Z

New page

'''Bond Cars Ltd''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Automobile|car]] maker. The company was formed in [[Preston]], [[Lancashire|Lancs]] in 1949. Initially called Sharps Commercials Ltd, it changed its name to Bond Cars Ltd in 1965. The company was taken over by the [[Reliant|Reliant Motor Co Ltd]] of [[Tamworth]], [[Staffordshire|Staffs]] in 1971.

==Bond Minicar==
[[Image:Bond Minicar red 1959.jpg|thumb|250px|1959 Bond Minicar]]
[[Image:Bond minicar engine bay 1959.jpg|thumb|250px|The engine bay of a 1959 Minicar. (Note the unmodified kick-starter on the left of the motorcycle unit.)]]
Bond Cars began production of an economical three-wheeled car in 1949. It was called the "Minicar Mark A", and was powered by a single-[[Cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] [[Two-stroke cycle|two-stroke]] [[Villiers Engineering|Villiers]] engine of 122 or 197 [[Cubic metre#Multiples and submultiples|cc]]. Bodywork was mostly [[aluminium]], though some models used [[fibreglass]] for parts of the car. It proved very popular at the time owing to post-war economies.

The Minicar moved on through several different incarnations, culminating in the "Mark G" in 1964. [[Convertible]]s were offered, as were [[van]] and [[Station wagon| estate]] versions. The engine was upgraded, first to a single-cylinder 250 cc and then to a 250 cc twin-cylinder Villiers 4T (optional on the Mark G). The engines were essentially motorcycle units and therefore had no reverse gear. However, this 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.

Reverse gear of a sort was offered on later models, but using this involved stopping the engine and starting it backwards. This was done by reversing the [[Dynastart]] unit, a device which doubled as both starter and generator. It operated as a starter motor when the starter button was pressed but when the engine was running it generated power instead and recharged the battery.

==Other products==
Other products produced by the company included:
* [[Bond Equipe]]: 1963-1970: A [[sports car]], based on the [[Triumph Herald]] [[chassis]] with the [[Triumph Spitfire]] 1147 cc (later 1296 cc) twin-carburettor engine. In 1967 it changed to the six-cylinder 2-litre [[Triumph Vitesse]] chassis and [[Internal combustion engine|engine]].
* [[Bond 875]]: 1965-1970: A three-wheeler with a [[RR layout|rear-mounted]] four-cylinder 875 cc four-stroke engine [[Hillman Imp]]-derived [[Commer]] van engine.
* [[Bond Bug]]: 1970-1974: Perhaps the best known of the company's creations, this was, again, a three-wheeler but with a Reliant 700 cc four-cylinder engine and a top speed of 75 mph. Most were finished in bright orange, and were a groovy fashion statement in the 1970s. Entry was gained by swinging the roof forwards on a front hinge.
* [[Motorscooter]]s, a power ski, [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailer]] [[tent]]s, suitcases, etc.



==External links==
* [http://www.bondownersclub.co.uk Bond Owners' Club]
* [http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/bond-mk-a.html Bond Minicars]
* [http://www.imps4ever.info/specials/bond.html The Bond 875]
* [http://www.amicale.com/spitfire/images/specials/bond1.htm The Bond Equipe]

[[Category:Makes]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]