For those of you wondering how such a three wheeled machine as the Bond Minicar had a market, the answer is that it's all down to the curious UK laws associated with "construction and use".
As a vehicle it comes in the same category as a motorcycle and sidecar, (3 Wheels) with the proviso of having a maximum weight limit equivalent to a heavy bag of feathers and no reverse gear. The upshot was a vehicle enabling somewhat weather protected transport, some load carrying capacity and relative comfort compared to being out in the cold. At the time, before the rules changed, you could tax and insure it and drive away on L Plates unaccompanied by a qualified driver. But not recommended to use on a windy day, they would take off and with flimsy bodywork, seat belts years away there was a definite risk to life and limb. The great advantage was that all this was available to those with a basic bike licence or unable to manage passing the test for a full car licence.
Power was via the single front wheel which was chain driven from a conventional motorcycle unit. The rear wheels used rubber mounted suspension arms as on today's lightweight trailers. As GB notes, power was a single cylinder Villiers 2 Stroke. The whole power train was suspended on a vertical pivot, the steering wheel moved the whole ensemble, just like a dodgem car. At full lock the front wheel pointed sideways, enabling donuts at will and the ability to turn round in just under twice its own length.
On early models starting was by opening the bonnet and using the kickstart pedal. Bad luck if you stalled in traffic. Some models had a steel cable linked from the kickstart to the top of a floor mounted lever, which you pulled, if it kicked back a good chance of skinned knuckles, but a prospect of a start from the driver's seat. It had cable brakes, with a conventional 3 pedal layout for throttle, brake, clutch. Gear change was by cable, the hand gear lever being on the steering column.
Idling in traffic risked carbon monoxide poisoning, the short silencer moved with the engine/wheel unit and exhaust gases exited under the passenger compartment. To comply with the prescribed weight limit, the earlier construction used thin gauge aluminium panels and was considered a motorised death trap as regards an accident situation. All before the days of Ralph Nader and his 1965 tome on vehicle safety, "Unsafe at Any Speed". Later versions had improved body structure and greater use of fibreglass panels, electric start and provision to run the engine backwards to give "reverse" cleverly avoiding the no reverse gear rule.
Makers Sharp's Commercials, owners of the Bond brand, were successful in pursuing this fibreglass innovation, moving into fibreglass bodied cars, notably the Bond Equipe, based on Triumph Herald chassis, bulkhead and doors, with stylish front and rear mouldings. More powerful GT versions used the Vitesse/GT6 Powertrain.
This expertise was noted by Reliant, another 3 wheeler/fibreglass body outfit. When tax changes took away the USP for microcars, the market bombed and the Bond Minicar was no more. Reliant picked up the pieces as Sharps struggled in their niche market, kept the name, the Bond Bug being a Reliant powered version of the same basic concept styled and updated for a more discerning youth market. Not a well thought out design, opening the door in the rain was not a good idea..... but it used proven Reliant running gear, with rear wheel drive and hydraulic brakes. The Reliant engine was an Aluminium Crankcase version of the original Austin 7, (4 cylinder watercooled four stroke) and this also saw use in the QUASAR, a semi enclosed feet forward style two wheeler innovation which enjoyed short lived success.
Swarfy.
