There have been various car manufacturers throughout history, with some being more successful than others. British manufacturer Invicta produced hit and miss vehicles that led to the company being revived several times. Invicta was founded in the 1920s, with the company being rejuvenated in 1946 and 1989. We’re taking a look at the history of Invicta and how it evolved over the years.
Founding days
Invicta was created by motor engineer and former racer, Captain Noel Macklin. Backed by Oliver Lyle of the famous sugar family, Macklin intended to build a car that was flexible, fast and had a sporty appearance. He also planned on it adhering to European road standards, while having the power of an American car.
In 1925, Macklin enlisted his racing mechanic William Watson to help him design a prototype. They came up with a machine that had a Bayliss-Thomas frame and Coventry Simplex engine. The first production car used a Meadows straight six, overhead-valve engine and as demand grew, the engine size increased.
Money was no object to Macklin, who insisted the quality of Invicta cars be on the same level as Rolls-Royce and rival the performance of Bentley. He believed those goals were met because Invicta became the only other British car besides Rolls-Royce to have a three-year chassis guarantee. The high-powered performance of his motors was also something to behold.
The company’s early success was down to Macklin’s sister-in-law Violette Cordery. She won the half mile sprint at Brooklands and drove an Invicta around the world in 1927. Cordery covered 10,266 miles in five months, crossing Europe, Africa, India, Australia, the US and Canada.
Revivals
Car production ended in 1935, with Macklin moving on to found Railton. However, the name was revived in 1946 by a company called Invicta Cars of Virginia Water. They created the Black Prince, but the car was overly complex and expensive. Only 16 were made.
The company lasted until 1950 and it wasn’t until 1989 that the name was registered by an Invicta enthusiast called Christopher Browning. His intention was to preserve the heritage of the original Invicta.
Invicta might not have been the most successful car manufacturer of all time, but it carved out a good niche for itself. The fact that it was revived proves that Invicta has a loyal fanbase
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