Elswick Envoy (1983) Engine 998cc S4 Tr BMC A Series
Registration Number A 70 VDA

Certainally one you dont see everday, the Elswick Envoy had a long and torturous gestation. Originally designed by William Towns (of Aston Martin fame) through BLMC in 1973 as a possible rival for the Mini, the design then known as the Townscar was powered by a 848cc Mini engine, on a short wheelbase and riding on 10 inch wheels It is 30" (75 cm) shorter than the Mini and designed to park end-on to the curb (like the Smart Fortwo), having only one door - at the rear. It has four seats, two at the front, front facing, and two facing inwards at the rear

It later became known as the Minissima but it was deemed it would not be a commercial success and the design was shelved.

In 1978 it came to the attention of engineering conglomerate GKN-Sankey who modified the design as a prototype invalid carriage that would replace the familiar AC derived three wheel invalid carriages., the changes introduced a a nearside door and three driving configurations, one of which allowed a wheelchair bound driver to gain acccess, through a rear ramp to a central driving position. The styling was simplified by William Towns to suit mass production and won a Design Council award in 1978, however it did not gain Government approval.due to high costs and the project was cancelled.

GKN withdrew and sold the rights to cycle manufacturer Elswick who set up a manufacturing subsiduary Elswick Apecial Vehicles Ltd for the production and sales of what now had become the Elswick Envoy which by now was powered by a 1 litre Metro engine with Automatic transmission and bodywork manufactured by Reliant

A 1987 version A 693 VVP owned by the British artist Nancy Willis
was the subject of a 24-minute short film, Elegy for the Elswick Envoy, which shared the prize for best documentary in the 2008 Aspen Shortsfest film festiva

While the Minissima prototype was produced as a Corgi model 288 .

Many thanks for a Marmalising
52,930.836 views

Shot 15.06.2016 at the Coventry Festival of Motoring, Coventry REF 118-138


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Tags:   Elswick British 1980's Envoy William.Towns Townscar BMC Minissima Invalidcar GKN-Sankey Coventry2016 A70VDA

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