The Invicta S1 was the third revival of a famous pre-war British name. Launched at the 2002 British International Motor Show and built from 2004 to 2012 at Chippenham in Wiltshire, it was a low-volume sports car with a 4.6-litre Ford V8, a tubular space frame and a claimed top speed of 180 mph. A supercharged S1 600 followed in 2008 with 600 bhp.
Invicta S1 at a glance
| Maker | Invicta Car Company, Chippenham, Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2012 |
| Launched at | British International Motor Show, 2002 |
| Owner | Michael Bristow, who acquired the brand in 1980 |
| Design | Chris Marsh and Leigh Adams |
| Engine | 4,601 cc Ford Modular V8 |
| Power | 320 bhp |
| Claimed top speed | 180 mph |
| 0–60 mph | 5 seconds |
| Chassis | tubular space frame with roll cage |
| Brakes | AP Racing, six-piston front and four-piston rear |
| Later model | S1 600, 2008, supercharged 5.0-litre V8, 600 bhp |
The English Wikipedia article covers the whole Invicta marque; this page uses only the 2004–2012 section. One source.
History of the Invicta S1
Reviving the name
The Invicta name had been dormant since the 1950s, though Invicta Cars Ltd was registered again in 1989 by the enthusiast Christopher Browning to record and preserve the heritage of the cars designed between 1925 and 1935. In the early 2000s the marque was resurrected once more by Michael Bristow, who had acquired the brand in 1980. The Invicta S1 was built at the Invicta Car Company factory in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and was launched at the 2002 British International Motor Show.
The car
The S1 was designed in cooperation with Chris Marsh and Leigh Adams. Power came from a 4,601 cc Ford Modular V8 producing 320 bhp, enough for a claimed top speed of 180 mph and acceleration to 60 mph in five seconds. The chassis was a tubular space frame with a roll cage, the brakes were AP Racing units with six-piston calipers at the front and four at the rear on cross-drilled, race-specification ventilated discs, and there was an independent Brembo handbrake. Suspension was by fully adjustable shock absorbers with race double wishbone geometry, the differential was a BTR Hydratrak racing limited-slip unit, and weight distribution was quoted at 50/50.
The S1 600 and the end
A revised version, the S1 600, was launched in 2008 with a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 supplied by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team in America and tuned by Invicta to deliver up to 600 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 780 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm. The claimed top speed rose to upwards of 200 mph. Prices started at £106,000 and finished at £160,000, or about $156,000 to $236,000 at December 2008 exchange rates. In April 2012 Westpoint Car Company, formerly the Invicta Car Company, was wound up by the court over an unpaid debt of £40,000 as interest in expensive cars faded. The company had changed its name shortly before being dissolved to keep the Invicta brand away from another financial failure; its owner described it as the fourth collapse in the marque’s history.
Design and features
- Ford V8 power: a 4.6-litre Modular V8 with 320 bhp in the original car.
- Space frame and roll cage: a tubular chassis rather than a modified production shell.
- Race-derived running gear: AP Racing brakes, double wishbone suspension and a BTR Hydratrak limited-slip differential.
- S1 600: from 2008 a supercharged 5.0-litre SVT V8 tuned to 600 bhp and a claimed 200 mph plus.
- Very low volume: a hand-built car priced between £106,000 and £160,000.
Invicta S1 versions
- S1 (2004–2012): the original 320 bhp car with the 4.6-litre Ford V8.
- S1 600 (2008–2012): supercharged 5.0-litre V8, 600 bhp, 780 Nm, claimed top speed over 200 mph.
- Heritage cars: the pre-war S-Type and the post-war Black Prince that gave the S1 its name.
The S1 revived a name first used on the pre-war S-Type and later on the Black Prince. More cars are in the Invicta collection.
Sources
- Invicta (car), English Wikipedia: S1 and S1 600 specifications, prices, company history
