Beschreibung:

1932 INVICTA 4½ LITRE S-TYPE TWO SEATER SPORTS COACHWORK BY CARBODIES (see text) Registration No. HHY 524 Chassis No. S130 Engine No. 7733 Royal blue with red leather interior. Engine: six-cylinder, pushrod overhead valves, twin SU carburettors, 4467cc, 115bhp at 3200rpm; Gearbox; manual four speed; Suspension: half elliptic leaf springs front and rear, front beam axle and live rear axle; Brakes: mechanically operated four wheel drum. Right hand drive. Captain Noel Macklin began his visionary career as a motor manufacturer with the wonderfully titled Silver Hawk of 1920, a 1500cc sporting confection hand-built in the spacious garage of his Surrey home. By 1929 the Captain's ambitions had developed, and so had his automobiles; his first Invictas were built in 1924. Handsome, well-built, aimed at the discerning and wealthy enthusiast, they were followed in late 1930 by the magnificent low-chassis S-Type sports car. Like previous large Invictas, this new model was powered by a thoroughbred straight-six engine designed and built by the highly respected Wolverhampton-based Henry Meadows company. The six-cylinder Meadows was strong and very smooth. Like all its breed it delivered an abundance of power across an exceptional band of engine revolutions. Testers likened it to a steam engine and Macklin encouraged them, suggesting in his publicity that once on the move, an S-Type's driver could dispense with the formality of gear-changing without any diminution of performance. This splendid power house was installed well back in a low-slung chassis said to be influenced by that of the straight-eight Grand Prix Delage of the mid-1920's. The deep chrome-nickel steel sidemembers swept under the rear axle, the radiator was poised low over the front axle. Firmly damped half elliptic road springs were positively located in sliding trunnions, imparting exceptional cornering power and reassuring high speed stability. There were thoughtful touches throughout, from the reserve oil tank mounted just behind the engine, to the 12-plug dual coil and magneto ignition. The long-bonnet S-Type Invicta, clad with open and closed sports coachwork by the most fashionable coachbuilding houses, each exuding its unique air of elegant aggression, was one of the most striking English Vintage sports-cars of its time. The S-Type Invictas proved their mettle at Brooklands, in the Tourist Trophy races, and in the International Trials of the day. Indeed, the 3 litre model went on to win the coveted Dewar Trophy twice, a truly brilliant result for such a niche manufacturer. Donald Healey took an S-Type, which had already covered 50,000 miles, through to outright victory in the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally. Like so many fine cars of the early 1930's, the Invicta's career was blighted by the Great Depression and production ceased after only 76 had been produced. Chassis S130 has a fascinating history; first owned by a Mrs Cohen of Guernsey, Channel Islands, it passed to a certain Mr D.F.Hicks of Putney in London. He sold the car in 1958 to Classic Cars, Motor Importers and Exporters, of Cranley Mews, London SW7. They in turn sold it to Mr William Thill, a year later, for the sum of (1250, and there is extensive documentation on file from that date to the present day. This includes copy letters and replies to all of Mr Thills transactions, including heated written exchanges with the Central London dealers about his shipping instructions. No doubt exasperating at the time, the language used is delightfully colourful and a "cracking read" now! Every piece of correspondence has been saved, including a telegram from Western Union dated May 1960 about the shipping expenses. Suffice to say, the Invicta went to Iowa and remained in the US until very recently. As such we consider the car is effectively a four (private) owner example of its type. The car still carries its original Carbodies four seat tourer body from the front to behind the front seats; recent research has revealed