Description
This is one of the last of the Invader Mk2 Estates, having been registered new in June of 1972.
It is one of twelve that are still on the road, according to the DVLA records.
The previous owner had driven it until around January 1989, in a dry barn on his farm, where it shared the space with some beautifully restored vehicles, including rally cars, sports cars and motorbikes.
This Invader was specially ordered with a Genie-style padded vinyl dashboard by the original owner, a dentist in Cambridge. It was originally silver, referred to a “grey” on the documents, but was given a respray in Ford Champagne Gold sometime around 1980. The car could do with a respray as paintwork is showing signs of age.
Car has recently had the brake lines in replaced in Kunifer, with stainless-and-Teflon flexies from the G. O. C, as well as new brake cylinders on the rear drums. The original aluminium brake master cylinder had perished, so a new one was ordered, again, from the G. O. C Spares Secretary, along with a new clutch slave cylinder.
The alloy wheels have recently been powder coated and fitted with a set of new Dunlop Sport BluResponse tyres, new locking wheel nuts and new stainless-steel wheel nuts. New centre badges have been fitted along with new wing side badges.
The grille assembly was vapour-blasted, powder-coated, with a coat of black paint sprayed from the back. Originally, Gilbern painted the grille black, then scraped off the front surface, but it has been discovered that the bare aluminium soon becomes corroded, and the paint flakes off, hence the extra care.
A new locking petrol cap and a new rear hatch handle have also been fitted.
The original Gilbern air cleaner was replaced with a chromed free-flow unit. The Weber 38DGAS (correct and original) was stripped, cleaned and tuned. Amazingly, the automatic choke even works as it should.
The clutch master cylinder was replaced with a new unit.
The fuel tank has been reconditioned and new fuel lines and filters have been fitted.
The front seats have been replaced with a more comfortable set of Mazda MX5 seats, the original Gilbern seats are available with the car but would need reconditioning.
