Car & Classic Dealer

Polson Motor Co. Ltd

Mill Farm, Ashfield Green, Wickhambrook, Newmarket, Suffolk

CB8 8UZ

1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type 'Low Chassis' by Freestone & We For Sale

In an era when most cars stood tall, the 4½-litre S-Type Invicta, with its dramatically lowered chassis, caused a sensation: few sports cars before or since have so looked the part. The Invicta Company's origins go back to 1924 when Noel Macklin and Oliver Lyle, got together to create a car combining American levels of flexibility and performance with European quality and roadholding.

Like the contemporary Bentley, the Invicta was produced to an exemplary standard. The finest materials available being used in the car’s construction- an immensely strong nickel steel chassis lugged together with massive high quality bronze castings and fitted with a cast aluminium bulkhead and bonnet landings for example. Price was only a secondary consideration, a factor that contributed largely to both firms' failure to weather the Depression years of the early 1930s. The final Invicta left the factory, appropriately enough, on Friday 13th October 1933, though a handful of cars was assembled at the company's service depot between 1934 and 1936.

Apart from a handful of prototypes, all Invictas were powered by the tireless six-cylinder engines made by Henry Meadows. Launched at the 1930 Olympia Motor Show, the S-type featured an all-new under-slung chassis that achieved a much lower centre of gravity by positioning the rear axle above the frame rails instead of below as was normal practice at the time. Like most low-revving engines, the 4½-litre Meadows delivered ample torque in the lower and middle speed ranges. Indeed, the Invicta can be throttled down to 6-8mph in top gear, despite its relatively high 3. 6:1 final drive ratio, and will then accelerate rapidly and without complaint when the accelerator is depressed.

The popular '100mph Invicta' tag notwithstanding, standard cars had a – still impressive – top speed of around 95mph with more to come in racing trim. However, it must be stressed that the S-type Invicta was primarily a very fast but comfortable high-speed touring car, its greatest attribute being an ability to cover a substantial mileage at high average speeds with no strain, either to driver or the machinery.

Invictas are about as indestructible in normal use as a car can be. Approximately 68 of the 75-or-so S-Types built are known to survive and most are in excellent order, testifying to the fact that they have always been regarded as high-quality motor cars. Indeed, in pre-war days there was a club dedicated exclusively to the model and members famously christened individual cars with names like 'Scythe', 'Scrapper' and 'Sea Lion'. 'S86' was named 'Seagull'.

The vendor first encountered this S-Type Invicta ‘Seagull’ in the early 1970s when it was part of the collection belonging to the late C J S (Jack) Wilson of Caterham, Surrey. Jack had retired from marine insurance some years earlier and was a well-known, if eccentric, figure in the area. He devoted his time and energy to his collection of Vintage cars, which at the time the vendor first met him included five Bugattis and no fewer than three S-type Invictas. Jack Wilson had bought the Invicta in 1952 from the Alton Garage for £275. At that time the car was in reasonable and useable condition, although its subsequent 100, 000 miles around the streets of Bexhill, when Jack lent it to a GP friend for his rounds, had taken a considerable toll. There had been a rear-end collision which destroyed the back of the handsome and original Lancefield drophead coupé body, while the front wings had been replaced by those from a scrapped Mark VI Bentley.

There are several original letters on file from people wishing to buy Jack Wilson's cars, which make interesting reading. Alton Garage's 1952 bill of sale is on file also together with an old-style green continuation logbook in the vendor's name and a current V5C document.

Having bought the car from Jack Wilson in 1975, the vendor was able to rewire the electrics and fit some makeshift cycle wings so that it could return to the road. The engine, though useable, was completely worn-out, developing 5psi oil pressure when stone cold and zero when hot. Amazingly, the Invicta even managed to complete the 1976 VSCC International Rally centred on Harrogate, Yorkshire.

All this is in stark contrast to the car's exotic and romantic early life. The first owner was the Baron von Treeck, a German aristocrat living in Mayfair and Luckington Manor. Just before the outbreak of WW2, the Baron suddenly departed for Germany in the Invicta, leaving most of his possessions behind but taking his valet with him.

Many years later it was discovered that the Baron was a German spy and had been in England to make contact with the many Nazi sympathisers within the aristocracy. His ownership of 'S86' is recorded in the membership list of the first Invicta Car Club, which existed for only a few years in the mid-1930s.

By the 1980s it was clear that 'S86' needed a restoration which would have to include new coachwork as the old Lancefield body was now beyond repair. The body was removed the restoration of the chassis and running gear commenced. All spring trunnions and steering joints were refurbished, shock absorbers re-conditioned and new wheel bearings fitted throughout. The gearbox and back axle were rebuilt also.

At that time the decision was made to install the later stronger Lagonda Sanction III variant of the Meadows engine into ‘S86’, to give the car a stronger power unit and to preserve the original unit. This was completely rebuilt by Neve Engineering in East Sussex. The rebuild included all new bearings, connecting rods and pistons. This is the engine that is currently in the car. The original engine is preserved in a packing case and is included with the car, making the car matching numbers engine/ chassis.

The vendor's intention was to commission new coachwork along the lines of the standard works 2/ 4 seater tourers when the most extraordinary coincidence occurred. His late wife had for many years collected paintings and drawings. One day she was in a gallery in Petworth and got chatting to the proprietor. On asking her to sign the Visitors' Book, he recognised her name and the conversation turned to Vintage cars. The vendor's wife mentioned their intention to have a new body made for 'S86', at which point he said "Oh! I've got a body for an S-type Invicta which you can have if you like".

Despite the unlikelihood of this (there were only 77 S-Types made and no spare bodies) it turned out to be true. The gallery proprietor was Jeremy Wood, nephew of the Invicta doyen, Bob Wood. Jeremy had been aware that the famous Invicta 'S68' belonging to Colonel Buckley (featured on the cover of the Profile publication on these cars) was being re-bodied locally and he was able to save the old body: a most attractive three-position drophead coupé by Freestone & Webb. This coachwork was completely restored by James Pearce & Co in Wisborough Green and, of course, fitted precisely on 'S86' without the need for any modifications. There are photographs of 'S86' as a rolling chassis, prior to the fitting of the Freestone & Webb body.

At one point the current owner of ‘S86’ was lucky enough to own an S Type with Carbodies Tourer coachwork alongside ‘S86’. The Carbodies cars are considered by some the most desirable S-Type variant, but he much preferred ‘S86’. Since its Freestone & Webb coachwork made the car much more comfortable to drive long distances, made the car no less rapid or sporty to drive and was in his opinion more elegant in appearance. As such the S Type with Carbodies coachwork did not remain in his motor-house for long. Whilst ‘S86’ has remained for nearly 50 years.

Bills for the restoration are on file together with invoices for further works and servicing carried out by Neve into the early 2000s. Since 2004 maintenance has been entrusted to West Hoathly Garage. Major works billed include: a thorough overhaul and tidying in 2004 (£10, 000) and a major service prior to a Continental trip in 2015 (£5, 000). While in the vendor's ownership 'Seagull' has completed many miles of trouble-free motoring, including several trips to south-west France and back, and has been a class winner at the Invicta Car Club's Summer Concours in 2006 and the overall winner in 2013. It was also awarded 1st Prize in the 'Ultimate Rakish Sports Car 1929-1940' Class at the Cartier Concours d'Elegance at The Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2004.

The Low Chassis Invicta S-Type is now regarded as one of the most desirable pre-War sports cars, sought after by collectors for its exceptional driving abilities, style and sheer presence. A guaranteed entry into the most prestigious rallies, tours and Concours d'Élégance events around the world, the Low Chassis has an enviable reputation among connoisseurs and examples are to be found in some of the most important private collections. With only some 68 surviving, and examples seldom offered for sale, 'Seagull' represents a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the discerning collector to become part of this remarkable marque's ongoing story.

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