Sinclair C5 fans gather to celebrate ‘iconic’ vehicle’s 40th anniversary
Sinclair C5 fans gather to celebrate ‘iconic’ vehicle’s 40th anniversary
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Sinclair C5 enthusiasts hailed the vehicle as “ahead of its time” as they gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of its launch. Fifteen of the vehicles were driven at Friday’s event at Alexandra Palace, north London, which was the location for the original unveiling on January 10 1985.
The C5 was the brainchild of multimillionaire English inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, who made his name creating the world’s first pocket calculator and pioneering the market for affordable home computers. The three-wheeler is a low-set, one-person, battery-powered vehicle.
It was hailed by some as the future of eco-friendly transport, and despite being a commercial flop it gained cult status among collectors. Bryan Griffin, who organised the gathering, told the PA news agency: “It was a true innovation of its era. “It was ahead of its time. Now society is ready for sustainable personal electric vehicles.
“There’s warmth and nostalgia for Sir Clive and his innovations.”. Mr Griffin described the C5 as “an iconic ’80s vehicle”, stating that it was “really good fun to ride”. He went on: “They’re really quite smooth. “Lots of us use them for practical journeys. I take mine if I’ve got to pick up some shopping, or pick up a prescription.
“We use them for pub runs in the summer. We use them as much as we can.”. Another attendee, Gus Desbarats, who redesigned the C5’s bodywork for Sir Clive, said: “It’s endured. “The design itself still looks futuristic and sort of right, 40 years on. I’m very proud of that.”.
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