Ive got a Sinclair C5 Id forgotten about!
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- čas přidán 11. 01. 2021
- In 1985 Sinclair released the C5, a futuristic one person EV. It was visionary..also a complete disaster and I forgot I had one in the garage...lets see what needs fixing...
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When those came out I was about 10 years old and I wanted nothing more in the world than to own one.
And me. Good job our parents didn’t spoil us with buying them as they were a complete flop😂
Still in better condition than some of the other stuff you’ve owned 😆
Harsh LOL
ouch...
@@furiousdriving Tell me I'm wrong…
Give Matt chance he’s not started pulling it apart yet 👍😂🔧🔨🪚
I think us over 40s are really lucky with our starry eyed memories. 70s 80s and 90s cars, music and pre internet long summer days and months of snow lol. However we can’t blame the kids sometimes thinking we’re divs over what we get excited about. Lol. Long live the over 40’s passionate nostalgia.
Hands up who’s just been to eBay browsing Sinclair C5 parts?? 🤚
Well interesting retro but so now too!
Guilty!
@@jogonbeaky I can't remember what channel it was , but the guy there had completely rebuilt a C5 with modern motor & batteries & got about 30 mph out of it!
I have paused the video to do exactly that LOL
Much as I love Sir Clive's electric slipper, if I was offered one as a courtesy car, I would find another garage.
Might be good as an alternative golf buggy with a golf bag on wheels as a trailer.
Can't wait to see progress on this little thing! It's so cool!
Good morning. My cousin refurbs the c5 i think at the moment from when I saw him last he had about 6 of them. He also refurbs Rayleigh Chopper bikes( originals) great content
Has he got a website, might have some spares?
No unfortunately he does it for himself. But if you want his mobile number let me know I'll ask him if its OK and he might be able to help
Schwalbe bike tyres are great things! It's pronounced 'shwol-bee' as far as I know. Very excited about this little C5!
More like "Shwol-buh" but accents make pronunciation of foreign words a bit subjective.
Shvahlbeh... more or less. ;-) It’s German for “Swallow.”
Just noticed that the stickers on the Sinclair are in furious driving colours. This would look cool in a full furious driving decal. Great video Matt can't wait to see this little things journey 🙂
It hasn't got a tea shelf though
Great project Matt! Would love to see it with a modern motor and lithium batteries! Put on some bicycle disc brakes and some nice sleek motorcycle indicators, you can get those very cheap on AliExpress or something. 😁
Every cyclist watching just screamed “NOOO!” when the screwdrivers were engaged to put the tyres on the wheels
yeah , use the proper tool ( table spoons !! )
Haha...., you beat me to it, I was gonna say exactly the same. I was also also shouting at him to put a little air in those tubes before putting them in !...
Putting a bit of air into the inner tube to give it some shape helps. Prevents pinching and helps get the valve lined up. IME and everything.
Damn, Kevin got there first.
Darn, I was about to put the same comment as well 😂 despite that, really nice video, looking forward to seeing the C5's journey to roadworthiness in future videos!
@@dittikke He was a bit heavy handed with those new tyres, I'd have cleaned up the rims & sprayed them silver or white as well.
You really need to restore this to it's original glory!
That C5 has gotta push you over the 50k subscriber mark! 😂😂
If that doesn't noting will!
He even threw in Mrs Furious aka "The Furious Mrs" 😂
Somewhere in a box in a storage unit there's a photo of me and my dad in one of these in... well it must have been 1985. My old man was a big exponant of EV's (he did some designs for the GLC back in the late 70's) and was invited to the press lauch of the C5. It's a shame they failed... but I think Clive was before his time.
As others have pointed out... please, please, please get some tyre levers!
Really lookng forward to seeing this coming back to life.
This takes me back to when I had mine! Good luck with it Matt. I hope you find it a good challenge!
One of those 1000w electric bike add-on kits and some creative engineering/welding and you'll have a fantastic (and optionally - fast) working C5 with lithium power!
Still only two speeds though, Stop and What's that smell of rubber
“ Peddling Furiously “ with Matt , for when you need that extra power BOOST. Only ever saw one in real life but we all thought we had glimpsed the future !!! 🤔 only that future didn’t last ☹️😉👍🏻.
I’m so glad you’re doing this. I remember seeing it in an earlier video where you briefly mentioned you had it. I’ve been hoping ever since. It was one of those things that you could look at and think that might well fail but I’m so glad they built them anyway. You have to have outliers to innovate
Matt why not use a laundry machine motor? Switch it to the spin cycle and you’ll be blowing past BMW’s!! 💨
🤣
I believe they used the motor originally from the Hoover Keymatic washing machine, the first fully automatic washing machine from the late 60's. They cost about £400 back then, a lot of money in the 60's think top of the range Bosch or Miele plus a bit more today, or more than a good 1 - 2 year old, one lady owner used car.
Motor from a washing machine is going to be 240 volt ac.... Using a long extension lead becomes very inconvenient
@@jusb1066 An inverter was used just the same as on an alternator.
@@tonys1636 the original was 12-volt DC motor,. Wound entirely differently. No controller simply switched on and off, little control, no different to a kids ride on
Made my day Matt.remember them in the day ,and seeing a few in Birmingham as I worked at Davenport s brewery,beer at home.looking forwards to this one as it's totally left field,and right up your street.nice to see your wife enjoying the experience .🤗
Sinclair made some very cool stuff back in the day. Mini TV's , Calculators, Micro Radios etc.
The Spectrum was wonderful, happy memories , I bought a C5 new and sealed boxed for 250 GBP, sold it 5 years later for 2000 GBP, lovely lol
All of it rubbish 😂
@@stepheng8779 Far from it, the mini TV was superb and the Spectrum kept me happy for hours and hours
I remember these coming out when I was about 7. They were a joke then and time hasn't been kind. Great video, Matt. A light-hearted excursion.
modern lithium batteries and brushless motor is what you need
im on the hunt for a C5 and do just that.
It's amazing the things you forget they bring back so many memories when you find them again
modern battery tech is so much more advanced now both in weight, power density and size. That is a fun project!
Another great video. Look forward to watching this project progress.
Hey. Feel free to reach out to me for spares and new parts :) The star piece on the left wheel isnt sitting in enough as youre missing the pulley but there are also several washers that go here so you will need to find those too. An 18mm belt is an upgrade over the original. Seeing as you are missing so many parts I would recommend you look at the porter 10 ESC from 4QD and then go 24v. If you do get an original motor then be sure to grease the gearbox and service the motor as its a common for these to melt.
Remember not to push the C5 backwards faster than walking pace or to connect the battery the wrong way round.
The plastic bits on the front sides are the mirror mounts which are worth an amount on their own. Hopefully you have the mirrors too.
Im going for all new electrics for this one, does anyone make a metal drive wheel to go on the axle? The 2 Sinclair parts I really need are the steering rod and that drive wheel. I figured that star wheel out when I watched a few more videos and saw it in place!
@@furiousdriving I've got both of those if you need them.
Only the left wheel is driven so going into the middle of the axle has no advantages. Chain driven has more noise than belt and the motor has an accentric mount for tensioning built into the original design. You'll have to work this out yourself if you're doing something different. A standard motor on 24v is good when it has cooling
Yes please - could you drop me an email on bodyintheboot@gmail.com, it would be a big step forward to sort those out.
I didnt know the motor wasnt central - I was going to make a mount for the new one that was
Why am I now searching online for a restoration C5...... I don't even how enough time for my project cars!!!!!
🤣🤣
Great video, brought back many 80s memories. :)
Hi Matt,what a fun video,I remember these Sinclair C5s,what a blast from the past to restore,with the new tyres on it goes well.a update on the Delorean would be cool to see how the progress when building it.ive owned a Sinclair computer myself a few years ago.
Great video has always. Enjoy watching all your retro road tests on the unsung hero cars that were common on the roads back in the day. I real trip down memory lane and a unicorn moment . Looking forward to more videos and reviews in 2021 !!
Thank you very much!
Back in the day the Aviemore Centre in Scotland had a fleet of C5's available for hire, but many of them were out of action due to problems with the (Hoover washing machine) motor. I found them great fun to drive though the hilly terrain meant I had to pedal much of the time (the whiny motor really couldn't handle even the gentlest of inclines for long, it was really underpowered). Your head is at car bumper height, so driving in a car park or in any sort of traffic can be vaguely terrifying - no one can see you! The 'dashboard' was just two LED strips, which seemed very futuristic to me in 1985! Loved the C5 experience, despite the obvious danger, these were great fun 😊. I had the 16k rubber-keyed Spectrum then a few 48k Plus Spectrums, still got one and it still works 👍🏻
when thinking of how popular electric assisted bycycles are today , i'de have to say old sinclair was ahead of his time on this one
What a hoot! Looking forward to seeing how this goes.
Sinclair also produced the first pocket calculator by the way. Revolutionary device and a precursor to the ZX and Spectrums.
Oh yes, and a pocket TV! And a matchbox size radio you could get as a kit.
And stereo amplifiers, also as a kit, small enough to fit in the base of a turntable. Just connect speakers and away you go!
Completely in love with that red leather interior of the Rover! Lol the Sinclair C5 is quite the legend to be fair. EV Delorean is the perfect description lol wow the Hilliards and Alfa connection is so appropriate to the channel! You really need to restore this Matt! You could by a new one but this is quite a unique C5
Red interiors are the best, this one is just amazing!
The last owner was going to get a working one and swap the bodies so it kept the signwriting but worked, which would be easier but still slow
@@furiousdriving at least you have the unique opportunity to improve this one greatly - bring it into the 2020s!
Excellent :)
I wanted one of these back in the day... in fact... I still do :)
Best of luck finding parts! The C5 is certainly an intriguing little device, although mixing it up with cars would be a bit of a terror. I’m really looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
So much to talk about! First, the Rover brings back memories of my first car. I had a very rusty 1967 2000 in White with black vinyl roof. I would love another, preferably a 2200TC.
Next, the C5 is going to be a very interesting project. Good luck with that one.
Lasty, the wheels on the C5 remind me of an all plastic bike made by Puch in the eighties . Anyone got one of those? Excellent stuff Matt. Thanks.
Great fun Mr Furious. In certain light that name down the side looks like 'Hilarious'! Nice little project there. Many thanks as always.
Hilarious Driving!
Wow now this is something i didnt think you would own. You should enter the red bull soap box race with it as the furious driving team. Would love to see a video cleaning this and see how well it could look. Great video as always
This looks like fantastic fun indeed. Can't wait to see more.
Washing machine motors can be hard to get to work as they often don't run on DC. You can use an altinator for a car and rewind it if you're looking for budget.
Good luck 👍 but think it will be a pain to do , but if anyone can , your the man !
Hey matt! I'd get a seconhand e bike and gut it for all the bits, looking forwardcto the progress on this little beast. (Furious cliving?)
100% for the pun work sir!
These started my obsession with 3-wheelers. I have a pedal-assist ICE trike and also an electric Carver Earth (see icon). Great video, looking forward to seeing the renovation!
Id love to take a Carver out, they are fascinating
@@furiousdriving You're welcome to come and try mine (Berkshire). The new electric version isn't as awesome as the original but it's a lot of fun.
That P6 is sooooow nice !! One of the best cars ever !! And then the red interior ... pure awesomeness :)
My dads boss in the 80's bought all his employees one to go to work on, he lived in the countryside down narrow lanes and pointblank refused. Then one city dweller had a very close call with a lorry and the C5 scheme was doomed.
Everything went without any hiccups, i'm not used to that with this channel! Just kidding, love this weird little thing. Hope you get all the parts sorted and make it working again.
Hi. I used to have a c5 when I was a kid, completely rinsed it out..snapped the frame where the front forks meet the spine tube....I suggest some kinda bracing ! Rear tyres same size as raleigh chopper front tyres too !!! As an idea I'd think about maybe buying a ebike hub motor connected through the axle then a bms running 36volts. Wouldnt be difficult to install. I snapped the forks n headtube going down kerbs, also wore holes in the front floorpans by going around corners on 2wheels. Btw rear plastic mag wheels aren't very strong at all....have fun lol
Built at the Hoover factory in Merthyr Tydfil IIRC?
For your steering linkage bar try going to a scrapyard measuring the distance between both points and looking at windscreen wiper mechanisms hope this helps you
Excellent!! I think with modern electric motors, controllers and batteries you could make something special. I've been thinking of getting one since I sold my Mk2 Raleigh Chopper... 👍🏻😀
Did this ever take me for a spin down memory lane:) My first computer was a ZX Spectrum + with the whopping 48k and clicky click keys:) Learned so much on that thing. I still remember that rainbow stripe at a jaunty angle across the box and the computer itself, the hours spent punching in code from computer magazines. I had no idea about the C5, but I thought the font of the Sinclair name looked familiar and when I saw you with your Spectrum in hand... I might as well have had the DeLorean you're building, it was a time machine on a TV screen. All the best!
Glad to see a C5 in worse condition than mine! Although I'm sure in a few weeks yours will looks much better.
I've been obsessed by these for years, I saw them in museums when I was a kid and just wanted one, and as soon as I was old enough to have enough money and a reason to use it I bought one (first thing I ever bought on ebay!)
The micro switch on the left handlebar is the power button, the one on the right I believe is the horn (but mine doesn't have that).
The switch you said was the on off switch I think is the indicators (although I don't have those either), there should be a 2-way switch on the left hand side which is for the lights.
The original battery was a 12v battery with I think 36Ah, but you could increase your range with a second battery in the other footwell. The on/off switch was done via a key box which clipped into a plastic tray that sat on top of the battery (this was held on with a strap and you could then simply lift out the not-at-all light battery out if you wished).
You mentioned that the 2 plastic sections clip together, I believe they were actually glued/melted together.
Oh, and they did not use a washing machine motor (cos those run on 240v!) I believe it was developed (not too sure how much development went into it) from a motor used in floor cleaners (and I suspect many others). Don't know the name of the company but it was Italian and they also built torpedoes (the article I read commented on how maybe they would have done better to sell that association rather than the hoover one!)
I look forward to watching your project, I know many people have changed the electrics to more modern ones. You discounted a petrol motor because of legislation, but just be aware that technically anything over the power limits imposed on electrically assisted cycles (because the C5 as a pedal assisted electric cycle is no longer a valid class so only exists for pre-existing vehicles) would require the vehicle to be registered as whatever class it comes under (probably a moped). I know many people do run 24v on the road, but the reality is that if you limit yourself to 15mph you'll be OK - but those guys aren't publishing it on youtube. I have a theory that you could have a switch to limit the power/speed for an 'on-road' mode, and then you're pretty much keeping to the law (bit like the mobility scooters that go 8mph - you can drive them on the pavement, but only in 4mph mode!)
Good luck with the project, I will be following closely! Might inspire me to get on with mine (which just needs bringing back to life).
Lovely p6 with red leather - lovely, you have really made that special.
Thank you! Its actually factory see but was redone a few years ago
I also own a C5. Love it to bits - they are pretty easy to strip down. The original motor was specific to the C5 and not sourced from a washing machine. As standard they were - 12v and fitted with just a single 12v battery - but what's interesting is that a very small number were built with the factory 24v upgrade kit and featured twin 12v batteries - which yours appeared to be fitted with as it has the twin battery straps. The body appears to be in very good order underneath the grubbiness - and the chassis which can rust rather badly looks in good condition too. Just be prepared for attention once you get it up an running - you'll turn more heads than driving a bright orange Lamborghini! 😁 😁
Thanks, I looked at the battery holders and said 2 batteries, but then all I saw online only said one on the left so I cut that! After it was stored on a roof when it was new (and away from road salt) its been in garages for at least 20 years so safe from the elements, cleaning it and not scrubbing the letters off will be tricky..
Left micro switch is the throttle switch and the right one was for the horn!
ah!
Is it just me or do I imagine you riding that down the street with some synth pop playing in the background
Stranger Things sound track!
Synthwave 😁👍
@@furiousdriving SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?
Not synthpop, but as soon as someone mentions Stranger Things, it’s hard not to think of that song
Fantastic video Matt i had the zx80 and spectrum and nearly bought the C5 but living in London at the time was a bit risky. Looking forward to the rebuild plus a guy in Skegness here still use his one plus its still battery powered i will find out what his using in it now. From Richard
This video did its job. Side tracked me from the mundanity of lockdown and having a job. Not having a job. Working. Not working. Sleeping. Not sleeping. Life crawling on. Thanks for video. Didn’t much like the Sinclair tho. From an XL1 owner and I like odd stuff.
Now thats an interesting car! glad you enjoyed it
@@furiousdriving not to be enjoyed !! Drives tramlines rather. Lol. Odd isn’t the word.
Good afternoon Matt
That brought back happy memories of my teens
Are we the same age im 51 now
I slightly younger, remember these from school days well though
Awesome! my friend had one back in the early 90's when we where about 13. We had grate fun tearing round on it, you could get a fair bit of speed out of them down hill with the motor going. PS that second micro switch is for the horn. PPS if you want that spectrum servicing and AV modding so it will work on modern tv sets give me a shout.
Ive not tried plugging the Spectrum in yet, what might it need doing to bring it back and safely? I know the old Macs have a lithium battery and a capacitor that go (the cap explodes..) - my email is bodyintheboot@gmail.com
@@furiousdriving will drop you an email but basically its capacitors in the spectrum too theirs some in the DC-DC converter that if not right will kill the 4116 RAM ic's Not a huge job to swap them out but you do need experience working on older PCB's or you risk lifting pads.
Stunning!!! I want one too. Greatings from Sthlm Sweden.
Hello! You'd want one with a heater there I suspect!
I have only seen one C5 on the road, on the busy roundabout outside Stockwell tube station, in the mid-Eighties. The rider was negotiating his way between buses and lorries, his head on a level with their real axles, with a look of determined terror on his face.
Gorgeous Rover 2000! White with red leather is my favorite colour scheme for them.
I love it (it is the nostalgia from my childhood too). Anyway it was too soon. The technology was not there yet. Nowadays with all these e - bikes it would fit perfectly. Sir Sinclair was 30+ years ahead of time! I am expecting full restoration and a Li-Ion battery. 😉👍
I used to love looking in the Kay’s catalogue at the C5 and the Spectrum and Commodores. They used to do £149 bundles for the computers and they were always appealing. Me and my friend walked passed a house in the 80s and saw a C5 in the garage so we knocked in door and asked to have a go which the guy was happy about. Different times.
Really enjoyed the video matt can’t wait for the next episode 👍
Loved the Rich Rebuilds reference!
This is way ahead of it's time. With modern technology and batteries it could be quite handy. What about a sort of LED warning 'flag'? There are lots of electric assist bicycles now. Looking forward to seeing what you can do with it. 👍
I remember C5s available to hire opposite Southport pier in the mid ‘80s. They all had terrifying black tyre marks along the side where cars had rubbed against them. It wasn’t long before they were painting them in a range of sea-side colours on a fairly regular basis.
Absolutely fascinating! Not only do I remember the C5, I remember overtaking one on the Holloway Road in 1987! I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops. Regarding the Spectrum - a friend of mine is a dab hand at repairing these and she told me a few components in the internal power supply fail, usually because someone has used an inappropriate power unit in the absence of the Sinclair original - there's no reverse-polarity protection on them.
Its actually gone to be refurbished now! Hopefully will come back working soon
@@furiousdriving All being well, it's but a handful of components to do so. Next you'll need a telly to look at it on!
@@HowardLeVert I think we've got something old enough to have an RF aerial socket still!
@@furiousdriving RF socket is good, but analogue tuner...?
Spectrum 48 K rubber key, was just amazing in its day, I learnt how to do basic programming on mine , fun times....👍
Sinclair C5 is such a cool design! Just an idea for the missing steering rod: You can get universal balljoints (The kind of that you have at the ends of gas struts but bigger) that you can mate to a bit of threaded rod. With a bit of luck one of those might be a fit. I constructed a gear linkage to my Citroën BX using those, fully adjustable too. :)
I remember these back in the day. I had a 48K Spectrum back then and I still have the +2A which has been featured on my own channel. I'd like to see you fire up your Speccy.
I missed the boat with C5's. In 1985 I was driving a FIAT 128 3p, so a potential death trap with a top speed of 15mph wasn't really going to do it for me.
Total respect to you though Matt for looking into restoring it.
A meet up with Hubnut in his Invacar and you in the C5 would be priceless. You 2 lads out for a cruise on a balmy summer evening?
I can picture people being crushed under a lorry due to the driver not seeing it until it was too late. Love that Alfa Romeo logo on the wall.
Lovely Jubbly, I think this might be quite expensive but also a lot of fun, use Mrs Furuios as a test driver from now on 😉.
Finally, sir! An icon of British failure. I thought for a minute that there was going to be a massive off camera crash due to the lack of adequate brakes and steering, but never mind! That De Lorean kit looks interesting...
just a minor bin bump - as I hit stop on the camera!
@@furiousdriving , it was even more stylish than I imagined....
I couldn't afford any of Sinclair's products at the time and even though I drive a death trap safty wise cinquecento on the road, the C5 would be a step too far for me 😱🇨🇮
Happy to watch you get it going, you'll have upstaged Hubnut in unusual vehicle tinkering.
I’ve had a C5 for a few years, I fully restored it myself so if you need any help give me a shout 👍
thanks, that could be good for a hand. Im going fully non standard components but were you able to split the chassis from the body to paint it and reconnect it?
@@furiousdriving I can’t remember the name of the process but the top and bottom are basically welded together and don’t come apart, to be honest most of us just use cif or cilit bang to scrub and clean the bodywork and it usually comes up well, obviously you’ve got that wording on yours to remove!
@@MillerExplores The signwriting is going to be tricky to clean without removing - that has to stay, its what makes this one unique!
@@furiousdriving Also it’s an interesting story connected to its past!
There are some fantastic images of Ayrton Senna on/in a Lotus JPS livery Sinclair C5, surely the high point of coolness for the funny little Sinclair. I hadn’t heard about the Lotus engineering connection before.
I saw one of these C5's at the very end of TV movie "Micro Men"! Weird and amazing at the same time!
That's really cool Matt! i was 15 when they came out,lol... i bet your kids love it?
Sort of interested but its not Roblox!
@@furiousdriving haha, im that old i had to google what Roblox was! lol
Remember when they came out and as a early teen preferred my bike really and also even then thinking they were death traps esp if riding on the road.
I was 19 at the time and driving my own car, I remember thinking it would never take off as it was far too dangerous to be on the road, too low and too slow!
I have ridden a recumbent trike for years. It is even lower to the ground than the C5. I guarantee that the 'excessive danger' which most believe is intrinsic to such vehicles, is greatly exaggerated. I find that drivers not only notice me well in advance, but are also far more careful and considerate than they are when I ride a traditional bicycle. As a car driver, I certainly notice recumbents on the road.
@@superseven220 That's a faulty perception on your part. They are extremely conspicuous on the road, far more so than a bicycle. They also wobble less when starting off, at slow speeds or when going up hills.
@@superseven220 That's a faulty perception on your part. They are extremely conspicuous on the road, far more so than a bicycle. They also wobble less when starting off, at slow speeds or when going up hills.
Brilliant, there is a picture with Senna driving it in Lotus colours, my favorite sports car ;-)
That is a perfect C5 to resto mod or rat rod, enough left to work with but in bad enough shape not to feel guilty about I would love to do a project like that but would probably be dangerous with 48v lipo and 2000w motor, fun though.
Now that was fun !! thats a great project, I suppose with lipo batteries and other modern doo dads the C5 can be modernised but kept fairly modest looking and the range extended, but do you even want to go more than 15 miles, using a C5 is a bit like being with your partner, great fun and all that, but I don't want to be seen doing it.
Defender, Sherpa Van, Mini Metro indicators. Remember driving one of these at the Birmingham Motorshow in the 80's and thinking as a kid it was awesome.
Vintage computers and 80s cars, the perfect combination
Great new project Use tyre levers not screwdrivers on new tyres you could slice the inner tube
Cool to see one of these again. I remember when they first came out. Truly looks a terrifying drive though. Open to being squashed by a lorry or rained upon by the elements. At least there is a headlight (imagine driving it in the dark..who would be mad enough to do that?! 🤣) I wonder why it never caught on?
its a mystery...
@@furiousdriving Just fit the optional warning flag, that'll stop the lorry squashing you,!! 😉😉
That star shaped nut is meant to be on the outside where it was, it holds on the white wheel covers which are missing!
That threw me as there isn't one on the other side
@@furiousdriving Yeah the other side is held on differently and you’ll need a spanner specifically made at the time to do up the bolts you’ll find them on eBay sometimes
Just remarkable that something so clearly unsafe on the road was launched; different times!
Everyone did remark on how unsafe it was at the time. But with modern lithium ion power it will be... even less safe. But definitely a cool project!
I'd love to have a go at building that! I built an electric trials bike and a trike during lockdown. Loads of fun.
You could do a decent 1500/2000w set up for around£400 depending on battery size.
Thats what Ive worked out - less possibly
I've owned a C5 for a good few years. They are great fun. The other switch on the handle bar was for the horn which was also optional along with the mirrors and lights. Feel free to ask for any help, I've done quite a lot of work on mine.
thanks, mine must have been well specced new, but even the horn is missing now..needs an air horn
I remember pestering my dad to get one and it was big no. Wasn't as practical as his Cortina estate. Seeing the rubber keyed Speccy brings back happy memories of playing Chequered Flag, Manic Miner and Fighter Pilot. Oh the 80's...🤔
I know of one individual locally who rides around in a recumbent bicycle, which this reminds me of!
I definitely would add at least a 750 watt motor, but a 48 volt motor & lithium-ion battery would be preferable.
I definitely think this is a viable project.
I desperately wanted a zx spectrum in 85ish, one Xmas I had a spectrum size box wrapped etc, Xmas day came and it was an Oric! Now anyone remember them.
not many!
I remember the Oric very well
The star cog does go on the outside (it’s star shaped for grip - it usually sits in the recess of the hubcap). However as you noticed you appear to be missing the large plastic drive cog (and shims) for the rear motor drive. You could probably put a large spacer there if you’re going to go with a modern front wheel-mounted motor.
Excellent project too, I’ve had one for about 10 years and got it home on the roof rack of my Dolomite Sprint 😁
Looking at the motors available, the bike type that hub mount dont look beefy enough and the traditional sort are a bit big. CNC a drive wheel where the plastic one was and fit a brushless there I think
Schwalbe make very decent bicycle tyres. My Cube SuperLite Race Pro road bike was bought new with Schwalbe Kojak tyres, which are fantastic.