Invicta

1946 revival

The name was revived in 1946 by an organisation calling themselves Invicta Cars of Virginia Water Surrey who began making the Black Prince. Meadows engines were again used, this time a twin overhead camshaft 3-litre six with three carburettors giving 120 bhp. The aluminium-bodied cars – steel supplies were effectively non-existent for new businesses in Britain's new centrally planned economy – were extremely complex and very expensive with a torque converter (Brockhouse Hydro-Kinetic Turbo Transmitter) entirely replacing the gearbox. The torque converter was controlled by a small switch with forward and reverse positions. Suspension was fully independent using torsion bars and there were built-in electric jacks. Other innovative luxury items included a trickle-charger to charge the battery from the domestic mains, an immersion heater in the engine, interior heating of the body and a built-in radio. About 16 were made, 12 of which have survived. The new company lasted until 1950, when it was bought by Frazer Nash makers, AFN Ltd.

1989–date

Invicta Cars Ltd. Company No. 02342199 was registered again in 1989 by Christopher Browning, an Invicta enthusiast who was involved in the restoration and running of Invicta cars designed between 1925 and 1935. The purpose of the company was – and still is today – to record and preserve the heritage of the company name and provide a reference point for all the Invicta cars that are either being restored or are running on the road today.

2004–12

In the early 2000s, the marque was resurrected yet again, producing the Invicta S1, at the Invicta Car Company factory in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England owned by Michael Bristow who acquired the brand in 1980.The S1 was launched at the 2002 British International Motor Show. The car, designed in cooperation with Chris Marsh & Leigh Adams, was powered by a 4.6 L; 280.8 cu in (4,601 cc) Ford Modular V8, producing 320 bhp (239 kW; 324 PS), with a claimed top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h) and acceleration to 60 mph in 5 seconds.

A revised version was launched in 2008, called the Invicta S1 600, powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine. The engine was supplied by Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in America, and was tuned by Invicta to deliver up to 600 bhp (608 PS; 447 kW) at 6000 rpm and 780 N⋅m (575 lbf⋅ft) of torque at 4500 rpm, giving the car a claimed top speed of upwards of 200 mph (322 km/h). The range prices started at £106,000 and finished at £160,000, or about $156,000 to $236,000 US dollars (December 2008).

The car features AP Racing 6-pot (front) and 4-pot (rear) main braking system with cross drilled and race spec ventilated disc brakes, an independent hand brake system by Brembo, fully adjustable shock absorbers with race double wishbone suspension, a BTR Hydratrak race limited-slip differential, 50/50 weight distribution and a space frame tubular chassis and roll cage.

In April 2012, Westpoint Car Company, formerly the Invicta Car Company, was wound-up by the court as a result of a £40,000 unpaid debt following diminishing interest in expensive cars. Invicta Motors changed its name to Westpoint Car Company shortly before it was dissolved to save the Invicta brand being linked to yet another financial failure. The dispossessed owner, Michael Bristow, said it was the fourth financial collapse in the marque's history.

End of production

Car production seems to have finished in 1935. Noel Macklin went on to found Railton, who used the Cobham buildings to make their cars after Invicta moved to Chelsea in 1933. An attempted revival using Delage and Darracq components failed to get off the ground. Following the collapse of an attempted sale the court made an order for the compulsory winding up of Invicta Cars Limited on 3 May 1938.

Main models

1925–26 2½ litre

1926–29 3 litre

1928–34 4½ litre