Mark C - October 1952 to May 1956

Mark A Mark B Mark D Mark E Mark F Mark G Equipe 875 Bug Scooters Production statistics		VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS BY CHASSIS NUMBER   Date Chassis Number Details of modifications and changes in specification OCT. 1952 D/10/3392 The Mark C 2/3 seater Standard Tourer was introduced. This featured a reshaped body with headlamps mounted in the front wings, a Villiers 6E 197 cc engine and a 3 speed direct change gearbox. It had a tubular front engine mounting with the front wheel mounted on a trailing arm and a new worm and sector steering arrangement which then allowed 180o steering, lock. (instead of 90o) Suspension at the rear was by “six-hole” Flexitor bonded rubber units and the brakes operated on all three wheels. Electrics were still 6 volts for the horn, wiper motor and lights. The front head and side lamps were 12 watt / 3 watt capacity whilst the single rear tail lamp now incorporated a brake light and used an 18 watt / 3 watt bulb. Starting was by a floor-mounted handle. Vehicle length 9' 10", width 4' 9", height 4' 0" and weight 460 lb. New colours introduced were Red, Carlton Grey, Cream, and *Lunedale Green. (Pale Primrose was advertised in sales brochures but it is not shown in any of the records.) “Marimo” hoods were in Red or Green and seats could be in either Red or Beige. The price of the Standard model was £349 8s 10d (£349.44p) whilst Deluxe models with an electric starter cost an extra £30. A spare wheel was not supplied and cost an extra £5 5s 0d. (£5.25p) The first production vehicle was a Red Standard Tourer tested on 12th November 1952 and also a “Show” model. Note: It is believed the Sharps Minitruck with the “Mark B” shape was still being built at this time but the production records do not indicate exactly when the later Minitrucks changed to the Mark C style body and mechanicals. *Lunedale Green is named in Motor Cycle 20/11/52, page 634 but the sales brochures only refer to Green. OCT. 1952 D/10/3394 A Cream Standard Tourer with a Red interior - “Show” model. OCT. 1952 D/10/3396 A Carlton Grey Standard Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1952 D/10/3397 A (Lunedale) Green Standard Tourer - “Show” model. NOV. 1952 E/1/5*** Chassis numbers changed to a “5000” number from a “3000” number and started with an “E” year letter. The sequence then continued with 5404 (w/e 15th November 1952) and 5287, 5393, 5395, 5398, 5399, 5400, 5402 & 5472 (w/e 22nd November 1952) NOV. 1952 E/1/5473 & 4 Two left hand steering vehicles - a Minitruck and a Tourer - recorded as destined for the Brussels Show. Both were tested on 5th January 1953 and had body colours of Carlton Grey and (Lunedale) Green respectively. JAN. 1953 E/1/5521 Modified front spring mounting plates (1" lower) were introduced. JAN. 1953 E/1/5530 This vehicle was fitted with an electric starter and twin spotlights for the Sales Department. Body colour (Lunedale) Green. JAN. 1953 E/1/5566 A left hand steering vehicle fitted with trafficators (semaphore indicators) and twin spot lamps, exported to New York. Body colour Cream. FEB. 1953 E/2/5563 An electric starter and hand controls were fitted for Ministry of Pensions approval. Body colour Carlton Grey FEB. 1953 E/2/5596 A left hand steering vehicle with the door fitted to the right hand side. Body colour Red. (This vehicle has since been discovered in Canada, ref. Bond Info Magazine number 348, March 2000.) MAR. 1953 E/3/5594 A new silencer replaced the straight through type. MAR. 1953 E/3/5640 A left hand steering C.K.D. Tourer which was converted to a Truck and finally assembled in November 1953. APR. 1953 E/4/5638 A left hand steering C.K.D., assembled during w/e 4th September 1954, tested on 7th September 1954 and exported to Portugal. Body colour Golden Beige. APR. 1953 E/4/5645 A left hand steering C.K.D., assembled during w/e 21st August 1954, tested on 24th August 1954 and exported to Moscow. Body colour Red. (Naturally!) APR. 1953 E/4/5672 Wheel rims were changed to 14 gauge steel. MAY 1953 E/5/5731 The first vehicle recorded with a glass fibre bonnet - although they were not fitted to production vehicles until December 1954. JUNE 1953 E/6/5789 Villiers 8E 197 cc engines and a chain adjuster were introduced. JULY 1953 E/7/5800 to E/9/5965      An additional engine brace was fitted. SEPT. 1953 E/9/5966 A new engine stay was fitted. OCT. 1953 E/10/6012 This vehicle was sent to Coventry Hood Company, Bedworth, Warwickshire. Research has discovered that body shells, or “bucks ”, were sent so trial fittings of the hoods could be carried out prior to them being sent to Preston. As this vehicle is not recorded with a body colour, or with being-tested, it is assumed to have been a “buck” and would almost certainly have been supplied without front or rear wings, engine, wheels and suspension. (It would most probably have had the new type windscreen surround fitted - see entry for E/10/6056) OCT. 1953 E/10/6013 A Carlton Grey Standard Tourer “Show” vehicle for the Motor Cycle Show at Earls Court. Features to be introduced for the next season were: new shape Triplex windscreen and frame, rectangular section front trailing arm with revised front brake back plate and new chain adjusting method, steering shaft and gearchange lever U/J’s eliminated, cubby hole in dash removed, dash mounted grab handle introduced for all vehicles, battery moved from the bulkhead to the left hand front wing on non-electric start vehicles, introduction of a mounting bracket for the spare wheel, sidescreen stowage clips added and a “two roll” seat squab with a straight top edge replacing the earlier rounded type. Steel was also used for the rear wings when supplies of aluminium became difficult to obtain. Stone body colour was briefly available, but only during November and December. Prices were reduced to £269 8s 4d (£269.42p) for a Standard Tourer and £285 14s 7d (£285.78p) for a Deluxe Tourer. The Sharp’s Minitruck was £274 12s 6d. (£274.63p) OCT. 1953 E/10/6022 A Red Standard Tourer – “Show” model. OCT. 1953 E/10/6024 A (Lunedale) Green Standard Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1953 E/10/6029 A Stone Minitruck - “Show” model. OCT. 1953 E/10/6038 Records show this to have been a Van and a “Show” vehicle. As only one is listed throughout entire Mark C production run, it has been assumed this was the Mark C Minivan used by Sharp’s Commercials as their daily delivery vehicle. Body colour Cream. Registration number unknown. OCT. 1953 E/10/6056 The new shape Triplex windscreen and surround was introduced. (Also fitted to 5910,5916,6019,6023, 6012(?) and presumably all the “Show” cars.) NOV. 1953 E/11/6114 A Stone Standard Tourer - “Show” model. All Standard vehicles were now fitted with the new improved charging unit incorporated in the magneto generator and had a low/high charge rate control switch mounted on the dash above the speedo. A head lamp isolation switch which extinguished only the right hand headlamp was also fitted. NOV. 1953 E/11/6115 A Stone Deluxe Tourer - “Show” model demonstrator. NOV. 1953 E/11/6182 A Stone Deluxe Tourer fitted with trafficators and believed to be the Monte Carlo car GCK 83 registered in December 1953. This was successfully driven by Lt.-Col. M.G.M. Crosby and Captain T.C. Mills in the 1954 rally - although officially it was not eligible to take part. (The colour, date of manufacture and factory fitted trafficators all match the known details exactly.) DEC. 1953 E/12/6224 Starting handles were omitted from all Deluxe models. DEC. 1953 E/12/6248 This vehicle was fitted with a right hand gearchange. JAN. 1954 F/1/6342 A new horizontal steering shaft and gearchange lever (instead of the angled, universal joint type) housed in a larger aluminium dash bracket and a rectangular front trailing arm was introduced. (Also fitted to 6338 & 6340) JAN. 1954 F/1/6370  “Armstrong” front springs were now fitted. MAR. 1954 F/3/6424  The first recorded Family Safety model. A restyled rear body with two inward-facing hammock seats allowed two small children to be carried behind the front seat. There were new rear sidescreens, reshaped front sidescreens and the hood had a roll-up flap at the rear. A rear bumper was fitted to all Family Safety models regardless of them being a Standard or a Deluxe version. Body colour was Carlton Grey with a Red interior. Price, including purchase tax, was £285 14s 7d. (£285.73p) APR. 1954 F/4/6522 Golden Beige (replacing Cream) and (Lunedale) Green body colours and was first used on a Deluxe Family Safety. APR. 1954 F/4/6716 A new 5/8" diameter steering shaft with woodruff key was introduced. (Also fitted to 6708,10,12 & 13.) MAY 1954 F/5/6859 The peg type sidescreens fitted to the body and door were introduced. MAY 1954 F/5/6879 The handbrake became cable operated, replacing the rod system previously used. (Also fitted to 6865, 6871, 6872 & 6873) JUNE 1954 F/6/7001 All hoods were now fitted with rubber sealed seams. SEPT. 1954 F/9/7414 Although not recorded in the Production records it is perceived that round rear lights (Lucas type 488) and round reflectors were fitted to both rear wings on all Family Safety and Tourer models from this vehicle onwards. This was to comply with the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1953, which became effective for all vehicles registered after 1st October 1954. (Ref. Bond wiring diagram, Drawing No. BF94.) SEPT. 1954 F/9/7468   A new type steering sector was fitted to this vehicle. OCT. 1954 F/10/7541 Vynide hoods (in Red only) replaced the “Marimo” type and were now fitted to all Tourers. (Also to 7529 &7533) OCT. 1954 F/10/7576 Vynide hoods (in Red only) were now fitted to all Family Safety models. OCT. 1954  F/10/7595 A Green hood and sidescreens were fitted to this vehicle and also to 7601, 7605, 7607 & 7609. Body colours were all Carlton Grey with a Red interior. OCT. 1954 F/10/7662 The Villiers S25 carburettor replaced the S24 type OCT. 1954 F/10/7690 The start of the 1955 model. The major new feature was a redesign of the braking system with the aluminium, pendant pedal being replaced by steel type attached to a cross-shaft and operating a revised linkage. To supplement the use of aluminium, some bonnets and rear wings were now being made from glass fibre. Red Vynide had already been introduced for hoods and interiors also became Red only. Tourer models now had rear bumpers. All Deluxe versions also had front bumpers fitted and a leathercloth covered dash. An improved design of silencer along with new colours of Golden Bronze, Sharp’s Green and Peach were introduced. The price of a Standard Tourer was reduced from £269 8s 4d (£269.42p) to £259 15s 0d (£259.75p) with smaller reductions for the Deluxe Tourer and Family Safety models. The Deluxe Family Safety Model remained unchanged at £299 15s 0d. (£299.75p) OCT. 1954 F/10/7705 A Sharp’s Green Deluxe Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1954 F/10/7708 A Golden Bronze Deluxe Family Safety - “Show” model for the Press. NOV. 1954 F/11/7701 A Sharp’s Green Deluxe Tourer - “Show” model for the Press. NOV. 1954 F/11/7702 A Peach Standard Family Safety - “Show” model. NOV. 1954 F/11/7703 A Golden Bronze Standard Tourer - “Show” model. NOV. 1954 F/11/7704 A Golden Bronze Deluxe Family Safety - “Show” model. NOV. 1954 F/11/7706 A Peach Standard Family Safety - “Show” model. NOV. 1954 F/11/7707 A Golden Bronze Standard Tourer - “Show” model. NOV. 1954 F/11/7809 A flat type Burgess silencer with glass wool packing was fitted. NOV. 1954 F/11/7846 Hinged sidescreens on the windscreen frame replaced the peg type. (Also fitted to 7775, 7788 & 7843, but not to 7847, 7855 or 7857) DEC. 1954 F/12/7918 Believed to be the first vehicle when the four-lead worm and sector (Part No’s. BE149/150) replaced the six-lead type (Part No’s. BE34/35) previously fitted. (But not fitted on 7919, 7927 or 7930.) DEC. 1954 F/12/7934 Glass fibre rear wings were fitted to all Deluxe Family Safety models. DEC. 1954 F/12/7943 All Deluxe Tourers were now fitted with glass fibre rear wings. (Some Standard Tourers also had them fitted for a short time.) DEC. 1954 F/12/8080 Glass fibre bonnets were introduced into production - but were not fitted to every vehicle. JAN. 1955 G/1/8113 The first vehicle recorded with new type rear lights (Lucas type 471) fitted to aluminium rear wings was a Standard Tourer with Golden Bronze bodywork. JAN. 1955 G/1/8220 A new handbrake lever was introduced. JAN. 1955 G/1/8291 A Deluxe Tourer that also had a starting handle fitted. Body colour Peach. JAN. 1955  G/1/8306 A Standard Tourer recorded with glass fibre rear wings and a Family Safety hood fitted! FEB. 1955 G/2/8418 Recorded as a C.K.D. Family Safety model, with no engine or test date and the destination was Dublin. Body colour was not stated - unpainted? FEB. 1955 G/2/8450 Split pins for the steering shaft cotter pins were introduced. MAR. 1955 G/3/8603 Recorded as a Deluxe Tourer ordered by a Mr. Fuller who supplied his own engine! (No. 230B 3861) Body colour Red. JULY 1955 G/7/9557 This Deluxe Tourer is recorded without an engine or a test date but is noted as “Special test, M.I.R.A.” (Motor Industries Research Association) JULY 1955 G/7/9583 The strut between the bulkhead and the fascia panel was introduced. SEPT. 1955 G/9/10045 All bodies now had I.C.I. paint. (Also 10032, but not 10049) OCT. 1955 G/10/10445 The official start of the 1956 model. All vehicles had a new type II front grille and bonnet and the windscreen rubber was fitted with a new cream filler strip on the outside. Family Safety models had new shape glass fibre rear wings and new style rear lamps (Lucas type 549) A rear apron between the body and the bumper was fitted to all Family Safety’s and all Deluxe Tourers. Chrome headlamp hoods and front wing side strips were also fitted on the Deluxe. Colours available for the new model year were: Capri Blue, Golden Sable and Bahama Cream. (A small batch of vehicles, all in Bahama Cream, from 10415 to 10443 - odd numbers only - were also made to the 1956 specification.) OCT. 1955 G/10/10457 A Bahama Cream Standard Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1955 G/10/10459 A Golden Sable Deluxe Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1955 G/10/10460 A Capri Blue Standard Family Safety - “Show” model. OCT. 1955 G/10/10461 A Bahama Cream Deluxe Tourer - “Show” model. OCT. 1955 G/10/10462 A Golden Sable Deluxe Family Safety - “Show” model. OCT. 1955 G/10/10464 A Capri Blue Deluxe Family Safety - “Show” model for the turntable. OCT. 1955 G/10/10472 A Golden Sable Deluxe Family Safety - “Show” model. NOV. 1955 G/11/10455 Recorded as an experimental vehicle. Body colour Golden Sable but no other details are known. NOV. 1955 G/11/10597 The first Tourer recorded with a glass fibre hard top was fitted to a Deluxe in Capri Blue. The official announcement for the model was not until March 1956 when it was called the Convertible Hardtop and cost £293 Is 10d (£293.09p) for the Standard version or £318 16s 10 (£318.84p) for the Deluxe. NOV. 1955 G/11/10727 A Deluxe Tourer exported C.K.D. to Uruguay. No other details are known. DEC. 1955  G/12/11057 A round type Burgess silencer was introduced. DEC. 1955 G/12/11084 Recorded as a Villiers experimental with a Siba Dynastart. Body colour Golden Sable JAN. 1956 H/1/11198 New “eight-hole” heavier duty Flexitors were now fitted to the rear suspension replacing the earlier “six-hole” type. (Also fitted to 10403, 11179, 11183, 11187, 11189, 11190, 11191, 11193, 11195 & 11196) JAN. 1956 H/1/11340 A bolt replaced the clevis pin in the hand brake lever pick up MAR. 1956 H/3/11627 The first Family Safety Convertible Hardtop. Body colour Bahama Cream. Only two others were made, 11635 and 11637 with body colours of Bahama Cream and Golden Sable respectively. MAR. 1956 H/3/11698 The last recorded entry for a Mark C Minitruck. MAR. 1956 H/3/11703 A Deluxe Convertible Hardtop with a glass fibre bonnet for the Works showroom. Body colour Bahama Cream. APR. 1956 H/4/11789 The last vehicle recorded with having a glass fibre bonnet was a Deluxe Convertible Hardtop with a body colour of Golden Sable. MAY 1956 H/5/11796 The Mark C was discontinued. The last produced was a Deluxe Tourer with Capri Blue bodywork.