"Low-chassis" Invicta S-Type.
Fiona, who is the archivist at Canna House, on the Isle of Canna, emailed over several photographs from their archives, in the hope that the vintage cars portrayed in them might be identifiable. Two of these images are shown here, both of a fabulous "low-chassis" Invicta S-Type, registration JJ 634. She adds: "I am the archivist for a substantial photographic archive compiled by two of the 20th Century's most significant folklorists. I am trying to identify several cars which feature in the collections, and I wondered whether you, or some of your forum members, may be able to help me in this. The compilers of the Collections were frequent travellers in Europe in the 1930's and 40's and this car pictured here, features in several pics. I would be very grateful if you are able to help in anyway at all. [It] was owned by George Campbell, brother of John Lorne Campbell and was known as 'Gulliver' or 'Gully! It was in the family from 1936-1988. "
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Happily, this particular "low-chassis" Invicta S-Type survives to this day, and has changed hands more than once since it was sold by the family in 1988. It can be seen competing in various vintage-car events, in Britain and overseas. Shown below is the first of the pre-war Invicta photographs, a head-on view. A variety of
motoring organisation badges have been fitted, I can identify those of the AA and the RAC, but the rest are a mystery. The size of the front brake drums
attest to the fact that these Invictas were meant for high-speed touring and competition use.
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The rear three-quarters of the Invicta S-Type are featured in photograph two. This could well have been taken on a continental excursion, note the "GB" plate attached to the rear. The luggage frame on the back looks very non-standard, and the large single spotlamp ahead of the driver, to the right, appears to be an owner-installed accessory, useful for picking-out road signs during hours of darkness.
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The "low-chassis" S-Type was introduced at the 1930 motor show held at Olympia and caused quite a stir, with its low-slung lines thanks to the
use of an under-slung (ie rear axle mounted above the chassis) frame. Power came courtesy of a 4.5 litre Meadows six-cylinder engine, enabling standard
road cars to achieve around 95mph, with more available after further tuning - impressive for the early 1930s. Raymond Mays was just one of the S-Type's enthusiastic
owners, an exclusive group given that only around 75 or 76 "low-chassis" Invictas were built.
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Return to Page 21 in the motoring image archive, or visit the main index of vintage & classic photographs here.
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