SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Sharp’s Commercials

Origin: Preston, England

Production: 6,700

Motor: Villiers 1-cyl., 2-stroke

Displacement: 197 cc

Power: 9 hp

Length: 9 ft. 10 in.

Identification No. E35620

Feedback from the general public regarding the Bond Minicar resulted in a request for a more car-like appearance, which called for a major revamping of the body style. Sharp’s development team, including designer Lawrie Bond, set about designing a new body.

The first Mark Cs emerged from the Preston works in the fall of 1952. They had a fresh new look, with long rectangular “pontoon”-style fenders, which not only gave the required car-like look but afforded the front wheel-cum-motor a full 180 degree steering lock. This gave the Minicar its famous “trick” of rotating full-circle on its rear axle. Mechanically, there was a strong new cast-aluminum bulkhead that supported the steering pivot and a new trailing-arm suspension with “Flexitor” bushings. Sharp’s offered the Standard and Deluxe Tourer, the Family, and the Minitruck.

This car offers a rare opportunity to enter a restoration project at the point where one is no longer dealing with discouraging rust repair and paint issues but is rather absorbing the enjoyable and satisfying “downhill” slope of the restoration, installing clean detail components with new fasteners. This Bond Mark C has been newly painted in a period shade of ivory white, and it awaits the pleasurable fitting of its component parts.