page_title: Bond Minicar
section_title: Minicar Mark G 1961–66
hierarchical_section_title: Bond Minicar / Minicar Mark G 1961–66
caption_attribution_description: Wow, now this makes a nice change from a Reliant Robin! These are really rather unusual, even more so parked on an ordinary street. Probably a few visiting shows though... One of only 8 Bond 250Gs on the road currently... I suppose the 250 refers to the 246cc engine this sports with 11.5 HP! 3,523 were built between 1961 and 1966. This was only first registered in 1981, but is RHD. Registration number: SDX 173 ✔ Taxed Tax due: 01 November 2015 ✔ MOT Expires: 10 April 2015 Vehicle make BOND Date of first registration 01 May 1981 Year of manufacture 1963 Cylinder capacity (cc) 246cc Fuel type PETROL Export marker No Vehicle status Tax not due Vehicle colour RED
context_page_description: Bond Minicar is a series of economical three-wheeled microcars which were manufactured by the British car manufacturer Sharp's Commercials Ltd, in Preston, Lancashire, between 1949 and 1966.
context_section_description: Billed extensively as the "new-line" Minicar, the final evolution of the Bond Minicar was still based to a large extent on the bodyshell of the Mark F. Nevertheless, a revised shape fibreglass roof, new doors, new windscreen with opening quarter lights and bigger wheels largely transformed the cars appearance. However, although the car was similar in layout to the Mark F, almost everything mechanically about the Mark G was different with very few components carried over.
  Steel supports around the quarter lights allowed the windscreen to be both more steeply raked and moved forwards to provide more interior room. This also allowed a properly sprung bench-type rear seat to be fitted capable of seating two adults. The front seats were adjustable for position and the passenger side now folded much further forward than on previous models to allow easier access to the rear, although the doors were still felt to be too narrow for easy entry. Controls were similar to the Mark F, but the fuel tap was now moved from beneath the bonnet to under the dash. Doors were now lockable and included wind-up windows.
  Production of the Mark G began in August 1961 and initially the Bond 250 G Minicar was the only version available. The new style roof offered several inches more headroom and incorporated a backward-slanted rear window of the type popularised in the UK by the Ford Anglia. This was initially mirrored by nominal fibreglass tailfins inserted into the aluminium rear wings before the wings became entirely made from fibreglass.
  Under the bonnet, the car utilised the new Villiers Mk 35A unit designed specifically for it. A development of the 9E, the new engine incorporated numerous mechanical refinements to improve strength and reliability, albeit slightly at the cost of overall power, now rated at 11.5 bhp (9 kW; 12 PS) at 4,500 rpm. Rear suspension was completely revised, with trailing arm units controlled by Armstrong dampers. The rod and cable brake systems of previous cars was also replaced by a Lockheed semi hydraulic and rod braking system (front brake fully hydraulic, but rear brakes still rod operated from a central floor-mounted hydraulic cylinder) acting on all three wheels.
  Two further models were added to the range in 1962, the Bond 250 G Estate and the Bond 250 G Ranger. The estate featured a large hatchback, hinged at the roof. Inside, the rear seats could also be folded flat or removed entirely. On the Ranger version the rear seats and rear side windows were omitted.
  Although public response at the 1962 Motorcycle show remained encouraging, the changes to purchase tax meant there was now a much less significant price difference between the Minicar and other small cars and in November production was scaled back with consequential job losses.
  Nevertheless, development continued, and a choice of engines was offered on all models from March 1963. Villiers modified and developed their 249 cc (15 cu in) 2T twin-cylinder engine unit specifically for Bond and this new engine was designated the 4T. It produced (14.6 bhp (11 kW; 15 PS)) at 5,500 rpm and top speed was now said to be "just over" 60 mph (97 km/h) with an average fuel consumption of 58 mpg‑imp (4.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg‑US). Saloon models were fitted with an opening boot from April 1964.
  In a bid to stem declining sales, a 2-seat economy version of the Minicar was introduced in October 1964, the Bond 250 G Tourer. This basically used the saloon car body, but with a larger rear deck incorporating an opening boot lid, a folding hood, new fibreglass bonnet, plain door panels, no chrome side trim and non-opening quarter lights. In standard form it came with the 35A engine, but the side trim and 4T engine were available as an option.
  Saloon and Tourer production ceased in late 1965, whilst production of the Ranger and the Estate ended in early 1966.
  The last ever Minicar produced was an Estate painted only in primer in November 1966. The production records do not show any engine number for this vehicle but it is recorded as being destined for Greece.
caption: 1963 Bond Minicar 250 G Estate
exif: {"Image Make": "Canon", "Image Model": "Canon EOS 1100D", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image DateTime": "2015:01:09 13:56:19", "Image Artist": "", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Co-sited", "Image Copyright": "", "Image ExifOffset": "348", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "9040", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "16352", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/800", "EXIF FNumber": "28/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Action", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "640", "EXIF SensitivityType": "Recommended Exposure Index", "EXIF RecommendedExposureIndex": "640", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0230", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2015:01:09 13:56:19", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2015:01:09 13:56:19", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "77/8", "EXIF ApertureValue": "5", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "53", "EXIF SubSecTime": "93", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "93", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "93", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "sRGB", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "4272", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "2848", "Interoperability InteroperabilityIndex": "R98", "Interoperability InteroperabilityVersion": "[48, 49, 48, 48]", "EXIF InteroperabilityOffset": "8720", "EXIF FocalPlaneXResolution": "854400/181", "EXIF FocalPlaneYResolution": "569600/119", "EXIF FocalPlaneResolutionUnit": "2", "EXIF CustomRendered": "Normal", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF CameraOwnerName": "", "EXIF BodySerialNumber": "223073105134", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[18, 55, 0/0, 0/0]", "EXIF LensModel": "EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III", "EXIF LensSerialNumber": "000010f1a0"}