1974 Scamp, modified with Lucas Solar Power charger + solar modules

[grobmotorix]

Who knows this one?

[Paul Jaray]

It's hard to tell by this angle, but it should be a repost...

EDIT: after a closer look at some details it seems it's not.

[grobmotorix]

I wasn´t really sure either if it´s a repost but this one has some specialties.

[grobmotorix]

Promoted.

[Oguerrerob]

Scottish Aviation Scamp

[grobmotorix]

It may have been the basis, but I´ve got another name for this one.
Have a closer look and you will spot some differences.

[grobmotorix]

Promoted.

[guido66]

Solar cells on the roof?

[grobmotorix]

YES!

But which corporation did modify this Scamp?

[guido66]

The electricity council?

[Paul Jaray]

I've got the same car with "SE: Scottish Express" written on the side.

[grobmotorix]

Mine does not have this logo and the (still very well known) company has a different name.

[guido66]

Lucas?

[Paul Jaray]

From Wikipedia:

The Scottish Aviation Scamp is a small concept electric city car that was designed between 1964 and 1966 by Scottish Aviation.

A prototype, known as "the farm cart" was built which showed promise, accelerating from a standstill to 30 mph (48 km/h) in ten seconds, giving a top speed of 36 mph (58 km/h) and a range of 18 miles (29 km) in urban conditions. In July 1965 negotiations took place between the Scottish Aviation and the Central Electricity Generating Board aimed at marketing the car through the boards showrooms. The prototype was further developed with the addition of wood and aluminium bodywork and it was then registered for use on the road. It was successfully demonstrated in London and Bristol and received a great deal of publicity when on one occasion it was driven by the racing driver Stirling Moss. A further 12 cars were built for testing and the first of these went on show at the Ideal Home Exhibition in February 1967.[2]

The project began to run into difficulties because of an inability to resolve the uneconomic battery life of the Lucas Industries batteries available at the time. It was cancelled when major weaknesses in the car design were revealed by testing at the Motor Industry Research Association test track, subjected to the same tests as a conventional car, the suspension eventually broke and the car was claimed to be unroadworthy

[grobmotorix]

Yes, the company I was after is Lucas, indeed.

I´m a bit worried about the translation of the french original with a little help of "Babelfish":

Ce chargeur solaire Lucas a été realisé a la suite d´un accord avec le "Solar Power Corporation of America". L´un des elements intéressants de cet appareil est qu´il peut etre monté en série ou en parallele afin d´augmenter le voltage ou l´amperage. Il a deja trouve plusieurs applications, par exemple pour les stations relais de telephone, radio et television.

This Lucas solar charger was carried out after an agreement with the " Solar Power Corporation of America". One of the interesting elements of this apparatus is the fact that itcan be assembled in series or parallel so d´augmenter the voltage or l´amperage. It has already found several applications, for example for the relay stations of telephone, radio and television.

Later the text says:

Actuellement, sa realisation est tres couteuse mais Lucas estime que d´ici dix ans, son prix sera dix fois moindre. Sur notre photo, on voit la premiere application du "lucas Solar Power charger".

Currently, its realization is very expensive but Lucas estimates that within ten years time, its price will be ten times less. On our photograph, one sees the first application of the " Lucas Solar Power charger".

I´ve given one point to Guido.

I hope this is O.K. to all of you.

[Oguerrerob]

This article from QuatroRodas (March 1975) from Brasil says this project was primarly developed by Exxon Corporation

[grobmotorix]

I see - many companies have been involved and all of them seem to have presented the project as their own at different times and places...