Sinclair C5 launch 1985-01-10 - Alexandra Palace, London

[@DeLorean4]

"Sinclair has launched his latest consumer toy" The Brits truly have a way with words. Even I felt the soul-crushing pain.

[@KevinBradshaw1972]

What possessed them to launch this during the middle of winter?! Incredible.

[@sanchoodell6789]

These were all the rage back in the 80s! *Everybody* who was fashion contious wanted one of these. The demand was so great they were turning people away at the showrooms and had to put customers on waiting lists! Great and handy little cars for doing the weekly shop Huge boot for putting the groceries into!

[@livebleedriot]

According to the whole world, it was a total failure in the market..

[@keenbaker-dias1137]

Ahead of his time I would love to redesign this for the present ..its all going this way and c5 has old school status..but great for pedestrian only estates...large warehouses .👍👍

[@radiodj1520]

I Believe This Was A Video Clip Of ITN-TV's ITN News At 10's Sci-Tech News Report On Sinclair C5 Launch On Thursday Night, January 10, 1985.

[@therespectedlex9794]

How many C5's did they sell in the month ahead? Sadly not so many. Better when they underestimated with the computer kit, at first, and got very rich.

[@QLvsJAGUAR]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmqzmql7rsyblZo Today 30 years ago! See Video description for an exclusive special. Cheers, Urs

[@unprofessionalstudies4675]

They did him in

[@cassius2k]

You would of thought ITV would of got the facts right - "engines from washing machines"

[@therespectedlex9794]

Electric motors?

[@R8films]

I bet you don't get people like James Tye at the British Safety Council any more.

[@therespectedlex9794]

Not quite, but we are health and safety mad.

[@David315842]

Oh how wrong they were to think that they were going to sell 100,000 of these things, well it was a good idea at the time. :)

[@depro9]

Sinclair X-1 a new hope!

[@HoheFeste]

man that device was brilliant! what happened?

[@dukenukem5768]

It combined the disadvantages of a car with the disadvantages of a pedal bike and the disadvantages of sliding along the road on your backside. Any more reason needed?

[@dalehess6265]

😅😊😮😅😅😂😢

[@Boemel]

a plastic washing machine powered lead acid battery tricycle beaten by any inclination engineered for awful cold and wet english roads. what could possibly go wrong ? i actually want one since batterys and motors available now ae 100x better and the cycle roads here are perfect :)

[@JacobHalasz]

And that was just as a failure as the ql the ql died because of one thing the amstrad 8256 the c5 failed because it was very dangerous and it cost alot of money

[@popeyegordon]

Battery, motor, electronics and body materials were not up to snuff back then. The ELF shows what can be done with technology now. High performance downhill racing mountain bike components, full DOT aproved LED lighting system and a powerful 9 pound lithium battery make these new designs better. Larger wheels and a solar roof bring it all together: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJDbdah-qtBnlac I got rid of my car 3 years ago and use solar power to get around every day. The option of pedaling just makes this more desirable since everyone needs exercise.