Sinclair C5 - A Great British Failure! (we love a failure!)

[@williamplimmer]

Hey everyone, glad you enjoyed the C5s 😁, if you want to see my brother driving it through McDonalds Drive-Thru here’s the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZrUlohmd9iCqpI

[@lofty7180]

Thought the lass in the fiesta was going to rear end the C5

[@williamplimmer]

@@lofty7180 Yeah, the lass is actually a guy who used to work where I work 😂

[@lofty7180]

@@williamplimmer oops, my bad.🤭

[@williamplimmer]

Oh also meant to say great job Ian, I thoroughly enjoyed watching with your knowledge about them and seeing it gliding down the seafront promenade, even though I already use it almost weekly 👍

[@chrisdowns1987]

Great that it gets used and enjoyed! Love these things 👍

[@sweetsreeve]

Sir Clive was 30 years too early with this. If it was out now, it would be on everyone’s Christmas list.

[@andrewchapman6010]

Agree completely... He was too far ahead of his time ..

[@LambenTwit]

I very much doubt that!

[@CaptHollister]

Respectfully disagree. The concept was sound, but creating a tiny three-wheeled car was a mistake. The ideals behind the C5 are much better embodied by current e-bikes with better visibility, better comfort, and infinitely better disc brakes. E-bikes are an excellent execution of the concept of personal transportation, the C5 is not.

[@TheEverest72]

@@CaptHollister Yes but you’re not acknowledging the fact that, this is way before the modern personal electrical bikes etc, that we see today! The same argument could be used over the preference of a Rifle over a Spear in times of conflict! We’ve moved on and so has technology!

[@CaptHollister]

@@TheEverest72 Au contraire. My argument is that because of all the advances in the intervening decades, the C5 would not be on everyone's Christmas list if it were launched today.

[@maverick_motors_]

I remember when I used to own a C5 a few years back and I loved it. I took it out almost every weekend and the steering/ seating position was fantastic (even if I was almost ran over). I spoke to Sir Clive over the phone a year or so ago, and I'm hoping to go meet him when possible after lockdown restrictions ease. I bet he'd like to hear the fact that he still gets praise for the little C5. Fantastic review Ian.

[@zugbug1986]

Finally a vehicle which makes TWC seem positively luxurious.

[@OAKSEY-wd4vs]

Made me smile

[@zugbug1986]

@@OAKSEY-wd4vs I aim to please.

[@itsmephil2255]

TWC has doors......and a windscreen.....and other such luxuries

[@gazonatrike7005]

the world needs electric twk's that's the answer, nearer full size (ish) with electric power, a better city car then many.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@gazonatrike7005 there actually is such a thing being manufactured! Though I’ve gone and forgotten the name. A relative who uses a power chair pointed it out to me a year or two ago.

[@FourIntoOne]

Fun fact : I used to work for Lotus in the mid/late eighties and there were a small number of the bare bodies for these (presumably used as mules etc in the chassis development process) and I and my mates from the powertrain dept used to sit in them and have our packed lunches.

[@IanJTaylor]

Well, it’s a fact!

[@fourthdrawerdown6297]

I personally think that the C5 is a rather elegant design,although even pedestrians look terrifying from that height. I’m sure you already know that one of the optional extras was a flag on a long stalk to make you more visible to other vehicles and the wing mirror came in handy so you could see the truck before you disappeared underneath it. I think Sir Clive Sinclair went on to produce an electric motor that could be fitted to an ordinary bicycle, years before the power assisted machines that we have today. On a personal note, I’m happy to see that there is still a breeding pair of C5s out there and Weston looks lovely.

[@chinnyvision]

@Alfred Wedmore Exactly this. He had a total inability to adapt ideas and would push ahead down his own route. Just like his backing of small CRT's against the new Japanese LCD displays.

[@suznet]

As Ian powers past a mobility scooter :-) the British Weather was on your side also.

[@craigmclean8260]

Reminds me of Steph of "IDAC", driving that "Cozy-whatever-it was", smoking by a mobility scooter at 10MPH!

[@russellb1212]

C5 was ahead of it’s time, would be very popular if updated and re released today, having rode one, yes that steering is a strange sensation

[@mattcurtis1944]

My Grandads factory used to assemble these in West Moors, Dorset! As a little boy I was lucky enough to be able to drive one - I couldn’t reach the pedals as I was too short... Couldn’t really see where I was going either but could press the ‘go’ button and could see round the side of the fairing.

[@phiteonn3541]

In the ZX Spectrum Assembly Language, there's a programming instruction called 'Push BC' (push bike!). The Hexadecimal number (base 16) for that instruction was 'C5' ((12*16)+5=197). Now you know how it got its name

[@caw25sha]

They should have labelled the throttle MOV

[@johnbrereton5229]

Sir Clive Sinclair was years ahead of his time with this C5 design. Today there are similar cars being built all over the world now that time and technology have caught up with Sir Clive's design and made it viable. Perhaps he could now update it and make a 21st century version?

[@another3997]

Like most people, I always assumed that being so low down makes these dangerous. But I ride a recumbent trike that is even lower than a C5, and my experience, like that of most recumbent riders, is that they are actually very safe and highly visible. Drivers give me more room, they wait longer to go past, and I have far, far fewer 'near misses' than when riding 'normal' bikes. You just have to pay attention and apply a bit of common sense around parked cars and junctions. Road markings and speed humps are even lower, but drivers can still see them. 😁

[@machiningbasics1729]

Would be great to see what the reaction was if they where released today with modern electrics

[@freibier]

Yeah, sell this today as a luxury alternative to an electric bicycle, with a decent range (guess you could easily get 80 miles out of it with a modern battery), a quality seat, a nice tablet as a dash and maybe a foldable top in case it rains. Have it produced by Apple for double sales numbers.

[@NigelPond]

Check out the Carver Earth EV. It's a modern take on a C5. Http://Carver.earth

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

@@NigelPond €9,980!??!?!?! ouch

[@NigelPond]

@@TheGramophoneGirl yeah, it's not cheap

[@Zeem4]

@@NigelPond From door to door with a smile!

[@garethblake3941]

Hi, l recall at the time all the hype before it was released. When l first saw it l couldn't believe my eyes and thought what was Sinclair ever thinking of!! Keep up the good work and stay safe.

[@justcallmeavi3255]

I love the UK law on "Velomobiles", "sir, you need a licence to drive this, oh, its got pedals, never mind then!", no driving license required, no CBT, nor do you need to be registered disabled, if it has pedals its classed as a HPV or human powered vehicle, it's good to see the UK gov doing something right for a change!

[@metalmark8]

There were 2 of these for sale in a charity shop type of thing about 8 years ago. Guy wanted £100 each. If I had known back then they were for adults I would have got the pair. My kids were older so didn't get them thinking they were for kids lol. Missed out big time

[@mastercylinder1939]

That boot is for catching the grass, when you use the lawnmower attachment.

[@harpsi8]

A fun video Ian ! Great use of a unique opportunity. I remember the magazine articles from the 80s on these. I knew folks who bought the Sinclair computer. Thanks well done ! Rich&2carnivoris kittys 🍖🐈‍⬛🐈🇺🇲❤

[@gleng6812]

I envisage this as April 2022 on the next Hubnut Callander!

[@P-I-D-D-Y]

I used to daily mine to work - I definitely didn't ever feel scared in traffic. Usually more embarrassed to be holding up traffic because everyone slowed down to get a better look! Technically they failed compared to Sir Clive's expectations but they were the best ever selling 'electric vehicle' in the UK until the Nissan Leaf. Mine has now been upgraded to disc brakes, litho batteries and front hub motor that will pull you up the steepest hill. Let me know if you ever want a go in what I think a modern C5 might be like.

[@P-I-D-D-Y]

Also - a very small correction. The front brake is indeed a brake block on plastic, the rear is a custom drum brake. And absolutely useless!

[@daniellee9015]

Brilliant video Ian 👍 there still cool looking all these yrs on always wanted one

[@lrochfort]

I'd love to have a go on one. I'm off to research modern electric recumbent bicycles now!

[@visionsofhere3745]

From memory, a large part of the problem was that people couldn't understand an electric bike you had to pedal exactly as you would were it not electric, which raises the question of how was this supposed to be an improvement compared to the, much cheaper, traditional bike. Maybe in these days of hybrid cars, that wouldn't confuse people so much.

[@Blind-Dave]

Ah Weston Super Mud... what a great way to get up & down the sea front!

[@stephenwarhurst6615]

Clive Sinclair was years ahead of Elon Musk in thinking in Electric vehicles on the roads But back in the 1980's technology was very limited to make something good and reliable

[@kaitlyn__L]

Of course, he was probably inspired by the electric cars from the early ‘70s. Which were often single seater affairs themselves.

[@matty6848]

The biggest issue was the battery technology. Back then they just didn’t have the batteries that had the power or could hold the charge like they do today.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@matty6848 absolutely. Have you looked into some of the GM electric test mules from the early ‘70s? Even with a trunk crammed full of lead-acid batteries, their acceleration was garbage and their range was terrible. There was a project with different chemistry, I think maybe it was silver-zinc, which performed a lot better (albeit still not as good as modern lithium), but the price per cell was so high they couldn’t afford to bring it to production (well, when sales projections were figured in).

[@golddalekwho5944]

I was within a whisker of getting one when they first came out. Only stopped by the fact I was moving home at the time. By the time I had sorted the move and settled in(months) the bad things started to happen to the C5, so I decided against it.

[@lundsweden]

Its not only a failure, it's funny too! But it almost was a good idea, like an early mobility scooter. I think the designers were a bit confused what this was for though, and the marketing department also seemed strangely compelled to push this thing for on road use, even though that was and is a bad idea. Like what some others have already said, I think this could've been successful if it was 30-50% bigger, had a roof and was marketed as a mobility scooter or a young person's toy.

[@birchwoodracing]

Love this video, I so anted one when they were first released in 1985 but they were over £400 althoug the price did crumble after a few months. One day I will find one local to me on Ebay that I can ride/drove home

[@JaysElectronicTinkerShack]

awesome i would love to get my hands on one and do some modifications mainly new technology battery and motor always loved these things

[@micheltebraake7915]

A lot of good ideas are often conceived in the wrong decade, too early for the time we are living in at that moment.

[@garywillcox2286]

Sinclair C5 "POWER, Less is More" should have been the slogan it was sold with

[@richardkent]

I'd rather have the Raleigh Chopper that was in the background at the beginning. Far more of a classic than the C5 will ever be.

[@williamplimmer]

It’s actually a Tomahawk, though we do also have 3 Mark III choppers also

[@johnsuffill6520]

I've been hoping you'd try out the C5 for ages! Nice one Hubnut :D (Added after watching....) WANT!

[@GrandadIsAnOldMan]

Brilliant, and a perfect day and location for it 🧡👍

[@Jag-Soft]

Nice, I saw you both testing these. Didn’t notice it was hubnut lol

[@55rimshot]

Have you heard about another historic Welsh built vehicle, the Gilbern Invader? They were great looking cars and well worth investigating. The Gilbern club is still going strong.

[@HubNut]

Oh yes. I need to test one. They're lovely cars.

[@barryshackson4005]

Not seen 1 of those for ages & you find 2 in one place.. Great video Ian.. Are you going to road test the lovely rover p4 that was on the drive as well 🙂🙂.

[@williamplimmer]

He didn’t, (it’s not running right atm), but I did a quick walk-around of it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKK5iYFujKaceJo

[@MarkieC1990]

Great review Ian! Good camera work 😊

[@williamplimmer]

Thank you, (I’m the tracking shot C5) 😛

[@niceviewoverthere4463]

Enjoyed watching you overtake a Mercedes and a pretend 4WD (SUV). I would like a C5 to install a 250 or 500cc motorbike engine in. Fun!

[@mandoprince1]

I remember when the C5 was launched. It was a bit of an anti-climax. The problem was that the media had been full of stories about Clive Sinclair bringing out an electric car, only for this little electric assisted pedal trike to appear. I suspect that the fault probably lay with the press; very likely, with Sinclair talking about an electric vehicle and the press jumping to conclusions!

[@onemanup7895]

fantastic mate, very ariel 3, underpowered, 3 wheels, awful brakes.. and people asking WTF is that !!

[@lofty7180]

Oh the times i was late for school because i had my face against Currys/Dixons (Cant remember which one....) shop window ,dreaming of owning a C5 ! as much as i enjoyed this vid, is there any chance following it up with a vid of that wonderful Rover P4 ? reminds me of the one i used to have.(AOD225A where are you now......)

[@HubNut]

Thanks. Sadly the Rover isn't roadworthy.

[@williamplimmer]

I did a quick walk-around of it here due to high demand: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKK5iYFujKaceJo

[@MrButtonpresser]

The C5 was absolutely made for a HubNut video!

[@peterrosier963]

Yes but what about the wiper test - looks like a substantial zone of inattention to me!

[@martinneumann7783]

You did get attention by the folks? Are you serious? While making a road test with a driving vac? This thing is so cool, cool, extra cool!!! Exactly my cup of tea...😃

[@williamplimmer]

Video of this one going through McDonalds Drive-Thru: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZrUlohmd9iCqpI

[@FastAsFunk]

Great video Ian. You make them seem almost good. I've got a pair of these and they are pretty horrific 🤣 They so draw a crowd though.

[@IanSlothieRolfe]

The C5's main problem was that it was ahead of its time, technology and public perception wasn't quite there yet. But the C5 did attempt to tackle some of the problems that are resolved in modern electric vehicles. If the C5 was being built now with modern batteries and modern electric motors and control systems it would be a much more practical proposition, as indeed many modern electric assist bycycles/tricycles are. I suppose something like the G-whiz is perhaps its latter day decendant!

[@a.garland5003]

Think the C5 was ahead of its time, if came out today with the latest technology it would be a massive hit

[@charlesjmouse]

In a way it has, although not as Sir Clive envisaged. The electric scooter (the 'cool' variety, not the OAP menace) is becoming a massive hit the world over - we don't see them much in the UK because of a quirk of legislation making them illegal everywhere but Milton Keynes! Small and handy enough to be useful while being much easier to pick up and use than an electric skateboard - I currently have one of the latter but the combination of terrible UK roads and the march of time (now 52) is making the eScooter very attractive to me.

[@martinda7446]

@7:15 possibly the funniest thing I've heard this year. Not sure why that appealed to me so much? It's all in the timing as they say.😸

[@MrMusic1950]

Todays battery cars are just one step up on the c5, THE EXTRA WHEEL.

[@darrenjones5885]

The C5 would have been better with two wheels at the front and one at the back. The Morgan three wheeler had proved that configuration, and its now common for pedal powered trikes. An low power vehicle with a terrible ride and handling wasn’t going to pick up sales on fun factor and even with the optional Sinclair waterproofs wouldn’t have been liked in the rain.

[@philh1462]

Outstanding video. Well done.

[@BikerBytes]

My first and only experience with a C5 as hiring one at Western 😜

[@williamplimmer]

Pretty sure mine, (the one with K15S 1T on the back), used to be one of the ones hired out on the seafront at Weston 😁

[@ccjelley2390]

Yes, way ahead of its time. It was difficult for anyone outside the [car] cult to praise it for fear of ridicule. I have friends who ride recumbent bicycles without any problem.

[@stevetaylor8698]

I presume the word is "drive". Two wheel vehicles (and four legged creatures) are ridden. Motorcycles with sidecars are driven, as are horse drawn vehicles.

[@ollieb9875]

What about 2 legged creatures, like... Uh... riding an ostrich 🤔🙃😂

[@stevetaylor8698]

@@ollieb9875 I suspect this might be illegal

[@ollieb9875]

@@stevetaylor8698 😂 you can ride one! Certainly in South Africa if you're not too heavy.. they probably don't like it that much though to be honest. 🙃

[@backintimeben]

Hope they'll let you take The Rover P4 for a spin

[@williamplimmer]

It’s not running right at the moment but if it was I definitely would have said he could use it

[@williamplimmer]

Quick walk around of it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKK5iYFujKaceJo

[@nervo6321]

Wouldnt fancy tackling a busy roundabout surrounded by articulated lorries in one !

[@carstenweiland7896]

Wait a moment, you just got a C5 and told us it is a family car, I am confused now!

[@jfv65]

It's not enough bicycle (making the narrower e-bike still more practical) and also not enough car. (Because it has no roof) This contraption would fail today in 2021. Regardless of modern battery tech or cycle lanes. If a vehicle like this is supposed to have any chance of success it must have a roof IMO (like the Renault Twizzy and Citroen Ami EV.)

[@simonabbott7323]

Was it a dream ride in Weston, or did you have a super mare?

[@BrorAppelsin]

I've seem one of these here in Finland, mid 90s I think.

[@stevenbliss989]

Under steering is NOT comfortable! Back in the 1980 the electronics, motors and batteries were just not there for power and control sadly.

[@SheddyIan]

I would be interested in a hubnut E-bike video - have you ridden one? The C5 seems to offer a lot of potential for modern upgrades. The lithium battery, as you commented on, but also a modern e bike motor and controller that allows different speeds with a throttle, and gearing in the pedal drive to make hills easier and faster speeds possible (the motor would legally cut off at 15moh, as per ebikes, but that doesn't stop you pedalling faster) Would love a future retro C5 brought to market with modern upgrades!

[@HubNut]

I never have. I'd like to.

[@SheddyIan]

@@HubNut They are great fun, make hills feel a lot flatter, but you still get exercise as you have to pedal as well

[@mercury9162]

I feel like these would be a successful hit in today's world. We probably have better infrastructure to accommodate them. Also does peddling charge the battery on the move ?

[@williamplimmer]

No it doesn’t, they’re mainly there for starting off since the throttle is just a button that gives full-power to the motor, not good for the plastic gearbox. Also to assist going up hills and if that battery goes flat 😂

[@MaxDJsWorkshop]

Looks like fun for sure. But I see you avoided going on the road 😏

[@williamplimmer]

I convinced him to try it on the road and he put that video on his Hubnotes channel

[@stephinepaul7483]

TWC's would-be Nemesis!!

[@Scodiddly]

I’ve been riding a recumbent cycle for years, it’s more comfortable than a wedgie bike. Under seat steering, even, though the handlebars are wider. I think my bike is a little taller than the C5.

[@jibjab351]

Ok on a nice smooth promenade but image those tiny heels on the pothole infeste uk roads

[@dennisrobinson7587]

It would be nice to see a video on that Rover.

[@williamplimmer]

I did a quick walk-around video of it however my comment on the MG ZT video with the link never got pinned so not many people saw it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKK5iYFujKaceJo

[@joskjj3625]

I totally forgot about this little thing

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

Entertaining and terrifying in equal measure.

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

For the rider, or the innocent pedestrians? or both?

[@lauriebluesguy]

Loved that, a great piece of British history.

[@tonybilco1317]

Great video your best review yet!

[@hannahmillington5781]

Such a sad product - it was was ahead of its time in some ways but the concept was too naive and dangerous for main roads. Personal one-person electric vehicles will be with us in time

[@jurivlk5433]

There was one for sale recently even here in Switzerland. But I resisted, athough I love weird vehicles.

[@caw25sha]

Not ideal for a mountainous country.

[@jurivlk5433]

@@caw25sha Not even for the flat parts! On a bicycle you can at least add pedaling force when it goes up, but with this you would get stuck on the slightest hill.

[@mukkaspec3333]

Remember those . Now modern day fools pay over £100.000 for the same thing but with the a different name of Tesla.

[@cappaculla]

Great video, seems lotus developed everything..

[@johnwinters4201]

A victim of far too many compromises. Only a couple of years before launch, Sir C was saying it would be a two-seater vehicle with a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 50 miles. Then they cut it down and cut it down. The earlier concept might have stood a chance of success.

[@HubNut]

Hampered by legislation I reckon. That concept would have had to be registered as a car.

[@johnwinters4201]

@@HubNut Oh yes, it was meant to be a car. I remember being quite startled when they launched it at how different it was from what they had been promising.

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Speed record for the C5 is 150 mph. How terrifying would that be!

[@jurivlk5433]

Done by Colin Furze?

[@TheFlyingdeuces]

Room for an onboard ZX81

[@niklaswejedal463]

This would be a great complement to your other C5, right?

[@kay110]

I believe the motors were built for 36v as opposed to the 12v they run on. Imagine the speed if you run them on 36v - Frightening!

[@caw25sha]

Would be quite easy to fix up 3 batteries in series. (Don't blame me if they melt...)

[@rollingtroll]

Ian's not a big cyclist as we've established but this is somehow very hubnut :D

[@mach1nefan]

I sometimes think that if the C5 wasn't so mocked, it could sell well in today's market filled with e-bikes and e-scooters :)

[@MrFlyingguy]

yes he was about 30 years too early to the market with that, with a LIPO installed those C5 go like the clappers

[@dazt103]

I suspect you are right. A modern version of this would sell very well indeed.

[@CharlesSmith-zt7vt]

I think the height of a C5 would always be a problem. But you're quite right, it now looks like an idea that was ahead of its time, but just needed a tweak to the form factor, and better battery technology.

[@robinwells8879]

Absolutely. Sir Clive’s only crime was to be so well ahead of his time. I could see fleets of these at park and rides perhaps with the canopy option. Just imagine what mobility scooter regenerative braking could have added. As an occasional Cambridge driver I can see where he was going.

[@AndreiTupolev]

It was very much the forerunner of the mobility scooter really, wasn't it

[@Simon-ui6db]

the woman on the mobility scooter was like "why isn't mine as good as that?"

[@MrCuddlyable3]

@Simon Hopkin No. The lady may well have thought "why isn't mine as good as that?" but she wasn't "like" anything.

[@skylined5534]

@@MrCuddlyable3 Bonus curmudgeon points awarded!

[@MrCuddlyable3]

@@skylined5534 A linguist ventures that the word CURMUDGEON combines a first syllable "cur" (dog) with Gaelic "muigean" (disagreeable person). English dictionaries define CURMUDGEON n. a crusty irascible cantankerous old person full of stubborn ideas, someone who gets annoyed easily, especially an old person. Trying to guess what motive or meaning an Internet nobody called Skylined has in posting a word that is obscure and insulting would be to waste time on a mental blip fantasy

[@skylined5534]

@@MrCuddlyable3 God, you're tiresomely stupid.

[@rich_edwards79]

@@skylined5534 not to be one, but I think 'pedant' (someone obsessed with detail and pointing out mistakes) may be the term you seek :) It doesnt matter anyway. Language changes. '- was like' has been a colloquially acceptable substitute for 'said' or 'thought' for years now (at least since I was in school, and I'm in my forties!) I suggest our language policing friend change his screen name, since based on this limited exchange he seems about as cuddly as Mr. Grinch's proverbial eel.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

If this was on sale today especially with a badge saying ECO, Pure, Or i-peddle or even an Apple logo. It would be a licence to print money.

[@____7465]

and death certificates

[@thebaldconvict]

Unfortunately due to our stupid road laws, they wouldn't be legal today but I suspect you are right! :( Electric bikes such as this aren't allow to self propel anymore, you can still have older ones that do but new ones built today have to be assist only. The UK government like to take the fun out of everything :(

[@imnotamechanic3491]

@@thebaldconvict True, but they ARE looking at changing the law, and they have already allowed electric vehicles to be rented out by councils as a trial. But loads of people already have electric scooters and other personal vehicles which are illegal, but are common on the pavements. The fact that the items are so popular - depsite being illegal - goes to show how relelvant the conecpt is now, and really how much could be done with the modern battery tech. Sir Clive's idea was that these would be a success and battery tech would advance to allow him to build electric cars (the C10 and C15 had been sketched).

[@thebaldconvict]

@@imnotamechanic3491 I agree, as the owner of both an electric bike and an electric scooter they are both amazing products but I'm not convinced they are going to legalise scooters or other propelled devices for private ownership. I hope they do but with the bad press I suspect the trials will either cease as a failure or end up for hire only (in which case my scooter will have new decals haha. Watch this space I guess, I have my fingers crossed that I will finally be able to ride the scooter without always having an alley nearby to dive down just in case!

[@rich_edwards79]

They won't legalise anything they cant tax, regulate and insist on a complicated and expensive test for. God, even bicycles invoke the ire of old people in local newspaper letters sections, who want everything possible (including registration, licensing, taxationband insurance) done to discourage travelling by any method other than Range Rover. And unfortunately, demographics mean that said people currently make up the vast majority of the voter base.

[@huwdavies6650]

Furious Driving Matt will be so Jealous!🤣

[@volvo480]

I'd rather think it will motivate him to finish his C5 than making him jealous. ;)

[@HubNut]

Maybe the lack of tea shelf is off-putting...

[@andrewgurney6019]

This one is in considerably better and original condition.

[@williamplimmer]

I’ve offered for furious to come and film a car here so he can have a quick blast in it if he wants 😊

[@huwdavies6650]

@@HubNut at a push I suppose you could get one of those tv trays with the fold away legs and mount it on the C5 over your legs. I wouldn't recommend it whilst in motion or you could end up with your afternoon tea in your lap.🤣

[@Wok_Agenda]

Did you went there with your C5 to see a C5?

[@HubNut]

I did!

[@Wok_Agenda]

@@HubNut I knew it !

[@AndreiTupolev]

Now THIS is the proper C5, never mind that Citroen imposter 😛

[@TheBiggerburger]

Boom. Made it in to a Hubnut video. 5.23, on the right, looking over shoulder.

[@jacobfoster6773]

Did you recognise him at the time?

[@TheBiggerburger]

@@jacobfoster6773 yep. He was doing a bit to camera though and I wasn't about to wreck that by saying hello!

[@matty6848]

lol yes I see you😂👏🏻👏🏻

[@nigelrudd670]

Is this furious hubnut 🤔🤓

[@JamesPropmaker]

*Fun Fact* Series 1 Brum children TV show from the 90s. Brum used a Sinclair C5 motor.

[@popstars4444]

Surely this will be your most-watched video soon, C5's are so interesting

[@nigeldowsett8560]

They gave one away in a raffle at our school. I was GUTTED when I didn't win it. I bought loads of tickets :(

[@lucasbarton1773]

Darn, really unlucky :(

[@skodakatie7341]

They are such cute little vehicles, I can see the logic behind them, however I can also understand why they didn’t revolutionise city transportation!.

[@rich_edwards79]

Like recumbent bicycles, I wouldn't ride one on the road (given the attitudes and incompetence of many drivers now - all it takes is one lorry driver on his phone and you're roadkill) but they would be perfect for the growing bike infrastructure in cities. I bet riding one around the Netherlands would be a wonderful experience. Very much an idea ahead of its time, that deserves another look now that battery tech has advanced so far.

[@duffduff4948]

Great fun and really interesting, thanks for posting :) did you see - I think it was on salvage hunters the restorers or some such who had one and modernised it with better batteries and motor and the think it about 60mph!!!!

[@ray-wm7yd]

I could have saved Clive Sinclair millions by telling him to bolt the electric system from the C5 to an ordinary bike frame. I'm sure that would have sold very well

[@AliMackMechanical]

Shame really I remember them as I was growing up I think I still prefer TWC lol.😂👍

[@nickis_speedshop]

Great video! If you ever find yourself in northern Denmark then I have a mini-el (the C5's Danish cousin) that I would be happy to lend for a test drive