Real Road Test: Bond Minicar MkG twin-cylinder, one-wheel drive! 

I get lots of car review recommendations; today it was this one and a BMW M5 so obviously I watched this one first.

I had a Mark F when I was 17. I'd passed my motorcycle test at 16, but going over the M62 each week in the early 70s was no fun. Hence the Bond with a heater!! Going over the M62 in winter was still exciting if not terrifying at times. I would get tucked in behind a lorry snarling up the Lancashire side of the Pennines. No chance of overtaking as you would just get blown back. I remember braking down in torrential rain on the top of Scammoden dam. I thumbed a lift from a lorry as I had an exam in Huddersfield. Late afternoon I got a lift back with a mate. Going past it on the other carriageway it looked so small and sad, sitting there - now in the sun. Needless to say, when I got in, it started first time. I came out of college one day to find it had gone. I later found out my "mates" had carried it round the corner out of sight!

Just amazing how in the middle of the last century there were so many diverse solutions to personal mobility

These microcars are fascinating and offered a practical solution to low cost motoring in the 50s and 60s .

I'm aged 61 now but as a child I can just remember camping holidays with my parents in Devon and Cornwall in the early to mid 60's. My parents' friends had a Bond exactly like this which used to get them from the North East of England down to the South West, 3 up ( 5yr old sitting loose in the back ) with the Tent and full camping gear for a fortnight. We were travelling *luxuriously* in comparison in my dads Triumph Mayflower, or was it his Singer 1500, both ugly looking things that resembled a hearse. I think back now and wonder if my parents and friends were just mildly eccentric or if they all needed some form of psychiatric evaluation. Fantastic memories though of his Bond struggling to reach the top of a hill fully laden, engine screaming on full revs, smoke billowing everywhere from its tiny pea-shooter exhaust, a combination of exhaust gas and burning clutch and then having to roll it backwards to plan a different route. !! I was only around 6yrs old so to me at that age all this just seemed normal but great farcical times from an era long gone but never forgotten.

My uncle Nige, a lifelong biker, had one of these for more weatherproof travel. he went thousands of miles in it and it announced its arrival by the sound of the rattling gearlever.

1957 I went with my dad to collect our Bond minicar convertible. That summer we, dad, mum, me and sister and baby sister plus a heavy canvas tent set off from Kent to Scotland on holiday! Come weekends we set out with the Bond minicar club, a good dozen of us or more to tour the counties. I envy you!

The Bond was my first car in red with a cream fibre-glass roof (model F). It used a 197cc two-stroke Villiers single cylinder engine. Took mine up to the Lake district, but hills weren't its forte... The gearchain snapped going up Shap and I managed to find all the link parts by torchlight and repair it at the roadside. Just lucky I guess.. Thanks for another great video!

Absolutely Superb Video Ian! This Is Why The Bond Minicar Was So Popular! It Provided Cheap Transport With A Touch Of Fun! Seeing You Driving That Minicar Reminded Me Of My Dad's Three He Had! His Were The Earlier Mark C And D That Had The Soft Top! To Be A Dashing Convertible!! The Small Car! With A Big Heart!!!!

I remember the old Bond, it was the first car my uncle owned when I was young boy, our family found great amusement having to be kick started. My dad's first car was the old metal reliant with a wooden chassis. I think I was around 5 years old when he had that and I remember our holiday trips to the Isle of Wight, quite a trip from London in those days.

I had a Mk F Ranger, the van version, for 3 years from when I was 16 did many miles all over England and Wales-from Cornwall to the Lakes. The rod brakes made stopping a bit hit and miss, but the turning circle was great and parking it was drive in and lift the back in to tidy up. Would love to have another today to reclaim my teenage years.

In the early sixties and as a 16 year old I bought a MKC to replace my motorbike. The one i boughtfor not a lot of money needed a rebuild and came without an engine. I used a 197cc single from a motorbike as the power unit, Only the later models had Dyna-start and reverse gears. See that video brought back a lot of memories, I drove mine through the winter, apart from the cold, driving on snow and ice was more than interesting! They were quite popular at the time and I remember a magazine article that showed a couple of people driving one to Switzerland. Happy days.

Great video Ian. I remember in the mid sixties a neighbour had the Mk1 and you always knew when he was going to work as you could hear his bond start and you could see the cloud of fumes rising from his drive. We lived on quite a steep hill and he had to go up it to go to work and he thrashed it in first to about 5mph and then hurriedly change into second before the car lost momentum. In the mid 70’s as a motorcyclist who got fed up of arriving at work wet I passed my test and bought a Reliant Regal van with a heater - it was very quick to 20mph and I travelled thousands of miles in it changing it for a Robin van later which I regretted as it would never start from hot! Happy days

Fantastic. So different and yet (for some of us! not so long ago). Lovely that the owner is happy to share and let you bring us one of your classic Hubnut at the wheel tests. The owner so laid back and matter of fact- turn the key all the way to the right to start it...forward, like that's how all cars are. Another classic video Ian this is why your channel is different and popular

I’m starting to think that on the remarkable lil island nation that is our Mother, the Britts had absolutely no rules at all when it come to building cars, any thought was never considered to far out of the box. I am truly amazed by what Hubnut shows me every video Thank You!!!

This is OUTSTANDING content! I'm so glad I found this channel!!

In my teens I raced model sailing boats. My friend had a Bond G. We frequently attended events in the Bond. 2 x 6 ft. Boats on the roof rack and all the bits plus girlfriend inside. Three abreast. Flat out down hill on the way to Brghton but rather slower up hill. One year my friend and his girlfriend drove it from London to Fleetwood ...and back! God we was 'ard in them days!

Wonderful car, reminds us of why cars exist - to convey a minimum of one person and a maximum of ? people from point A to B, not about the amount of cup holders, multimedia devices, fuel economy or even safety, just a conveyance. Nice work

"Mind you, I've had sixty five out of the invacar... Downhill" - Great line, you must have been clinging on for dear life?!

The Bond Equipe was designed by a man called Alan Pounder, from Burnley, he was the chief Designer at Bonds, also The Ranger, a 18foot small cruiser and Power Skies, another one of Alans ideas. plus the Bond Scooter. i am nearly 80 now but remember all the details of those years, Bond Rallies up at Morecambe, Happy Days. Ian.

Another great roadtest of a really interesting vehicle. Thanks Ian 😀

Brilliant piece of machinery. I had one in 1968 and used to regularly drive/freewheel/push it from my home town Brighton to Minehead in Somerset and back to visit my parents

Wow yes,the latest Bond model. Twin as well. More power. Enjoyed the view from the driver's seat. Very luxurious as the drivers don't have to stand in side and kick start. As in the original model. A fun drive with you Ian, amazing tight turning radius on bonds. Another good'n thanks Ian& Grant kerney 🚘🚘🚘🚘 from Rich & friends 🐱 From LA. Calif. 🇺🇸

My late Father had an older model bond three wheeler in the 1960's , and he always told me that if you stalled it in traffic you had to get out then lift the bonnet and swing your leg into the engine compartment to kick start the engine :)

Marvellous, utterly marvellous..exquisite gearchange..wow!

I always liked the look of these. Saw one at Bromley pageant in the 80s loved them ever since 👍

I love the upright steering wheel which turns a simple spiral gear engaged with a quadrant. No steering box nor universal joints, just pokes through the dashboard. Couldn't be less complicated if you tried.

I remember some family friends having one of these, which could be driven on a mororbike licence. To reverse, you had to open the bonnet and turn the front wheel around. He used to keep his in immaculate condition, and was a metallic blue. It was driven all around the UK, and Europe. He eventually passed his driving test and bought a mini (half timbered) traveller.

thanks Hubnut 4 uploading video when I'm sat in work 👍👍

I've long fancied having a Bond for my second three wheeler. Really able little machine and seems quite lively for its engine size :) Shame you didn't get a good closer look at the chaps Equipé in the field as I love them as well, just look awesome imho. Maybe one day I would love for you to throw my Robin around the bendy lanes here in Dorset, I think you would find her a real eye opener as she gets to sixty in quite a short time and just loves windy bendy roads and goes round bends like she is on rails at speeds four wheel cars struggle with hehe

Amazing, and what a great little piece of engineering that vehicle is, it is a real eye opener, thank you for sharing your video Sir 👍 Tam.

I'm not sure which was the funniest, the car or the subtitles! Another great video Ian!

I need 1. a bond mini car 2. a best friend like you 3. just to say thank you for entertaining me with HubNut . simply brilliant x

To think. When I was a lot younger (82 now) my mate had one of these as his everyday car, traveling to & from work, shopping, holidays, etc. Of course, he spent a hell of a lot of time spannering :)

I'm sure it makes you a better, safer driver as they prospect of crashing is frightening! Another good video Ian.

Very interesting car.......never saw one of these before. One wheel driven is unique. Good road test video Ian!

Thanks for posting this video ..... takes me back some 50 years! My first car(?) was a 300+ Isetta .... as a 16-year-old my parents thought I was safer in that than on a motorbike. At the time (1969/70) we - schoolmates/youthclub friends - had a few microcars between us....a handful of Isettas, a Trojan/Heinkel, a Bond, a Messerschmitt, and perhaps the most unusual, a Nobel. The Nobel was a proper - if extremely cramped - 4-seater, powered by the same Sachs 200cc 2-stroke single as the Messerschmitt. I wish I'd kept the bubble, but sadly the usual schoolboy lack of cash, and the need for new tyres and battery, meant it had to go (A while later I ended up with an old -even then- Lambretta for the princely sum of £10).

You yubo wheel spinning about, I'm truly envious as you driving the Messerschmidt . Another great shared drive keep it coming

Excellent video . Those engines are great

Brilliant. Love these mini shows. So interesting.

"We're doing 10 and 50 at the same time." Sounds like Heisenburg's Uncertainty Principle. "We know where we are, but we don't know our velocity."

Driven like a pro! And your co-pilot was a good sport too.

I love the Bond 3 wheelers. It's in my "bucket garage" next to the Morris Minor Traveler, and the more modern Smart roadster.

Very briefly, I had one of these when I was 16. A friend of my father died, and his widow gave it to me. this on had a single cylinder, 197 c.c., Villiers engine, which I had to kick start by standing in the engine compartment. (Dong this took a baleful toll on footwear and shin). Driving it was an excruciating experience, partially due the noise (which was like being in a metal dustbin with a motor mower) and the tendency of the front end to dip into the curb on roads with a pronounced camber. Economy motoring it was not, as it drank its 16:1 petroil mix. Later, I had a Francis Barnett motorcycle fitted with the same Villiers 9E, which would go at least three times farther on a gallon of petrol than the Bond.

My father bought one of these, new, in 1961 in green, when his 1933 Hillman Minx broke its halfshaft.once too often. I admire his intrepid attitude, I don't think you cd tempt me in one as a passenger. Me hat's off to you for actually driving it.

I really like how the speedometer cannot make its mind up about how fast your were going... :)- All in all a very bizarre little creature, thanks for showing it. Cheers, - Eddy

Ah memories! My friend had one of these when we were both 16 and we used to travel to school and back. Given that we lived in the Pennines and the brakes were absolutely useless, we had some memorable journeys!

Very interesting, thanks Ian. My Grandad had one - affectionately known in the family as "Pop pop". From that I'm guessing it was a single cylinder.

I love the kickstart in the engine bay . Mental little car.

I bet the drive home in elly must have seemed almost luxurious!

My dad had one of these when i was growing up in the 60s. it was a light blue colour. i seem to remember we spent most of our time pushing it :)

'old on, I think I 've lost me revs', well I bet that's never been said before on YT, thanks for entertaining Hub Nut!

Hi Ian what a funny little car another good road test.

A old navy acquaintance of mine had one of these, but it got written off when it was blown over on to its side on the Severn Bridge! Such an odd design to have endured so long; I presume that the tax and licensing advantages conferred on its designation as a motorcycle helped with this. Thanks once more Ian - I suspect that you had a blast with this one!

I have camped at that field. It is amazing seeing that collection.

Nice to revisit the Bond minicar

Loving that gearbox.

Steering seemed a little "book now, turn later", but that turning circle is just amazing. Awesome stuff.

Bought back memories of my grandfather's Pop-Pop. His was a saloon (or ws it coupè?) in green. One-wheel dirve ....love it! Although t belonged to my grandad it seemed to spend a lto of time in my Dad's hands..... Gear lever had self-same rust pitting.... Plenty of room to work on the engine unlike TWC

My brother owned one of the back in the 1960s. From what I remember it didn't have an electric start but you had to use a kick starter under the bonnet which was quite undignified.

Incredible, always interesting to watch, brilliantly entertainment!

Instead of an ambulance my metalwork teacher took me to the hospital in his Reliant after my gym/PE teacher helped break my foot. Hopping all the way to his car exhausted and beyond tears he proudly showed me the damage his thing had got from the night before. The front end was all held together with tape... lots... He'd shattered the front corner tipping it over in a roundabout. To this day I've never been more anxious as a passenger in ANY vehicle. No 3-wheelers on pot-holed roads EVER again ! I admire your courage in this death-trap. Only Fools and Horses...

I had that exact model but without the optional extra reverse, which was a reversing Ciba dynastart which enabled the engine to be started up backwards. That 250 twin had high compression cylinder heads and a straight through exhaust, hence the noise. It was available with a 250 single which was much quieter but slower. I could get to work in mine in 5 minutes, but I never beat 7 minutes in a proper car. It was so fast one up, but the more people you put in it the slower it went. It was great fun taking right hand corners on 2 wheels. Having no reverse was not a problem because you literally drive out of a tight spot sideways. I had it 2 years until I passed my car test, then traded it in on a Vauxhall Victor FS, but that's another story. Was the paint burnt off the underside of the bonnet like mine? That engine got very hot.

I would be happy to daily this in Canada. I love all the odd ball stuff.

There was a craze for microcars when I was in the 6th form at school, both amongst the pupils and the teachers. Several Heinkels and Trojans a Berkeley a Reliant Regal and a Bond Minicar. They could be had for around £15 at the time (late 60's), which seems cheap, but I got a nice 10 year old Triumph Herald for £50, so not that cheap in comparison. I wanted a bubble car, but my girlfriend said she would chuck me if ever I did - so the Herald it was. I had a ride in all of them. The Berkeley was the coolest by far. I remember staring out of the school window at the Bond being kick started by standing in the engine compartment. Not sure if this was the only way of starting it or a backup. The Berkeley got blown up (on a trip to Blackpool) during the summer hols, so it was towed 100 miles(!!) home by an Austin pickup truck, borrowed from a farm and fitted with a Mini engine, gearbox and front subframe. This required a huge bonnet bulge, which was moulded from fibreglass over a plywood former. God only knows how it got through an MOT, but I think it was brakes lights and steering only at that time. I went like a rocket needless to say, with the 850cc engine. Not sure if the car or owner survived!

liked before I have even watched this ! getting coffee and feel I am going to enjoy the next 16mins edited to add, I wasn't wrong. awesome! I want to drive one now

Fantastic! These are definitely another guilty secret of mine :) The only 3 wheeler that I have ever driven was a 1938 Morgan F type with the Ford side valve engine and crash gearbox. It was rather quick and handled better than I expected (though the single wheel is at the back of course). I found I soon forgot that it only had 3 wheels.

Thanks hubnut driven like professional must be GT fun

Oh I do love three wheelers, they are so cute, this little Bond looks really cool, albeit very noisy, the Reliant Robin Jubilee Special, in white with GBS graphics from 1977, and a scotch plad interior!! has to be my favourite model from Reliant, although I am fond of the Regal 21E also.

nice quiet relaxing drive

Amazing! I'll have a go at driving anything, except perhaps that. Mad!

I never forget many years ago I was following one of those down a country road in Devon when all of a sudden it almost turned over for the life of me I do not no why but it righted itself and just carried on down the road after that I left plenty of space to stop .

That was great! Styling wise I think the MK A and B looked best but I've never seen one on the road. Love the 2 stroke smell.

As usual, great drive and commentary, Ian. Some of the vehicles you take on, it must be very challenging to do both. I was offered the single cylinder (no frills) option for £75.00 in Carlisle, Cumbria in 1980. How my life might have changed if only I had taken it instead of a 2.5 Ford Granada (second-rate-Sweeney-mobile,) with a blowing exhaust and four star thirst...You could buy just about anything then for just under/over £100.00. I ended up with a Volkswagon Variant estate, otherwise known as a "Straight back." It had a curious device for pressurising the windscreen-washer...There was a connection from the valve of the tyre (in the front) to the water reservoir. This meant pumping the 15"tyre up to about 80p.s.i. Understandably, you'd be concerned about the tyre bursting under this pressure, so you did it with the bonnet in the down position. So all was well until the tyre went completely down and then you were left with neither screen-washer - nor a working spare tyre! V.W. went on to fit a Schrader valve to the water bottle so you could pressurise it directly with a airline AND have your spare.' The heat collectors weren't very effective either and one of the few times I remember being comfortably warm was when the "Deviant" was packed full of furniture from nose to tail.

Someone near me used to have a light blue Bond mini van that looked to be in realy good condition,but I haven't seen it around for a while now.

The signature nudging of the specs on the nose in first gear - as recognisable a curtain raiser as Bonds silhouette shot to the eye.

When I first started my apprenticeship in 1964 one of the machine tool fitters had one of these but I remember it as having a single cylinder villiers engine and you could start it by Kickstarter but cannot be sure. In the 70's my younger brother had a Bond 3 wheeler that had the Imp engine in the rear, it went well but was frightening to corner in. During the 60's the Messershmit, Isetta, Heinkel, etc cars were quite common and unlike today very cheap used as the advent of the Mini killed them off.

Brilliant - what an experience.

rather a splendid video indeed

That spedo had a bent drive cable, that is what causes the wagging of the needle. Some where I have the drivers hand book for a bond mini car with service details for the single cylinder Villiers.

Roundabouts are always fun

This brings back some memories of the early nineteen sixties. No wonder the Austin/Morris Mini took the cheap car market away from these awful vehicles. A teenage friend of mine had an old Bond he bought to do up (but he never did, he bought a new Hillman Hunter instead, a good decision I thought).

One of my fellow apprentices had one of these at Dagenham Motors, Alperton. We left work and went to the car park on night and found it leaning against the wall. Headlights pointing up.

Love it. Do you do requests? Please find a moskvich to test. My grandad had one in the 70s . Fond memories.

Oh man I'd love to try a drive of one of these! Oddest thing I've ever driven is a Trabi but I think a Bond would be in another league.

Great to see these unusual solutions that were explored to get cheap motoring. Would be nice to have that final drive chain protected from all the road grime . I'd forgotten that a 2 stroke will run in either direction!

Brilliant. My Mrs would love that if I came home with one! Maybe not.

That is brilliant!! Can you imagine that in snow! 😨

A schoolmate of mine had one of these when we were both 16, in a very hilly part of West Yorkshire by the Pennine’s. It was a miracle non of us got killed in the thing. We came to rest wedged in some park gates once because the brakes were that bad. Oh happy days lol.

I had one of these, but without the reversing dynastart. I didn't need it any way because of the ability to just go sideways with that steering system. It was so fast. I sold it when I passed my car test, and bought a 2l. Standard Vanguard . I had to add 3 minutes to my travel time to work to beat the clocking in machine. The Bond was amazing fun to drive, going round corners on 2 wheels for a bit of adrenaline. I swear I had it up to 70, but one up and with my 10stone weight. Adding passengers slowed it down noticeably.

Was that a wonderfull Bond Equipe sitting not far from the gate when you drove out of the grassy area , that grey coupe ? I love those .

It was possible to open the bonnet and kickstart the engine if the "starter motor" failed (which was most of the time). On the upside, with a small spanner the roof came off for the convertible version.

Heath-Robinson on wheels. Marvellous!

My uncle had one of these back in the day. He hand painted it British racing green! I remember him telling me when he went on holiday to Scotland with my auntie and their dog (that must have been a journey in itself all the wayfrom Stockport!) . While he was up there the engine seized out in the middle of nowhere. He walked to the nearest town and managed to find a dealer or garage who sold him a piston, he walked back and repaired it at the side of the road and continued on his way. Try doing that with a modern car!

*guy starts getting out of P50* *cut* *next shot* Lovely speedo. Usually the lowest number is correct with wobbly speedos but this one seems all over the place :D. Brilliant thing, the Bond minicar. It actually doesn't seem to drive too horrible, you didn't correct the steering all the time.

Once on the open road it went well and the noise became quite pleasing (I dislike the 4 stroking on part load) 6:40 I always assumed the Bond Minicars had no heater since the engine did not feature a cowled cooling fan. But apparently some models had a heater, there was a cowling around the exhaust pipe(s) to pick up heat and the warmed air was ducted into the cabin when required (it could be shut off by closing a flap) using the ram effect of the car's speed (there was no fan).

That is one of the craziest cars I have ever seen. Only in Scotland would you find that one.

It's cars like this that make me realise how much I love walking.

I used to work about 100 yards (as we measured things in those days) from the factory in Preston. They fascinated me but they didn`t look safe.

It's actually pretty hilarious how they essentially took the back end of a motorbike and shoved it under the bonnet of that thing... :D