Sinclair C5

The Sinclair C5 is a small one-person battery electric velomobile, technically an “electrically assisted pedal cycle”. It was the culmination of Sir Clive Sinclair’s long-running interest in electric vehicles. Although widely described as an “electric car”, Sinclair characterised it as a “vehicle, not a car”.

Sinclair had become one of the UK’s best-known millionaires, and earned a knighthood, on the back of the highly successful Sinclair Research range of home computers in the early 1980s. He hoped to repeat his success in the electric vehicle market, which he saw as ripe for a new approach. The C5 emerged from an earlier project to produce a small electric car called the C1. After a change in the law, prompted by lobbying from bicycle manufacturers, Sinclair developed the C5 as an electrically powered tricycle with a polypropylene body and a chassis designed by Lotus Cars.

Dropped off the #Sinclair C5 earlier to be restored over the winter. Once restored this will form part of our #STEM showcase running along side our computing timeline. Inspiring new generations of children with hands on access to historical hardware.

Recent posts

Newcastle Prep School Visit

On 17 October 2019, we travelled to Newcastle Prep School, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, all year groups were enthralled by the stories

Like this post? Share it!

Sinclair ZX81

The ZX81 is a home computer produced by Sinclair Research and manufactured in Dundee, Scotland by Timex Corporation.

Ian McNaught-Davis

Ian McNaught-Davis (30 August 1929 – 10 February 2014) was a British television presenter best known for presenting the BBC television

David Braben

David Braben has been called “one of the most influential computer game programmers of all time”, based on his early game development

Jeff Minter

In 1981 Jeff Minter started independently writing and selling video games for the Sinclair ZX80, the first machine he owned.

The Oliver Twins

Andrew Nicholas Oliver and Philip Edward Oliver, together known as the Oliver Twins, are British twin brothers and video game designers.

Amiga 1200

The Amiga 1200, or A1200 (code-named “Channel Z”), is Commodore International’s third-generation Amiga computer

Vectrex

The Vectrex is a vector display-based home video game console that was developed by Western Technologies/Smith Engineering.

Atari 2600

The Atari 2600, originally sold as the Atari Video Computer System or Atari VCS until November 1982, is a home video game

Micro Men

Affectionately comic drama about the British home computer boom of the early 1980s. Legendary inventor Clive Sinclair battles

SAM Coupé

The SAM Coupé is an 8-bit British home computer that was first released in late 1989. The machine is based around a Z80B CPU

THE DAWN OF THE DIGITAL AGE

The Introduction of the computing curriculum saw a sea change in attitudes towards the subject area , Whilst British business