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03/12/2025 7:16 am
Invicta S-Type 4½-Litre Low Chassis Fixed Head Coupe "Sea-Bear"
from the www
Key Features and Specifications
- Engine: A reliable 4½-litre (4467cc) overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine, supplied by Henry Meadows, known for its high torque at low revs. The engine produced around 100 horsepower in standard tune, with power growing to 140 bhp in later versions.
- Chassis: Designed by Reid Railton, the distinctive "underslung" chassis positioned the rear axle above the frame rails, giving the car an exceptionally low center of gravity for improved handling and a sleek profile.
- Performance: Marketed as the "100 mph Invicta," standard cars had a top speed of around 95 mph, with racing versions capable of exceeding that figure. The engine's flexibility allowed the car to accelerate rapidly from as low as 6-8 mph in top gear.
- Coachwork: The S-Type was typically sold as a rolling chassis, allowing owners to commission bespoke bodies from specialist coachbuilders like Carbodies (who provided the standard tourer body), Vanden Plas, or Corsica.
- Rarity: Only an estimated 77 S-Type chassis were produced between 1930 and 1933, and approximately 56 are known to survive today, making them highly collectible.
Collectibility and Value
The 1931 Invicta S-Type is considered one of the most desirable pre-war sports cars among connoisseurs and collectors due to its style, driving abilities, and rarity. Examples are often found in significant private collections and regularly feature in historic race meetings and concours d'elegance events.
Recent auction results have varied depending on the car's provenance, condition, and coachwork. For example, a 1931 Invicta S-Type 4½-Litre Low Chassis Fixed Head Coupe "Sea-Bear" was sold for $445,000 at a Broad Arrow auction in February 2025. Another example, a 1931 Invicta 4.5 Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports Car with coachwork by Carbodies, sold for €1,610,000 (approximately $1.7 million USD) at a Bonhams auction in 2020.
Where to Find Them
Due to their extreme rarity and status as classic collector cars, 1931 Invicta S-Types are not available through standard car dealerships. They are typically found through:
- Classic Car Auctions: High-end auction houses such as Bonhams or Broad Arrow Auctions often feature these cars in their specialist sales.
- Specialist Dealers: Reputable historic car dealers, such as Fiskens or Will Stone Historic Cars, occasionally have these models in stock.
- Online Marketplaces: Dedicated classic car marketplaces like Classic Driver may list S-Types for sale.
The Invicta S-Type achieved outright victory in the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally, a significant win for a British car and a landmark in the career of the driver, the legendary Donald Healey.
Victory Details
- Driver: Donald Healey piloted the S-Type (chassis S48) to overall victory in the demanding event.
- Starting Point: Healey and his two passengers/navigators chose Stavanger, Norway, as their starting point, one of the longest and most arduous routes in the rally, which involved crossing treacherous, snow-covered mountain passes across Europe.
- The Journey: The team covered vast distances over four days, enduring harsh winter conditions. At one point, after running into a ditch and hitting a telegraph pole, they had to perform roadside repairs (including disconnecting the rear brakes and jury-rigging the exhaust) to continue the race.
- The Final Test: The rally didn't just end with the cross-country drive; the winner was often determined by a final driving test in Monte Carlo. Healey, having practiced the specific course layout on a quiet road back in Cornwall, performed exceptionally well in the final maneuverability test along the quay.
- The Result: Healey finished the main road section without incurring any penalties and dominated the final obstacle course, securing the prestigious victory ahead of French driver Jean-Pierre Wimille in a Lorraine Coupé Sport.
Impact of the Win
The victory was a huge success for the Invicta S-Type, proving its remarkable toughness, reliability, and performance under extreme conditions. The win generated significant publicity, with the actual winning car loaned to Motor Sport magazine for testing to demonstrate it was a standard production model, a rare move at the time. This success helped cement the S-Type's reputation as one of the most desirable and capable pre-war sports cars.
Donald Healey returned to the Monte Carlo Rally the following year in a different Invicta and managed a second-place finish, further highlighting the car's strong performance capabilities.
John Bono
North Jersey
03/12/2025 7:34 am
Like so many English sports cars, we've become used to seeing them in 'top-down' configuration. Add a coupe look to them and they stand out ever more. This is cool, an obviously early English sports car, the look it took on in 1931 is cool-for-its-time but decidedly British. Another great auto lesson John - thank you sir!!
03/12/2025 8:43 am
@perrone1 Well said Tony but you did add 100 years to the age of the car.
John Kuvakas and John Bono reacted
03/12/2025 9:23 am
@bob-jackman DUH! Thanks, I made the correction.
John Kuvakas and John Bono reacted
03/12/2025 9:39 am
This post brings back early memories. One of the first white metal models that I built was an open Invicta tourer. I traded it about 30 years ago for a couple of Jaguar kits, also likely long gone. The Invicta is a rare car which I have only seen once, at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum
03/12/2025 11:51 am
@kevins Well, yeah, sort of. Long front end and the abrupt rear. Cool though, huh?
John Kuvakas reacted
03/12/2025 12:04 pm
I thought I was a car guy but this is one I’ve never seen or heard of. I love the proportions, reminds me of Bill Thomas’ Chevy Cheetah. Thanks for the great history lesson John. Hey Tony, I accidentally deleted my post, wanted to add a better photo. What you say is true, but still not bad for a 300 year old car!
John Kuvakas and John Bono reacted
03/12/2025 6:47 pm
The example in Johns pic is the car that sold for $445000. Here are a series of detailed pics from the auction site. Another great selection John.
Tony Perrone and John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
03/12/2025 7:07 pm
Geoff, thanks for the link!
John Bono
North Jersey
Topic starter
04/12/2025 9:06 am
Love the the distinctive look of cars with the "underslung" chassis.
John Bono
North Jersey
Tony Perrone reacted