Why didn't it take off? #1: The Sinclair C5
Posted in Brainy Stuff, Design Stuff, Funny Stuff, Random Stuff by Danny Woot
The Sinclair C5 – a retro design classic, but synonymous with failure. In the first of a new, occasional series (that’s blogger-speak for “we need some content to fall back on!”), we poke around in the darkness of an invention that looked all set to succeed, even innovate, but just didn’t take off. We’re keen for suggestions of other designs that didn’t quite set the world alight so we can gradually build a compendium of forgotten, obsolete technology. Cheery, eh?
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So, the C5. What was it? Well, it was a staggeringly good concept, in essence. An electric vehicle that was neither a bicycle nor a car, it resembled a mix between something from Logan’s Run and a tiny Roman chariot. Keeping its rider close to the ground (and its three wheels), the idea was that we would become a nation of battery-powered, low consumption road users and bask in a greener, safer world. With a top speed of about 15mph, it was surely set to be a slightly slower one too.
The inventor of the Sinclair C5, Clive Sinclair (clearly a man who loved the sound of his own name), had a remarkable success rate until the 1985 launch. Previously he had been the brains behind an early version of the pocket calculator and the ZX Spectrum, but the C5 was a colossal failure. The problem was, in short, that until the nation subscribed to the idea that we’d all get along much better if we each had a slow, tiny, electric and environmentally friendly car, it just wasn’t going to succeed. We move too fast as a nation for the innocence of the C5 to have worked. That and the thought of ploughing to work in the snow at a measly 15mph was only a cretin’s idea of fun.
It could’ve worked, though. The advent of climate awareness and a renewed attentive streak towards the environment means that we humans have started to embrace the electric car (and it’ll be even better when we can afford one). Sinclair had the right idea, but was perhaps too far ahead of his time. If he’d had access to today’s technology, who’s to say we wouldn’t still be using the C5 now?
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Absolutely awful looking thing, no one could ever take you seriously in this!!,
but saying that, alot of the kiddies ride on cars, are not much different to these, so maybe they should get them on sale again,
and see what happens.
The C5 is a great way to get around in the summer… My mk2 (high level rear light)model gets used throughout the summer! If it was reintroduced today with a slightly higher top speed I’m sure it’d be a hit!
Wikipedia claims “C5s have also been converted to jet engine power.”
Eh?!
Epic Win – It’s on ebay!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SINCLAIR-C5-JET-CAR-COST-20-000-TO-MAKE-THE-ONLY-ONE_W0QQitemZ130353782652QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item1e59b0df7c#ht_7805wt_1165
Brilliant concept, dorky design. As with a rule of thumb of Marketing, “sex sells”, therefore anything that makes one looks appealing to another would definitely make a potential customer bite the offer. This bike does not present that to the customer. Even I wouldn’t be caught riding that with a serious expression on my face, sorry to say.
Great article! Well stated!!
Not bad article, but I really miss that you didn’t express your opinion, but ok you just have different approach
[...] Blog hero Sir Clive Sinclair, the inventor of the Sinclair C5 amongst several other things, has admitted that he doesn’t use a computer. At all. Despite [...]
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