1947 Invicta Black Prince

It’s post-World War II and the world is trying to cope with the post-war economic trauma. Many companies are struggling to survive, and The Invicta Car Development Company was no different. There are many opinions on why they brought out such a radical, advanced car with such a high price tag at a time when most people were unable to meet their monthly expenses. The most common theory is that the features would attract a wealthy clientele with deep pockets and the high price would ensure sufficient profitability for a smaller volume of production. Good formula should succeed!

A car with a lovely design, with both drop head and saloon versions displaying flowing lines. The interiors were good for the era and the concept in general was bold to say the least.  Invicta only gave a rolling chassis to their customers and a choice of a Byfleet Drophead Coupe or a Wentworth Saloon body. The rolling chassis was priced at UKP 1,850, the Drophead for UKP 2,500 and the Saloon price was provided on application only!

Invicta released the Black Prince in 1946 as part of their plans to revive the company that ceased production several years before WWII. The Black Prince was designed to take on the British luxury car heavyweights, Jaguar, Bentley and Rolls-Royce. To achieve this, the Black Prince featured many options that its rivals did not, including the highest quality leather interior, an aluminum body, aluminum engine block, fully suspension, in-built electric jacking system and trickle charger, interior heating and built in radio. These options meant the car would be priced 3 times higher than the new Jaguar Mk V and level with the latest Bentley.

It had a smooth 3-litre, 6-cylinder Meadows engine with triple carbs and twin plugs per cylinder engine that produced 120bhp, with pre-attached hydraulic jacks for each wheel in the event of a puncture. It’s believed that 18 complete cars were made and one prototype. Of these, 13 are currently accounted for around the world, five of them are dropheads.

The modernity of the power plant was mirrored by most of the car’s other technical attributes. All-round independent suspension with sliding pillars and torsion bars; four built-in electrically operated hydraulic jacks; floor and seats on a separate subframe with silentblocs to increase comfort; all-hydraulic Girling brakes (in-board at the rear); 24-volt electrics; a complicated heater and all the bells, whistles and radio sets one might wish for in 1946.