100 AND CUT

This special event celebrated 100 years since Invicta took to the road and track, bringing the cars together with members of the founding family

- James Wood

Although the company was formed in late 1924, the first Invictas as we know them, using Meadows six-cylinder engines, were built in spring 1925. The first road test was published with a car photographed at Brooklands, which was both close to the Cobham factory and well-known to Invicta founder Noel Macklin. Seems like the perfect excuse for a centenary celebration.

Captain Macklin (later Sir Noel) launched Invicta with the financial support of Oliver and Philip Lyle, of the sugar refining firm Tate & Lyle. It is therefore fitting that a private Invicta Car Club gathering should be held at Wilton House, just outside Salisbury, this magnificent pile being the home of the Earl of Pembroke, whose maternal great grandfather was Sir Arthur Tate, business partner of the Lyles. Lord Pembroke has one of the most famous S Types, the very successful 1932 competition ‘White Invicta’ of Raymond Mays.

It is not the only significant location for this celebration, however, as we shall find out. But first, a history lesson.

Invicta’s design principle was to have the first-class build quality, comfort and reliability of a high-speed road car and not a sports car. Performance, however, was important, particularly in top gear. A rev-counter was not fitted until the later S Type because it might imply that the driver should be concerned with using revs through the intermediate gears.