WHY CLIVE SINCLAIR WAS THE ORIGINAL PIONEER OF ELECTRIC DREAMS

The eccentric British entrepreneur hoped his Sinclair C5 would launch a transport revolution. It bombed but now, 40 years on, the quirky vehicle boasts a cult following

- By Dominic Bliss

AIRSHIPS, jetpacks, hoverboards, Segways...history has witnessed some very eccentric, and occasionally doomed, modes of transport. But one mode that stands out as the most eccentric of all is the Sinclair C5, the tiny electric car that first launched 40 years ago today.

The brainchild of British scientist Sir Clive Sinclair, this battery and pedal-powered personal vehicle was supposed to revolutionise our daily commuting - in the same way that electric cars, such as Elon Musk's Tesla, are now transforming modern-day road travel.

Only, it turns out that Sinclair, who had made his fortune in home computers with the ZX Spectrum, was no Musk, and his C5 proved to be a total flop, right from the very start. Nonetheless, in the intervening four decades, this once-ridiculed vehicle has gained something of a cult following among growing numbers of fans for its quirky design and easy operation.

Across the UK, there are now C5 owners' clubs for keen collectors and regular rallies, often featuring souped-up versions of the original. And today, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of its launch, dozens of enthusiasts are bringing their C5s together for a special celebration in the exact same spot that the original launch took place at Alexandra Palace, north London.

Sadly, Sinclair died in 2021 aged 81, but if he were still alive, he would feel some sort of vindication, knowing that his invention is finally getting the recognition he always felt it deserved.

Constructed mainly of polypropylene, the original C5 weighed just 30kg and measured less than 70 inches long.