Ahead of its time

Remember this? It is 30 years ago this month since the Sinclair C5 was revealed to a sceptical audience of journalists at Alexandra Palace. I drove one back then, and thought it very clever, very scary in traffic, and too expensive at £399.

I have just driven one again, and here it is with its owner Alex, who very kindly entrusted his pristine C5 to my temporary care. I found him and it via the wonders of social media, by asking on Twitter if anyone knew someone who owned one. Happily someone did.

Having driven it for the second time in 30 years, I think the little electric three-wheeler Sinclair C5 was a bit crazy for the 1980s, but ahead of its time, and its design has aged remarkably well.