Meccano!

Last month I visited the Milton Keynes Steam Rally in Campbell Park, where I met up with Gary Howard from Wirksworth in Derbyshire.

It transpires that Gary had recently acquired a Bug along with some rather interesting information. One piece being an article from a Meccano magazine dated October 1970. The following extract may interest you.

We've just borrowed for a week what must surely be the most eye-catching futuristic three wheeler to ever be produced. It's called the "Bond Bug", rather an apt name we feel as with its long wedge shaped nose and bulging square headlights it looks very much like a fugitive from the insect world!

We first read about the "Bug" in a popular motoring magazine, and having shortly after seeing one in a local dealers showroom, decided that here was a car that would be of great interest to readers of Meccano Magazine.

The "Bug" is produced for Bond/Reliant or 16 to 25 year olds and is available in three versions. The cheapest (the 700) Costs£548, the middle one (700E) costs £580, and the most expensive (the 700ES) costs£629. The differences between the three mainly concern bodywork details although the 700ES has in addition a high compression engine. Our test Bug was the 700E version. As an incentive Bond offer a "package deal" covering Insurance , Road Tax and a years warranty (or 2,400 miles whichever comes first) on all models

So what is a Bug ? Basically it is an all glass-fibre four cylinder, four stroke powered three wheeler with an engine unit and chassis almost identical to those found on its stablemate, the familiar Reliant Regal. Its body design is however completely different. Shaped like a slice of cheese laying on its side, perhaps its most unusual feature is its lack of doors. Access to this little two-seater is gained by hinging up the entire roof and windscreen section, hopping in and then by means of a couple of strategically placed handles inside, closing everything down into place once again.

There's plenty of room inside a Bug, the long, well padded seats are very comfortable and there is ample room for even a six footer inside. The steering wheel is very small and with just over two turns from lock to lock the Bug can be swung around corners with the minimum of fuss. The small engine (just 700 cc's) is mounted inside the car which although making for good weight distribution does tend to make the passenger compartment rather on the noisy side. The four speed gearbox is operated by a short gearstick, easy to use but rather on the notchy side. Performance is pretty spectacular by any standards. We took our Bug from London to Liverpool (to show "spanner") and found cruising at 70MPH on the Motorway was no effort at all. Top speed would appear to be getting on for 80 and contrary to what the motoring press stated, we found the trip of 5 or 6 hours was achieved quite comfortably and the only irritating point being the noise which prevented the passenger from having a short sleep!

When the weather is agreeable, the sidescreens can be removed (as will be seen in the majority of our photographs) by simply undoing a small clip and removing them from their "gatepost" hinges. The boot situated at the rear of the car can quite easily accommodate them. With one window removed the interior is quite draught free and comfortable, although with both out at speeds over 40MPH a reasonable gale sweeps through the interior!

It is without doubt a youngsters car; few Dads would put up with the noise and bumpy ride for long, and the rather unelegant means of getting in and out. We think it will be very popular among 25's, it certainly attracts a lot of attention from people of around that age, but at a price of £580 there can't be many lucky enough to afford it.