Bond Bug
Encyclopedia
The Bond Bug was a small British
two seat, three wheeled sports car
of the 1970s. Following the purchase of Bond Cars Limited, Reliant
commissioned Tom Karen
of Ogle Design
to design a fun car. It was a wedge-shaped microcar
, with a lift-up canopy
and side screens instead of conventional doors. The Bond Bug was based on Chief Engineer John Crosthwaite
's newly designed chassis and some Reliant Regal
running gear. The original concept was explored by chopping down a production Regal vehicle. This prototype could be seen, abandoned, in the yard at Tamworth, for many years later.
The engine was the front mounted 700 cc (later uprated to 750 cc) Reliant light-alloy four cylinder unit which protruded into the passenger cabin. At launch 29 bhp was claimed for the less expensive 700 and 700E models. The more up-market 700ES incorporated a redesigned cylinder head which permitted the compression ratio to be increased from 7.35:1 to a slightly less modest 8.4:1. This provided a power increase to 31 bhp as well as improved torque for the then range topping 700ES.
The Bond Bug 700ES also offered more supportive seats as well as more padding over the engine cowl, twin mudflaps, an ashtray, a rubber front bumper and a spare wheel.
The car enjoyed an upbeat launch, at which Reliant's Ray Wiggin stated:
The Bug was available in a bright orange tangerine colour, although six white Bugs were produced for a Rothmans cigarette promotion, one of which was also used in an advertisement for Cape fruit. Its fame was helped along by a distinctive Corgi Toys die-cast toy car. Although it had a fairly short production run (1970–1974), it has a fanatical following today, is much sought after by collectors, and has an active and enthusiastic club.
In contrast to the stereotypical image of three-wheeled Reliants as being ridiculously slow, the Bond Bug was capable of some 78 mph (126 km/h). This compared favourably with a number of four wheeled sports cars of the same era. The car was, however, not cheap. At £629 it cost more than a basic 850 cc Mini
which was at the time £620. Throughout the new millennium the car has enjoyed an increased following through publicity with appearances from stars such as Robbie Williams in the Millennium promo and the infamous 118 guys.
Bug Trivia: Tom Karen
also oversaw the design and production of Luke Skywalker
's landspeeder
from Star Wars
: one of the models was built upon the chassis of a Bond Bug - the wheels hidden by mirrors at 45° to the ground.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
two seat, three wheeled sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
of the 1970s. Following the purchase of Bond Cars Limited, Reliant
Reliant
Reliant was a British car manufacturer. The company was traditionally based at Tamworth in Staffordshire, England, but in 2001 it moved to nearby Cannock. It ceased manufacturing cars shortly afterwards.-History:...
commissioned Tom Karen
Tom Karen
Tom Karen is a British industrial designer of Czech origin. He was Managing Director and Chief Designer of Ogle Design from 1962 until 1999. He oversaw design of the Bush Radio TR130 radio, the Raleigh Chopper, the Bond Bug, the Reliant Scimitar GTE, the Anadol A1 , an award-winning series of...
of Ogle Design
Ogle Design
Ogle Design is a British design consultancy company, founded in 1954 by David Ogle, based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.-History:* 1954 Ogle Design was founded and produced many successful designs of industrial and household products....
to design a fun car. It was a wedge-shaped microcar
Microcar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
, with a lift-up canopy
Vehicle canopy
A vehicle canopy is a rarely used type of door for cars. It has no official name so it is also known as an articulated canopy, bubble canopy, cockpit canopy, canopy door, or simply a canopy. A canopy is a type of door which sits on top of a car and lifts up in some way, to provide access for...
and side screens instead of conventional doors. The Bond Bug was based on Chief Engineer John Crosthwaite
John Crosthwaite
John Crosthwaite was an English race car designer and engineer, active in both the United Kingdom and the United States.John worked with Cooper Cars, Colin Chapman at Team Lotus, and Mickey Thompson as well as drivers Graham Hill, Dan Gurney, and Jackie Stewart. He designed and built cars for...
's newly designed chassis and some Reliant Regal
Reliant Regal
The Reliant Regal was a small three-wheeled car manufactured from 1953 until 1973 by the Reliant Motor Company in Tamworth, England. As it was a three-wheeler, and it was fairly lightweight, the vehicle could be driven on a motorcycle licence in the United Kingdom...
running gear. The original concept was explored by chopping down a production Regal vehicle. This prototype could be seen, abandoned, in the yard at Tamworth, for many years later.
The engine was the front mounted 700 cc (later uprated to 750 cc) Reliant light-alloy four cylinder unit which protruded into the passenger cabin. At launch 29 bhp was claimed for the less expensive 700 and 700E models. The more up-market 700ES incorporated a redesigned cylinder head which permitted the compression ratio to be increased from 7.35:1 to a slightly less modest 8.4:1. This provided a power increase to 31 bhp as well as improved torque for the then range topping 700ES.
The Bond Bug 700ES also offered more supportive seats as well as more padding over the engine cowl, twin mudflaps, an ashtray, a rubber front bumper and a spare wheel.
The car enjoyed an upbeat launch, at which Reliant's Ray Wiggin stated:
- "The fact it has three wheels is quite incidental. It's a new form of transport. So now, in fact, we think it's going to appeal to a much wider section of the market than we originally envisaged."
The Bug was available in a bright orange tangerine colour, although six white Bugs were produced for a Rothmans cigarette promotion, one of which was also used in an advertisement for Cape fruit. Its fame was helped along by a distinctive Corgi Toys die-cast toy car. Although it had a fairly short production run (1970–1974), it has a fanatical following today, is much sought after by collectors, and has an active and enthusiastic club.
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
which was at the time £620. Throughout the new millennium the car has enjoyed an increased following through publicity with appearances from stars such as Robbie Williams in the Millennium promo and the infamous 118 guys.
Bug Trivia: Tom Karen
Tom Karen
Tom Karen is a British industrial designer of Czech origin. He was Managing Director and Chief Designer of Ogle Design from 1962 until 1999. He oversaw design of the Bush Radio TR130 radio, the Raleigh Chopper, the Bond Bug, the Reliant Scimitar GTE, the Anadol A1 , an award-winning series of...
also oversaw the design and production of Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
's landspeeder
Landspeeder
Landspeeders are fictional antigravity craft used through the Star Wars movies and Star Wars Expanded Universe. They are depicted both in civilian and military capacities, and several versions have been merchandised as toys and models.-Origin and design:...
from Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
: one of the models was built upon the chassis of a Bond Bug - the wheels hidden by mirrors at 45° to the ground.
External links
- http://www.bondbug.com/
- http://www.3wheelers.com/bbug.html
- http://www.bondbugfiles.com
- http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/bondbug.html