1936 Invicta 4½-Liter S-Type ‘Low-Chassis’ Continuation Tourer
The S-Type Invicta debuted at the 1930 Olympia Motor Show with an innovative underslung chassis design that positioned the axles above the frame rails rather than below. This unconventional approach achieved a significantly lower center of gravity, improving handling and stability while preserving the comfortable, high-speed touring characteristics expected of an Invicta.
Power came from a 4.5-liter overhead-valve inline-six Meadows engine with twin SU carburetors producing approximately 120 horsepower at 3,200 rpm. The low-revving design delivered exceptional torque across the lower and middle speed ranges, allowing the car to throttle down to 6-8 mph in top gear despite a relatively high 3.6:1 final drive ratio, then accelerate briskly without hesitation.
Period road tests recorded 10-70 mph acceleration in 19 seconds, demonstrating the flexibility that made these cars capable of maintaining high average speeds over long distances without straining either driver or machinery.
Marketed as the “100 mph Invicta,” standard examples typically achieved around 95 mph, with racing-trimmed versions exceeding that figure. Of approximately 75 original S-Types built before the Cobham factory closed in 1935, about 68 are known to survive today.
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