Mark Elliott 06/05/2024 Mark Elliott 06/05/2024

Hill Valley - ‘Back to the Future’ History

Back to the Future - Learn all about the famous town featured in the film called Hill Valley which we seen in 1985, 2015, 1955, 1885

Hill Valley

Is the fictional town in California that serves as the setting of the Back to the Future trilogy.

In the trilogy, Hill Valley is seen in four different time periods (1885, 1955, 1985 and 2015) as well as in a dystopian alternate 1985.

The films contain many sight gags, verbal innuendos and detailed set design elements, from which a detailed and consistent history of the area can be derived.

The name "Hill Valley" is a joke, being an oxymoron. However, an early script for Back to the Future Part II mentioned that Hill Valley was named after its founder, William "Bill" Hill.

Production

For Back to the Future, the producers considered filming the town square scenes in the real city of Petaluma, California, but soon realized it would be prohibitively expensive and impractical to alter a real place to suit the different eras.

Instead filming was completed on the Universal Studios backlot, where they had more control.

The town square set, once called Mockingbird Square after the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird but now known as Courthouse Square, had been used for many films and television shows dating back to 1948's An Act of Murder.

One notable example is the very first episode of the sci-fi series The Twilight Zone, called "Where Is Everybody?" in 1959.

The Hill Valley courthouse can also be found in the movies Bruce Almighty, Gremlins, Bye Bye Birdie, Sneakers, The Offspring's music video "Why Don't You Get a Job?", an episode of Major Dad entitled "Who's That Blonde" and even in an episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Gremlins Cinema - (Remember the DeLorean crashing into it !)

The clock tower itself was a removable addition, one of many ways in which the Courthouse building has been redressed over the years to suit the needs of a production.

Many of the cars that appear in the 2015 scenes are either modified for the film or concept cars.

Examples include Ford Probe, Saab EV-1, Citroën DS 21, Pontiac Banshee Concept, Pontiac Fiero and Volkswagen Beetle. Cars reused from other science fiction films include the "Star Car" from The Last Starfighter (1984) and a "Spinner" from Blade Runner (1982).

Griff's car is a modified BMW 633 (which was notably never in the convertible form seen in the film).

For Back to the Future Part III, Hill Valley 1885 was filmed in Sonora, California. The producers were able to use the land rent-free under an agreement to leave the set buildings on site.

All buildings except the clock tower were left intact after production completed.

! On November 6, 1990, an arson fire on the Universal Studios Hollywood backlot destroyed much of Courthouse Square, the setting in which all the other time periods were filmed.

However, the Courthouse itself survived the devastation and other facades were reconstructed.

! Another fire on September 6, 1997 again damaged Courthouse Square. Once again, the backlot facades were then rebuilt, with the exception of the facades used for Hill Valley 1885.

! On February 14, 1999 fire at Whittier High School, California, where some (mostly exterior) scenes were filmed, destroyed the men's gym there.

! On June 1, 2008, yet another fire destroyed part of the rebuilt Courthouse Square backlot and damaged the clock tower.

Real-life locations

Other real-life shooting locations of Hill Valley landmarks include:

Doc's house in 1955 is the Gamble House in Pasadena, California. Doc's garage in 1985 was a façade set up next to a Burger King on North Victory Boulevard in Burbank, California.

Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall is actually the Puente Hills Mall in Industry, California.

Marty's Lyon Estates house in 1985 is actually at 9303 Roslyndale Avenue, Pacoima, California.

The 1955 Lyon Estates field is actually along farmland between the city borders of Chino, California and Corona, California.

Peabody's Twin Pines Ranch is really at Golden Oak Ranch, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company and used in many Disney productions.

· The houses of George McFly, Lorraine Baines, and Biff Tannen in 1955 are all in South Pasadena, California.

The train that hit the DeLorean and the Futuristic Train was parked in Port Hueneme, California.

· John F. Kennedy Drive is actually Victory Boulevard in Burbank, California.

· The River Road Tunnel is actually Observatory Tunnel at Griffith Park in Los Angeles. The actual tunnel is only a fraction of the length of the one depicted in Part II.

The Pohatchee Drive-In Theater where Marty initially travels from 1955 back to 1885 was not a real theater. It was constructed full-scale for the third film in Monument Valley, Utah (near the Arizona/Utah border) and was torn down after that portion of filming was completed.

· Marty's race with Needles was shot on Doris Avenue in Oxnard, California.

According to an 1885 railroad map in Back to the Future Part III, Hill Valley is located in Northern California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Dialogue in Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III places it in "Hill County", a fictional county in California.

Fictional history

The following information is taken directly from places and events shown or mentioned in the three films:

Early settlement

The town of Hill Valley is depicted as having been first settled in 1850 and incorporated in 1865.

By the 1880s, it was connected by railroad to San Francisco. Construction of a new county courthouse was well underway in 1885, the setting of Back to the Future Part III, in which a new clock was dedicated for the building.

The Shonash Ravine Bridge was completed in the summer of 1886, around the same time the ravine was renamed Clayton Ravine in memory of Clara Clayton, a school teacher who died from falling into the chasm.

However, in a revised timeline where Doc Brown saved Clara's life, the town renamed it Eastwood Ravine after Marty McFly's persona when it is believed that "Eastwood" fell into the ravine while trying to stop some train hijackers (who are really Marty and Doc).

Town square

By 1955, as seen in the first two Back to the Future films, the area around the courthouse has developed into the downtown of Hill Valley.

In front of the courthouse is a grass-covered town square, with stores, two movie theaters (Essex and Town), and cafés on the surrounding streets.

A key moment in the town's fictional history takes place on Saturday, November 12, 1955, at 10:04 p.m. PST, when lightning strikes the courthouse's clock tower, freezing the clock at 10:04.

The clock is never repaired and becomes a local landmark, left in its non-functional state at the behest of the Hill Valley Preservation Society.

The broken piece of ledge from Doc Brown's successful attempt to channel lightning from the clock tower is likewise never repaired, as can be seen when Marty returns to 1985 and in 2015, but not in the Alternate 1985.

In Marty's original timeline, many of the town square businesses have moved or closed down by 1985.

The new businesses which replaced them include a second-hand shop, a yoga studio, and an adult book store.

The Essex movie theater now shows porno movies while the Town Theater is used for church services, and the courthouse is in a state of disrepair, and at night at least one homeless person (called "Red" by Marty) sleeps on the town square park benches.

The grassy park outside of the courthouse has been converted into a parking lot. "That was always one of the major elements of the story even in its earliest incarnation," screenwriter Bob Gale says in The Making of Back to the Future, "was to take a place and show what happens to it over a period of thirty years.

What happened to everybody's home town is obviously the same thing. They built the mall out in the boonies, and killed all the business downtown, and everything changed.”

By the 21st century, the downtown area has experienced a revival as the courthouse has been converted into the Courthouse Mall.

Businesses have begun to move back into and around the town square and the parking lot has been replaced by a pond.

The clock on top of the courthouse is still preserved at 10:04, and the mall's logo is an illustration of a lightning bolt striking the clock tower.

The Town Theater / Assembly of Christ building has been converted to an art museum with a mural painted on the front side of the building above the marquee.

Signs that say "Welcome to Hill Valley" are seen in 1955, 1985 and 2015.

Both 1955 and 2015 signs have symbols representing the Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions clubs. In addition, the 1955 sign has the logos of the YMCA, Jaycees, and Future Farmers of America while the 2015 sign has those of the Neighborhood Crime Watch eye logo and the 4-H Club clover logo.

The "Welcome to Hill Valley" sign in 1985 does not contain any signage representing any clubs and mentions the name of Mayor Goldie Wilson.

In the alternate 1985 Marty is seen walking over the sign, which has been knocked down and an 'E' has been spray painted over the 'I' in HILL VALLEY making the name HELL VALLEY.

This sign does not display the name of the mayor but instead the words "A Nice Place to Live" as also seen in 1955. A sign referencing US Highway 395 is also shown next to the Town Square in 1955.

Twin Pines Mall (Lone Pine Mall)

Twin Pines Mall is a shopping center located outside Hill Valley, where Doctor Emmett Brown first tests his time machine, making his dog Einstein the first time traveler in the world.

The site where the mall was filmed for the movie is actually Puente Hills Mall, located in City of Industry, California. The J.C. Penney location seen in the movie had been shut down, and is now occupied by a 24 Hour Fitness center.

The mall's name changed to Lone Pine Mall after Marty went back to 1955, because he accidentally destroyed one of the two baby pine trees for which it was named as he fled an irate Old Man Peabody whose barn the DeLorean had crashed into upon arriving in 1955.

Alternate history

In Back to the Future Part II, a nightmarish alternate version of Hill Valley (dubbed 1985A by Doc) is depicted complete with a partial history. Due to the influence of the powerful and corrupt Biff Tannen, gambling was legalized in 1979. Tannen's toxic waste reclamation plants were built downtown, polluting the air and leading to pollution alerts to be issued.

All of the local businesses in the downtown area closed or relocated and were replaced with strip clubs, porn theaters, and brothels. Tannen also bought off the police.

Consequently, crime increased and biker gangs settled in the city. Hill Valley's public schools burned down and the courthouse was converted into Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino and Hotel. The clock on the courthouse still remains at 10:04 although despite the damage the Doc did to the tower's platform in 1955, for whatever reason, it now seems to have disappeared.

Biff also murdered George McFly (Marty's dad) in 1973 so that he could marry George's wife Lorraine (Marty's mom) therefore making him a corrupt family man as well as town ruler. He also helped Richard Nixon remain President of the United States until at least 1985. Biff's effect on history affected the whole world – in this version of history, the Vietnam War was also still ongoing by May 1983.

According to the original script for Back to the Future Part II a partial view of the alternate 2015 was also to be depicted. By this time Biff now owns half the state of California with his influence having gained his son, Biff Jr., the seat of governor and they uphold their power and corruption with an army of large, powerful cyborg police officers.

Hill Valley Business

Many family businesses are passed down from generation to generation in Hill Valley. As a result, the city changes but remains similar from one generation to the next, as businesses are updated but rarely change. These recurring elements were a deliberate choice on the part of the filmmakers.

The production designer of Back to the Future Part II, Rick Carter, is quoted in a DVD extra as saying, "The future is built on the present." Director Robert Zemeckis adds that the continuity between the different eras in Hill Valley's history is an example of the adage, "the more things change, the more they stay the same".

The following is a list of such places. When a place is not seen or mentioned in a movie, it is marked unknown. Some buildings shown in 1885 scenes are actually located further down the street in an area not shown in the first two movies.

List of filming locations :

www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk

This is a list of known filming locations used in Universal Studios' Back to the Future trilogy.

PLEASE NOTE: Many of these locations are privately owned, and may be viewed only from a distance. Always respect the owners' privacy and property. Trespassing on private property is an offence — usually backed up with heavy fines for offenders — and to do so to take photographs is not encouraged.

Hill Valley location Real-world location

McFly residence (1985) 9303 Lyon Drive, Lyon Estates 9303 Roslyndale Avenue, Pacoima, California 91331 PRIVATE

McFlyResidence (2015) 3793 Oakhurst Street, Hilldale 3793 Oakhurst Street, El Monte, California 91732 PRIVATE Gated community

McFly residence (1955) 1711 Bushnell Avenue, South Pasadena, California PRIVATE

Baines residence 1727 Bushnell Avenue, South Pasadena, California PRIVATE

Mason Street house Mason Street 1729 Bushnell Avenue (number unconfirmed), South Pasadena, CaliforniaPRIVATE

Tannen residence 1809 Mason Street 1809 Bushnell Avenue, South Pasadena, California PRIVATE

Strickland residence (1985-A) 12511 Bailey Street, Whittier, California PRIVATE

Parkerresidence (1985A and 1985) 161 N. Magnolia Avenue, Monrovia, California 91016 PRIVATE

Doc'sgarage and Burger King (1985) 535 North Victory Boulevard, Burbank, California PUBLIC

Courthouse Square Universal Studios Backlot PUBLIC

Universal Studios offers tours, most of lot burned

Lyon Estates entrance - (1955) Chino-Corona Road, Chino, California PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Gate access open only on weekends - Lyon Estates entrance (1985 and 1985A)

Sandusky Avenue and Kagel Canyon Road, Pacoima, California 91331 PUBLIC

Audition location for Battle of the Bands McCambridge Park Recreation Center, 1515 Glenoaks Boulevard, Burbank, California PUBLIC recreation center

Twin Pines/Lone Pine Mall Puente Hills Mall, 1600 South Azusa Avenue, City of Industry, California PUBLIC mall parking lot

Twin Pines Ranch Golden Oak Ranch Place Canyon Road, Newhall, California PRIVATE property of Walt Disney Company

Site of DeLorean Time Machine's destruction - South Ventura Road at Shoreview Drive, Port Hueneme, California PUBLIC street, best photos before 3:00 p.m.

Stairwell of Biff Tannen's Pleasure Paradise Casino & Hotel Universal City Hilton - 555 Universal City Parkway,Universal City, California 91608 PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Access for hotel guests and paid parking only

5401 Olympic Los geles filming location C A 90036 PRIVATE

Hilldale (1985) Doris Avenue and Oxford Drive, Oxnard, California PUBLIC

Public street, best photos before 3:00 p.m.

Hilldale (2015) Oakhurst Street and Somerset Avenue, El Monte, California 91732 PRIVATE Gated community with NO TRESPASSING signs

The desert (Pohatchee Drive-In) Monument Valley, Utah, Navaho Nation Indian reservation PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Filming took place off roads in protected area

Hill Valley High School, Whittier High School, 12417 Philadelphia Street, Whittier, California PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Public high school, no access allowed during school hours

The exterior of Delgado Mine and Boot Hill Cemetery China Flat, Santa Monica National Recreation Area, Oak Park, California PUBLIC

Involves 40-minute hike to location from King James Ct in Oak Park (CA)

River Road Tunnel Observation Tunnel, Griffith Park, Hollywood, California PUBLIC In park

The exterior of Doc's Mansion and garage (1955) The Gamble House, 4 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, California PUBLIC Public tours available

The door and interior of Doc's mansion (1955) The Blacker-Hill House, 1777 Hillcrest Avenue, Pasadena, California PRIVATE

Private residence (rare 10-year tour possibly organized)

The interior of Hill Valley High School's gymnasium for Enchantment Under the Seadance

Hollywood United Methodist Church, 6817 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California PUBLIC

Church usually public, but always ask permission first

The starting line, Griffith Park, across from the Greek Theatre PUBLIC street in public park

McFly Farm (1885) China Flat, Santa Monica National Recreation Area, Oak Park, California PUBLIC

Involves 40-minute hike to location from King James Ct in Oak Park (CA)

Hill Valley (1885), Near Sonora, California, about 6 miles west of Chinese CampPUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS

BLM Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is public, but Ed Moyle's airstrip is private property.

Shonash Ravine Bridge (1885) Near Sonora, California, about 6 miles west of Chinese Camp PRIVATE

Gated field. Always ask permission first.

Clara's house Tuolumne County PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Unpaved road

Buford Tannen's lake campsite, Near Sonora, California PUBLIC WITH RESTRICTIONS Unpaved road

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Ghostbuster - Ecto 1

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/3/31/ghostbusters-ecto-1

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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/10/the-cars-of-back-to-the-future-55-

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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/19/back-to-the-future-fashion-te2yx

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https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history-jxrr4

Back to the Future Gadgets and Trends we have in 2021

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Doc Browns Biography and the History of his DeLorean Time Machine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/26/doc-browns-biography-amp-history-of-the-time-machine

Marty McFly Biography also featuring Biff, George, Jennifer, Loranine

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/biography-marty-mcfly-michael-j-fox-biff-george-jennifer-loranine

Back to the Future - Hill Valley History

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/2/2/hill-valley-history

Back to the Future - Detailed storyline

https://www.sandstoneproductions.co.uk/blogtothefuture/2021/1/24/back-to-the-future-detailed-storyline-

Back to the Future - How to generate 1.21 Giggawatts / Jiggawatts with Mr Fusion

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Credit to Fandom and https://www.wikipedia.org/

Mark Elliott 05/05/2024 Mark Elliott 05/05/2024

Sinclair C5 - Hire - Description - What is a Sinclair C5 ?

Step Back into 1985 and Sir Clive Sinclairs Vehicle of the Future the Sinclair C5. The idea was to sell this Electric Vehicle (not a Car) which used a Lotus designed Frame with a polypropylene body. This 250w electric pedal assisted Sinclair C5 had a range of 20 miles, and a top speed of 15.5mph.

Taking you back to 1985 when a new type of Electric Vehicle was introduced on the market - The Sinclair C5 a small one-person battery electric velomobile, technically an "electrically assisted pedal cycle".

It was the culmination of Sir Clive Sinclair's long-running interest in electric vehicles. Although widely described as an "electric car", Sinclair characterised it as a "vehicle, not a car".

1985 Price : £399 (£428 delivered mail order)

Predicted sales : 100,000 in the first year

Length : 1.74 m

Total height : 80 cm

Electric motor : 250 W (0.34 hp) permanent magnet motor by Polymotor

Battery : 12 V lead-acid battery

Range : 20 miles (32 km)

Luggage : 28 Litres

Manufacturer : Sinclair Vehicles

Project cost : £12 Million

Requirements : No licence, insurance or tax required, ridden by anyone over 14

Assembly : Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Made : 14,000

Sinclair C5 Kerb Weight : 30 kg (66 lb) without battery

approx. 45 kg (99 lb) with battery

Sold : 5,000

Accessories :

The SInclair C5 A new power in personal transport

Interesting facts –

Sinclair C5 was going to be built in the former DeLorean Motor Company’s factory, which built and sold a similar amount of DeLorean’s to C5’s. In a strange twist the C5 nearly produced the same amount of vehicles, sold units were nearly the same, and the project failed in nearly the same time frame.

A Sinclair C10 – 2 seater city velomobile capable of 40mph with a roof

A Sinclair C15 – Larger 4 seater vehicle capable of speed upto 80mph

As the C5 is an 'electrically assisted pedal cycle', no helmet, driving licence or road tax is required to drive one, so the Sinclair marketing machine included 14-year-old children in its target marketing

The Department of Transport says that the specifications of the machine meet and, in some cases, exceed the demands of legislation.

Timeline

1979 First concept

1980 British government abolished road tax for electric vehicles

1983 March Sir Clive Sinclair sells some of his share in Sinclair Research to raise £12 Million and

Forms Sinclair Vehicles. The Hoover Company were contracted to manufacture the C5 at their plant in Merthyr Tydfil

1983 Introduced legislation for ‘electrically-assisted pedal cycles’. New Legislation was

Introduced to allow 2/3 wheel vehicles with a maximum of 15mph on U.K Roads

1983 10th January Sinclair C5 was launched with mixed reviews

1985 August Hoover stop producing the C5 as Sinclair vehicles gets into difficulties. Large

Quantities of C5’s remain unsold

1985 October Sinclair Vehicles is put into receivership

1992 Sinclair Zike is released, sold 2000 unit and production ended 6 months later

2011 July Sinclair X-1 possible successor to the C5 was meant to go on sale for £595.

The Sinclair C5 - Pod Instrument lights :Left Hand LED’s show the Load on the motor - So the more you pedal it assists the motor increasing range on the battery and your fitness level.The Right hand LED’s show the Battery level — The Sinclair C5 - Pod Instrument lights :
Left Hand LED’s show the Load on the motor - So the more you pedal it assists the motor increasing range on the battery and your fitness level.
The Right hand LED’s show the Battery level

Aimed at those who travelled alone, either in cars, on their bicycles or on public transport. Sir Clive had dabbled in electric vehicle research since the early 1970s, but the 1983 legislation fitted in perfectly with the C5’s technical make-up. And so it was that, two years later, arguably the UK’s most recognised electric vehicle was born.

What were its rivals?

The only way of buying one was by mail order – the C5 arrived in a cardboard box, delivered to your door, an option which wasn’t available to other small ‘cars’.

The most conventional four-wheeled rival was the 998cc Austin Mini City E, which was almost ten times the price – at £3,298.

Other contemporary competition included the also-three-wheeled 850cc, 73.3mpg Robin Rialto 2. The larger three-wheeler promised ‘A Car You Can Afford to Get Excited About’, according to the press ads. And buyers obviously believed them, as it had a 12-month waiting list when new.

However, if we’re talking innovative disasters, the Sinclair C5 is joined by the equally cult-ish DeLorean DMC-12 as one of the biggest transport failures of the 1980s.

What motor does it use?

Due to the legislation it was designed for, the C5 was limited in both performance and weight. Motor output was stifled, too: a 250-watt ceiling was applied to vehicles in the ‘electrically-assisted pedal cycle’ category. Sinclair’s engineers took a 12V DC, 250W, 29A, 3,300rpm permanent magnet motor supplied by Italian company Polymotor to provide power for the C5.

Myth

One of the long-held myths about the motor found in the C5 was that it was also used in washing machines – this was emphatically not the case. However, Hoover engineers were trained to service the C5 as Sir Clive’s mobility project for the masses was also built in the company’s factory in Merthyr Tydfil, south Wales.

Two C5’s still in use today - 35 years on

The little white wedge easily slotted into the category of vehicle it was designed for. With a 45kg weight with battery, it undercut the imposed restrictions by 15kg. The battery was a ‘deep discharge’ unit, which meant it could be charged hundreds of times with no noticeable loss of performance. Or that was the theory anyway. The C5 is rear-wheel drive, too – just like all the best driver’s cars! – with the left-hand rear wheel powered by the electric motor.

What’s it like to drive a Sinclair C5 ?

Maybe two of the right words to describe the C5 driving experience are ‘terrifying’ and ‘fun’. Sitting above the handlebars on the thinly-padded seat, your arms reach down past your bent legs – which can, and will have to, pedal at some point – while your feet rest on the pushbike-like Sinclair-branded and grooved pedals.

You insert the ignition key into the master security switch and turn on the power.

Motor load and battery condition are shown by two LED graph displays under the aerodynamic front cowling.

Push the left-hand handlebar starter/accelerator button and you’re away.

Ignore the twisted ‘mirror’ logic, which makes you think you want to steer the way you don’t want to go, and instead relish the ‘acceleration’ offered by that 250W motor.

Braking is controlled either by un-pressing the handlebar accelerator button or by squeezing the bike-like triggers. It also has a ‘handbrake’ feature where it locks the back brake on, so leaving on inclines is not a problem.

Unbelievably, the C5 has front calliper and rear drum brakes, so comes to a stop quickly and safely, if not the most elegantly. With a top speed of 15mph, Sir Clive Sinclair’s baby doesn’t sound fast, but believe us, it feels it.

The C5 Looking as fresh as it did 35 years ago.

As a driver, you’re so exposed to both the elements and the passing traffic that bowling along at speeds of up to half of the legal urban limit feels anything but pedestrian. Which, incidentally, is another type of road user you have to watch out for?

Sinclair claimed that the C5 had the ‘same seat height’ as a family car. That was true if that car was originally from 1959 and was called a Mini. And despite Lotus being involved with the project, and Sinclair’s claims of ‘extraordinary manoeuvrability’ when it was new, the C5 certainly doesn’t handle like a sports car. It does share a low centre of gravity with the legendary cars from Hethel, but that’s where any similarities end.

Reliability and running costs

Many C5 owners reported unit burn-outs as the permanent magnet motor struggled to cope with any form of gradient; pedal assistance was very often required.

Also, C5s suffered the indignity of running aground over speed bumps, even small ones. The single gear was also a cause of complaint. Plus, there was no reverse gear, so every backwards turn turned into a multi-point negotiating nightmare.

Sinclair claimed that the C5 could be driven for five miles on one penny’s worth of electricity, or 1,000 miles for the contemporary price of a gallon of fuel.

The official range on a single charge was stated to be 20 miles, but most owners reported half that in cold conditions.

The 15kg battery could be charged to full capacity from flat in eight hours – much longer than today’s all-electric cars. Some enterprising modern-day owners of C5s swap the old lead acid battery for lightweight Lithium-ion replacements for increased range and better reliability.

One owner reports 45 miles of range from his 60Ah lithium-ion battery, which weighs half as much as the original.

Could I drive a C5 every day?

You could, but we wouldn’t recommend it. The C5 feels tiny among car-sized traffic flows. On the plus side, the C5’s turning circle was two-thirds of the original Mini’s.

Watch the original TV ad for the Sinclair C5

Original TV Advert

How much should I pay for a Sinclair C5 ?

How long is a piece of string? We’ve seen C5s on well-known auction sites for around £600. ‘Project’ C5s can start at £275, while at the opposite end of the scale, fully working and ‘restored’ C5s can be had for £800. Where a boxed ‘new’ one attracts around £1500

What should I look out for on a Sinclair C5 ?

Used handlebars are priced at around £30 online, and a complete set of wing mirrors can fetch £200. Replacement used motors can start at £55. There’s a burgeoning market in the 3D printing of Sinclair C5 parts

Should I buy a Sinclair C5 ?

If you’re a culture junkie and the idea of owning a piece of motoring history appeals, then yes, undoubtedly. Even if it will never go very far.

The C5 is such a recognisable and symbolic piece of motoring folklore, due to both its promise and failure, that it will always be a talking point.

If you’re lucky, you might even find one with all the period accessories, such as a booster cushion for those short of leg, a ‘High-Vis Mast’ (basically a metal pole with a reflective flag atop it), a second battery, side screens for increased weather protection, and a tonneau cover.

If you really want to fit in, try also to find the period ‘designer’ clothing (very stylish 1980s drama Howards’ Way), the ‘weather cheater’ poncho, and the car-like C5-branded mud flaps, turning indicator kit, and wing mirrors.

The C5 was never designed for long distances, and its limitations show when its comes to practicality.

The aforementioned weather protection (or lack of) is just one issue. Another is luggage space. The promotional videos of the time boast of a ‘large capacity boot’, but if you have more than 28 litres of luggage, then the flip-out ‘boot’ on the back of the driver’s seat will be of little use. It’s perfect for your poncho or Pac-A-Mac, though.

Sinclair C5 Pub facts

The Sinclair C5 was launched at Alexandra Palace on 10 January 1985, and the assembled throng of journalists included friend of MR and ex-Top Gear presenter, Sue Baker. With a suggested 9,000-17,000 C5s finding homes in 1985, Sir Clive Sinclair claimed that his plastic fantastic dream was the UK’s best-selling electric car until the more modern and four-wheeled Nissan Leaf overtook it in 2011 with sales of 20,000.

Sinclair was in the mood for more electric vehicle creation in 1992, when the Zike electric bike was released. Like the C5, production lasted just six months – and around 2,000 were sold. Nineteen years later Sir Clive was at it again with the X-1, an electric ‘sit-down’ cycle, which was to be sold for £595. However, it never reached production and the cash he needed to develop his four-seat electric car vision never was generated.

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