Iconic cars used to show the history of disability

Renowned international artist Simon McKeown is turning his fleet of disability cars into a virtual museum for people to learn more about the history of these iconic vehicles.

Simon, a Reader in Post Production and Animation at Teesside University, has been collecting the disability cars for the last two years.

He currently has 12 in his fleet and the latest, an Invacar Mark 8B, is the only car of its type in the world and was recently imported back to the UK from Australia where it was exported to from the UK in the 1950's.

Simon has been working with engineers from Ross McTurks, in Felixkirk, Thirsk, to restore the cars, which date from the 1930s to the 1970s.

The Invacar Mark 8B, from October 1954, was the first to be completed and was recently driven for the first time in 60 years.

Invalid Carriages, or Invacars as they were also known, used to be given out by the NHS to help disabled people become independent. All Invacars were owned by the government and leased to disabled drivers as part of their disability benefit.

Simon, who is himself disabled and whose art often considers the way disability is viewed, remembers his granddad having an Invacar and the vehicles represent fond childhood memories.

He recalls how the cars were extremely primitive by today's standards, wobbly with 3 wheels and only suitable for one person. You were not allowed to carry passengers, meaning the cars would often break down and it was a common sight to find people stranded on their own.

'They are incredibly fun but also difficult to drive and at times dangerous, but they represent such a great and complex part of our social history. They were leased to disabled people as part of the independent living process operated by the NHS.' explained Simon.

'There is a great beauty in these cars and they tell the story, not only of disability history, but also of UK automotive engineering history.'

Invacars were discontinued in 2003 and the Government ordered over tens of thousands to be crushed – though a small number were hidden away or forgotten about and they are now popular collectors’ items. It is believed there are just over 300 left in the world today.

Simon is using his collection of Invacars to create a virtual museum and ignite a discussion about the social history of disability.

He added: 'Disability culture and history is fascinating and my plan is to set up a charity and take these cars out to the public, to shows and events and help preserve mechanically and creatively such an important part of our history. Working with Teesside University I hope to create academic projects which will solidify a place for these cars in the history of the UK.'

Ross McTurk, Director of Ross McTurks Engineering, said: 'This was one of the most unusual restorations I’ve been involved with.

'We have restored old tractors and agricultural machines but for me and my mechanic Andy Malthouse to work on something as old and connected to British engineering history has been both a privilege and great fun.'

Simon’s work has been shown all over the world and his Motion Disabled Unlimited project, a stunning digital installation which uses animation to show how disabled athletes move, was shown as part of the London 2012 Paralympics.