Description
The Invicta Type S Drophead Coupe was one of the most graceful and luxurious expressions of the famed Invicta Low-Chassis design—a car that blended the engineering prowess of one of Britain’s finest sporting marques with the refinement and comfort of an open grand tourer. Produced in very limited numbers between 1931 and 1935, the Drophead Coupe version of the Type S represented the softer, more elegant side of a machine otherwise celebrated for its performance and endurance. Where the standard Type S was a purposeful sports tourer built to conquer Alpine rallies and endurance trials, the Drophead Coupe was conceived for long-distance motoring in style and comfort, appealing to discerning drivers who wanted the same engineering excellence in a more refined, open-top form.
At the heart of the Drophead Coupe was the same magnificent 4½-litre Meadows straight-six engine that powered all Invicta Type S models. This robust, overhead-valve unit was a masterpiece of pre-war engineering, developing around 100 horsepower in standard tune and delivering prodigious torque even at low revs. The car’s effortless power delivery was one of its defining characteristics—enabling smooth, unhurried cruising at high speed, as well as strong acceleration from near-idle. Mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, the Meadows engine gave the Drophead Coupe a top speed of around 95 mph, remarkable for a car weighing nearly two tons when fully equipped. Yet what impressed most was its composure: the engine’s refinement and flexibility made it one of the most relaxed and capable touring cars of its time.
The chassis, identical in principle to that of the celebrated “Low-Chassis” Type S Sports Tourer, was an underslung design in which the frame rails passed beneath the axles. This configuration gave the car a lower centre of gravity and a more athletic stance, as well as exceptional road-holding and stability. The Drophead Coupe’s slightly longer wheelbase and heavier coachwork did little to blunt its handling, thanks to careful suspension tuning with semi-elliptic leaf springs and sturdy Hartford friction dampers. The mechanical drum brakes, actuated by a complex but effective cable system, were powerful and progressive, inspiring confidence even on challenging descents. The Invicta’s low stance, wide track, and near-perfect weight balance gave it road manners that were unmatched among British luxury cars of the early 1930s.
The bodywork of the Drophead Coupe was typically crafted by some of Britain’s finest coachbuilders, including Carbodies of Coventry, Vanden Plas, and Lancefield. Each car was individually commissioned, and no two examples were exactly alike. The hallmark of the Drophead Coupe was its beautifully proportioned convertible body, with sweeping wings, a long bonnet, and a gracefully tapered tail that gave the car both presence and poise. The folding roof was constructed from heavy canvas and lined with fine material, folding neatly behind the rear seats to preserve the car’s elegant silhouette when lowered. Chrome-plated fittings, twin side-mounted spare wheels, and wire-spoke wheels with large knock-off hubs completed the impression of stately power.
The craftsmanship of these bodies was extraordinary. Panelwork was hand-formed from aluminium or steel over ash framing, with tight seams and perfect alignment. Every curve and detail reflected the bespoke nature of 1930s coachbuilding, and each Drophead Coupe bore the individual style of its maker. The Lancefield versions, for example, were known for their sweeping fender lines and slightly more flamboyant rear treatments, while Carbodies’ designs tended toward subtle elegance, with restrained ornamentation and immaculate proportions. Regardless of style, the Invicta Drophead Coupe was a car of great dignity and presence—a grand tourer that could hold its own against contemporary Bentleys and Lagondas, yet with a distinctive, understated confidence.
Inside, the Drophead Coupe was as much a luxury carriage as it was a performance car. The cockpit was trimmed in the finest materials: supple Connolly leather, polished walnut dashboards, and thick Wilton carpeting. The seating was deeply upholstered and designed for long-distance comfort, with generous space for driver and passenger and, in some bodies, a small occasional rear seat. The instrumentation was comprehensive and clearly arranged, featuring Jaeger gauges for speed, revs, oil pressure, and fuel, as well as auxiliary dials for amps and temperature. Every control had the tactile precision of hand-fitted metalwork, from the gated gear lever to the ignition advance lever on the steering wheel. Even the convertible roof mechanism operated with mechanical grace, locking into place with solid chrome latches that exemplified the car’s craftsmanship.
Driving the Invicta Type S Drophead Coupe was an experience that combined power with serenity. The big Meadows engine responded instantly, delivering deep reserves of torque that allowed the driver to cruise effortlessly on long straights or ascend steep gradients without fuss. The steering, though heavy at low speeds, was beautifully communicative once under way, and the car’s low-slung chassis provided exceptional cornering stability. On rough British or Continental roads, the suspension absorbed irregularities with quiet confidence, giving the car a composure that few others could equal. It was this combination of strength, refinement, and balance that made Invictas so admired by motoring enthusiasts of the time.
Though the Drophead Coupe was less common than the open Sports Tourer, it shared equally in the Invicta reputation for durability and endurance. Donald Healey’s victory in the 1931 Monte Carlo Rally with a standard Type S underscored the car’s robustness, and the same engineering excellence was present in every Drophead Coupe built. These cars were equally capable of high-speed continental touring and leisurely drives through the countryside, their mechanical refinement allowing them to cover vast distances without strain.
Production numbers for the Invicta Type S Drophead Coupe were extremely limited—fewer than a dozen examples are thought to have been made, each unique to its owner’s taste. As with all Invictas, they were built to order, and the company’s insistence on quality over quantity ensured that every car was a masterpiece of construction. This exclusivity, combined with the car’s beauty and engineering distinction, has made surviving examples among the most coveted pre-war British classics.
Today, the Invicta Type S Drophead Coupe is regarded as one of the most desirable grand touring automobiles of its era. It represents a rare fusion of technical sophistication and aesthetic grace—a car equally admired for its mechanical integrity and its visual elegance. At concours events and historic rallies, it stands as a symbol of British craftsmanship at its zenith: powerful yet refined, purposeful yet understated.
The Invicta Type S Drophead Coupe was, in essence, the perfect gentleman’s car of the 1930s—a machine that offered open-air motoring without compromise, capable of crossing countries in style and speed, and doing so with the quiet assurance that defined the Invicta name. Even today, it remains unconquered in spirit—a timeless embodiment of endurance, elegance, and the golden age of British motoring.