BROTHERS Richard and Jonathan Webb have been reunited with late mother’s cherished ‘Trike’ at Coventry Transport Museum.
In the emotional and heartwarming reunion, the pair were brought back in time as they laid eyes on Marion’s iconic Invacar for the first time in two decades.
The three-wheeled microcar holds a significant place in British automotive history.
Originally designed to provide mobility to disabled drivers, these vehicles were a common sight on UK roads from the 1950s through to the 1970s.
Constructed with a fibreglass body and powered by a small motorcycle engine, the Invacar symbolised independence and accessibility for individuals with mobility challenges.
However, as mobility options evolved and safety concerns emerged, the Invacar fleet was gradually phased out, eventually replaced by the Motability scheme in the 1970s.
Despite its decommissioning, the vehicle remains a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era when innovation sought to empower those with disabilities through personalised transportation solutions.
For Marion Webb, the ‘trike’ was not merely a mode of transport but a symbol of freedom and independence.
Diagnosed with polio in childhood, Marion, along with her husband Dennis who also had polio, found solace and mobility through the Invacar.
The pair met in the 1950s after bumping into one another in Hyde Park where both were riding an earlier version of the government-issued trike.
Jonathan said: “Trikes have been really important in our lives.
“We went on many a happy holiday with them, we were taken to school in it, it was just a massive part of our childhood.
“I last saw this vehicle 20 years ago – it looks no different, it hasn’t changed at all and it just brings back so many happy memories.”
Richard added: “The trike took mum where she needed to go, it allowed her to have independence, do her shopping, socialising, everything.
“Without this trike she’d have been pretty much housebound.
“So I’m pleased it’s got a home here in Coventry – it allows everyone else to come and see it and I’m happy it’s being so well looked after.”
