The strange items - including stuffed birds and wartime bombs - taken to NELC recycling centres

 

An example of the Sinclair C5 car that, sadly, failed to live up to the 1980s marketing  hype (photo via Wikimedia Commons)

CAN anyone remember the C5 Sinclair one-person electric vehicle that made headlines when it was launched on January 10, 1985.

Inventor Sir Clive Sinclair hoped it would revolutionise motoring, but, alas, it flopped.

Its sales prospects were blighted by poor reviews and safety concerns.

 A  short range, a maximum speed of only 15 miles per hour, a battery that ran down quickly and a lack of weatherproofing  made it impractical for most people's needs. 

Out of 14,000 C5s made, only 5,000 were sold - at £399 each - before its manufacturer, Sinclair Vehicles, went into receivership.

Very few still exist, but one - possibly the last in North East Lincolnshire - actually turned up at one of the borough's two recycling centres in Grimsby and Immingham.

It is included in a list of  unusual - and unwanted - items that were taken to the sites over the past 12 months.

According to NELC, others included:

* A 1914 German World War One bombshell which had been crafted  into a coal bucket  

* A children’s tandem bicycle 

* A 1940s American wooden bobsleigh 

* Stuffed birds 

* A replica electric chair

As well as these finds, there were a number of other random items that came through the gates over the course of the year.

These have included a small vintage battery powered bike, two brand new zebra print bar stools and some nostalgic Street Sharks toys from the late 90s cartoon show.

The council has not revealed precise details of what happened to these curiosities, but it is believed many, if not all,  were sold on site, with the proceeds going to local charities.

                                          

Trendy - the zebra print bar stools