Lavender Farm Dairy Victor B20 Milk Float

The Outram family ran a bakery business in Lancashire and in 1920 Harry Outram designed and built his first electric delivery van. The early vans were based on the Model T Ford and in 1924 the family formed Victor Electrics.

Other models were added and many innovations introduced, including in 1929 the first drop-frame chassis on light electric vehicles and in 1934 independent front wheel suspension. Although Harry Outram set the style for light electric vehicles for years to come, Victor Electrics was never a large scale manufacturer. OAA 580 was supplied in 1955 to the Lavender Farm Dairy in Hordle, Hampshire.

Preservation

Many years later OAA 580 was spotted in a scrapyard and rescued by the founder of the battery-electric collection in Blandford, Hampshire. As you can see demolition of the cab had already begun and the rescuer had to look around for surviving parts scattered about. OAA 580 arrived at Wythall in July 1989 and obviously still needs restoration which will be a big job. It may look grim but this is the only surviving Victor in the world, the last link to Harry Outram who was so significant in the evolution of battery-electric road vehicles.