Let's Talk Cyclecars

I loved the one where you pulled back on the steering wheel for the brakes! The harder you pull, the more forward inertia you have, the less the brake effort. Wow, a self defeating brake system. The laywer's would love this one.

 

My theory is somewhat different. A healthy system of civil tort law ought to render these regulations redundant, so it's quite clear that there is something different going on. It's called barriers to entry, and it happens because the OEMs' profitability depends on production technologies which require the creation of demand for huge volumes of production, which would collapse overnight if there were thousands of mom-and-pop micromanufacturers making, um, what people actually want.

 

Amilcar CC Lezebre pic...

 

Lezebra D Type LeZebra pic....

 

I live in Idaho which might be a blessing or a curse when it comes to this idea.

I would like to use the swing arm of a small motor cycle for the rear. So that would be the base vehicle. I am not sure yet for the front axle and suspension. I want to go small so that limits so many modern cars as donors. Unless I do a lot of modification (width reduction).

Its kind of funny. I have a friend who has a highly modified VW bug and AMC Gremlin. Between the two cars there might be 25 pounds of original material left. But they are both registered, licensed and insured. Yet if you want to start from scratch, using production parts it can be very difficult. I know there are reasons both good and bad for this.

Maybe I will have to put a set of bicycle pedals on it go for a moped instead

 

Heres mine 1934 Morgan Super Sports , Barrel back, found it after waiting 38 years , got home from the war 1967 winter of 68 saw a Peter Sellers movie " The Party " He was driving a mog 3 wheeler and I flipped.. 38 years later , landed one that's about 7 years ago

 

Wlecome to you Noodles.Nice Mog!

 

cool, when can we go for a ride?

 

Lost, go and google "Idaho DMV custom car". You should be able to find their regulations. I did that for Al., Ga. and Tx. and found theirs.

 

Miss Bacfire at Prescott.Stefan pic...

 

GN. Vincent pic...

 

More GN from Vincent

 

Marc pic...

 

M arc pic...

 

Morgan at Brooklands

 

So easy to start,even a woman can do it ! Marc pic...

 

I love Miss Backfire

 

1935 Fiat AC. GL pic...

 

I really like that low-slung stance.

Would this be an AC 2-litre six in a Fiat chassis? It seems odd from a modern perspective, with Fiat twin-cams being shoehorned into everything and the rusty unibodies discarded.

 

I do not know.I think that it being at a VSCC event,it's unlikely that it is a modern motor.

 

The classic AC 2-litre six was made with barely any changes from 1922 to 1963. It was a neat OHC design of generally sporting character. Fiat sixes of the mid-thirties, on the other hand, seem to have been stodgy side-valve affairs. They made some good smaller chassis, though. A swap this way round would make sense.

In any event this one needs to go on the Specials thread, not only because it's a bit big for a cyclecar

 

Hello Ned,​

Maybe original FIAT engine was of GP type, quite expensive to use and especially to rebuilt after braking? Or was sold for some reason? … and, replaced by cheaper but good AC!

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A lot of cars shown here do not belong to cycle-cars, but they are cute. Not only specials (racers, hot-sports and so on), but ordinary sport cars too: Salmson, Amilcar, Derby... all from very popular 1100 class (most of them French). They have four-cylinder automobile water-cooled engines (some superchargers, too), automobile gear-boxes, propeller-shafts and differentials, brakes on all four wheels and so on... Some GN specials have more power and are faster - but LOOK as cycle-cars.

However, that class of 1100 cc sport cars are really magnificent, and probably the best balance of look, performance, weight, power - and price! Most of cycle-car's owners should dream about them, in vintage era! Today, we love them too... (most of us)... For me, in front of them are only British sport-cars of around three-quarter liter capacity!

Ciao, Zoran​

 

1927 C6 vintage Revival Montlhery pic...

 

GL pic...

 

Hello,
Could this be recreation of Bolster Brother's first special from school days, maybe never built in such form by John and Richard? (Attached photo)
Of course, it was named "Bloody Mary" by Richard as schoolboy-designer... (attached plan)
Or it is one of many re-incarnation of later famous special? In any case, long, succesful and rich life of cute small DIY racer!

Ciao, Zoran

 

Anzani engind Frazer -Nash. G.L. pics...

 

The HAMB is nearly back to normal now Bob is back!
Where else are we going to see close ups of an Anzani powered Fraser Nash - fantastic exotica mechanical phenomenology.
This thread is unsurpassed.
More please !!

 

Zoran that is bloody Mary , it's the final incarnation of the bolsters specials , it is up a running now after years of sitting in museums ,
It lives at beauligh museum and is taken out for the odd run and hill climb

http://www.classicandperformancecar...eatures/247345/john_bolsters_bloody_mary.html

 

Hello Ude,
You are quite right, which isn't surpirise!
Last evening I searched again, bacause "my" photo looked familair to me... It's strange how so famous facts sometimes could fool people (like me) to not see the obvious... I was blinded a lot by my desire to see one photo with Bolster's school-days prototype (I suppose that such photo couldn't be found?). Than, special on "my" photo looked to me too small, but maybe that angle is quilty, or people in original days were smaller then those onlookers on "my" photo?
Never too late to learn something?
Ciao, Zoran

 

how about this one from back in the day!!
It really is a small car.