Let's Talk Cyclecars

The most wild and innovative cars I have ever seen in this thread, just amazing.

 

Not much to report progress-wise on the Airhead Roadster build as I spent most of the summer building custom motorcycles for friends.

I did get a chance to mock up a few of the bits I've gathered for the build and was able to make a few decisions with regard to the overall proportions of the car. Decided to keep the exhaust above the cylinders and have them exit on either side just in front of the cockpit so I can make a full-length belly pan for the underside of the car. I picked a spot for the fuel tank that should provide adequate flow to the carbs, minimal fuel sloshing and a bit of impact protection in the event of a fender bender. Also made decisions about airflow with regard to fresh air intake and expelling hot engine compartment air. We have annual safety inspections here in Hawaii, so I'll be making front and rear bumpers for the car which I've started designing. Hopefully things will cool off this winter so I can spend more time in the garage.

Thanks everyone for your input and contributions to this thread. It is by far one of my favorites!

 

Hello Kume,
Quite interesting engine from later famous company! Strange that they mentioned only inlet OHV, but what was with exhaust valves? Probably still standing in block: inlet over exhaust valve?
Ciao, Zoran

 

Hello AH,​

Wonderful automobile you build! Nice balanse of engine, transmission and chassis...
Hope that you will soon have more work on it. Probably that you mentioned before, but I forgot: what is the chassis as the base for your creation?

Cioa, Zoran​

 

Here's the URL to the Car & Driver roadtest of a Harley-powered deuce 5/8ths deuce roadter that was produced for awhile: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/jaxports-streetster-specialty-file

 

Zoran
yes a very interesting little motor. I think essex used a similar set up quite successfully in the early 20s with inlet over exhaust.
Kume

 

Inlet over exhaust was also called an 'F' Head type of cylinder. It was pretty common in the early days, especially on single and twin bike engines. Early on the inlet was just atmospheric. You needed a removable plug over the exhaust valve so you could pull it out for cleaning/grinding. The early cylinders were often one piece castings that bolted to an aluminum crankcase. No removable heads. The challenge with overhead inlet valves and the exhaust in the flathead or L head position is cooling. As you can see on the Lagonda, there is no water cooling around the inlet valve. The valve probably comes off with the aluminum inlet manifold, allowing access to the exhaust valve. Neat stuff.

 

Hello Jon,​

Now, that is real modern reincarnation of sporting cyclecar! Simple chassis, light body, powerful motorcycle engine, and - cute! Pity that couldn't be found more photos of chassis and construction components.

Ciao, Zoran​

P.S.: Correction, I found a few photos of that Streetster that is now for sale, and a pair of photos (yellow roadster) with similar one...

​

 

...photos dissapeared! I will try again!

 

This is by far the most entertaining thread on the forum. Always something interesting to look at and imagine building it yourself. Thanks to the regular posters. I have no idea where you get all these cool pictures from.

 

Doing valve work on one of those is like going to a proctologist for dental work.

 

...it would be painfull just to watch!
Zoran

 

Does anyone know what this is?

 

Hello Talgil,​

Quite interesting vehicle! Maybe combination of a few of them?

Chassis looks made in a style of early quadricycles/voiturettes, with bicycle-tube construction. Front suspension/steering - sliding pillars, rear suspension quite classic (just for the body). Rear axle with differential possibly of some more serious automobile? Rear wheels of some vintage motorcycle? Probably that engine was in that wooden box that could be lower part of the body? Seats and steering wheel or column are missing...

Maybe, just my imagination, but could be modified unknown original or totally DIY project! Anyway, I would like to Havel one in may garage!

Ciao, Zoran​

P.S.: Just found more photos and short text on PreWarCar advertisements:
"Kleines Fahrgestell. Radstand 109cm, Spur vorn 73cm.Spur hinten78cm."
Meaning: “small chassis, wheel-base 109 cm, track at front 73 cm, track at rear 78 cm”
Price is 1200 Euros.

 

It looks like it might have been electric: motor lengthwise ahead of the rear axle, and batteries in the box at the front?

 

Thanks Zoran and Ned. All these were exactly my thoughts as well! I hoped someone on this thread would identify it, which would made it easier for me to take the decision to travel over 1200km to have it standing in my garage.
Second, what would I do with it? Instal an early pre 1905 single cylinder under the seat, a period gearbox and a tiller steering? This would not make it eligible for the London-Brighton! Or instal an electric motor directly on the rear drive? Would be nice and I could drive it all the 11 km of deserted country roads to my work on sunny days, - if I would ever get allowed to do so, as there are no papers with it !
But it is nice, and I cannot stop thinking about it !!!

 

Hello Ned, ​

You must be right: that could be some kind of electric-powered "carette"! Alas, we shall never know who build it, for what use and how it looked originally? Therefore - not any chance to re-created it to its original shape...

Talquil, ​

I like it too - but as above: no chance for London - Brighton rally or any other serious veteran show? It could be good if transferred into replica of antic vehicle if somebody have knowledge and money for that. Would it be worth of it - who knows. In my country Serbia, as in many other European countries, it could be reconstruct, attested and registered as "light quadricycle" and use at roads, under regulations from EU directives. Some Diesel engine or electric-motor of up to 4 Kilo-Watts should be enough and in limits of regulations and standards (moped engine of 50 cc shouldn't be quite in style?).
Now – next question: what is this on attached photos? I saw it on Swiss Ricardo (the same as E-Bay) without many explanation. It has four-wheel brakes, not-so-bad steering, with passenger seat at front and “driver” standing at rear. No motor/engine or pedals! If I saw it before I bought two MTB for my pedal-powered quadricycle, I should buy it. It was much cheaper then my bicycles – around 300 $$$...

Ciao, Zoran
​

 

The lack of cooling vents in that compartment does lean towards an electric. As does the height of the pinon of that worm drive. Given the low yield of batteries 110± years ago, the front box is too small to hold the necessary batteries. It is likely a toolbox, if it is even original to the car. I suspect it is not. It appears it would interfere with the chain steering system.
If this is a battery electric, the batteries probably surrounded the motor.
The other clue is the suspension. There isn't much travel in the front suspension and the rear springs only suspend the body. The axle is fixed. Its builder expected relatively smooth roads, only available in cities back then.

 

Hello SR100, ​

With each comment, we are closer to solution of this small catch - but, I am not sure if we could ever find exact answer? Probably that this "auto" was some kind of electric-kart, used at industrial plants to pull trailers or some machines? There isn't place enough on this chassis for any serious freight. However, it is strange that driver's seat had such serious suspension (comfortable?) for industrial vehicle?

Ciao,
Zoran
​

 

I'm pretty sure it is not industrial. The box and the springs are both pinstriped. Unless it was a show display model, who would go to that effort for a industrial tug? After doing some digging, it appears that the front suspension was based on a circa 1898 Decauville, but with the spring moved under the crossmember to facilitate the chain steering. This reinforces my hunch that it is either French or Italian. Looking at the Decauville below, it doesn't appear to have any rear suspension!
It's a real shame that there is no database where we could plug in a few parameters; say French-built, tiller steering, underseat engine, dos-a-dos seating etc, and see a list of likely suspects. I've long thought that the Beaulieu encyclopedia would be a good start for such a project.

 

... just as illustration of Decauville's suspension-less rear end, a few photos are attached. Some of the French voiturettes had such rear ends, using de-Dion-Bouton engine and transaxel from thier three-wheelers.

Ciao, Zoran​

 

Some pics from a recent trip to Southwards , New Zealand

American underslung Woods

 

Phenomobile

 

smith flyer

 

The usual bubbles & a Bantam

 

Morgans

 

1914 Dudly Bug at the Petersen.

 

1922 Peugeot Torpedo Type 161.

 

You could also buy a smith motorwheel kit , not much different than the drive unit on the Flyer.
You mounted it on you bike