Let's Talk Cyclecars

A light but aerodynamically relatively dirty car should need about 20bhp to cruise at 60mph. For how much of the power curve does the engine make more than 20bhp?

 

I don't think I would want to have to drive a street car that had to run at 11K RPM. The JZR originally used a Honda CX500 V twin and the owners complained about the high revs. I have a Guzzi Cal2 1000cc and it is a low rpm high torque unit. I think it is a perfect match for a light car. First gear is not a problem, you just have to get used to it. Here is a gear ratio chart showing rpm per mph. Interstate speed at 4500 rpm.

 

Please allow a reluctant but very interested prospective builder of a three wheel "car" to respond. Given the collective past half dozen or so responses to the gearing, driven RPM and torque requirements of a prospect envisioned by the original posting, I must offer what seems an obvious answer to me. The Honda Goldwing 1500, and newer if one pleases to further overkill the answer. This is a vehicle that has about a 900# curb weight, shaft driven (and therefore easily/-er redesigned into a small light car or a Reverse Trike) whose motor puts out 100-ish HP and 100-ish Ft/lbs torque at 4500 RPM and a reverse gear to boot. All that sounds like the making of the answers to the above technical issues of a Light Vehicle. Additionally, add that it is a popular, mass produced, and reliable option with a positive cost benefit when compared to a Motor Guzzi et al. Translation: Cheaper and easier to build.
I can't assume the title of Hot Rodder but I think it might represent Ned's quote " extremely light cars out of a hot-rodder's mindset."

 

You might have seen this post: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lets-talk-cyclecars.226791/page-361#post-12567622

I replied at the time that I'd even considered a four-cylinder GL for my Morris Minor, even though that is a step or two up in weight.

 

I've gone thru this thread top to bottom and should remember it given it's level of relevance but....(self deprecating humor goes here), as an aid to the Lament as to how off course this has gone from it's original inception, a cure I think could be an equal measure of your quote about Hot Rodder mindset, Dave's design intent and some of that newly arisen Steam Punk Design. That outta give the creative juices a new lease on this Cycle Car thread's life. (See attached if it took.)

 

Regardless if the thread is not what was originally intended it wouldn't have 2.3 million views if it wasn't popular.

 

Quintessential

 

Fabulous.

 

Killer!!

 

This might be the Red Devil of Californian driver Walter Gossman. (If the pic was taken on orthochromatic film, a red car would appear black.) This appears to have been taken during practice for the 1914 Tacoma cyclecar race.
I was quite taken by the no. 22 car in the background. Here's a view of (some of) the entrants of the Tacoma race:

I believe the description on the Tacoma library's site is wrong about the no.22:
"The Tacoma Speedway had a special treat in store for its fans on Labor Day 1914, the first 'cycle car' race to be held north of California. Cycle cars were built with motorcycle engines and were designed, for the most part, by their junior drivers. Three races would be held, a ten mile dash, a ten mile free for all (featuring the losers in the first race) and a 40 mile free for all, with a top prize of $250. Pictured in a horseshoe are, left to right, an unidentified car, the Mabel Normand's Keystone Theim driven by Shirley Williams, the Red Devil driven by Walter Gossman, the Pantages Bug driven by a Tacoma boy identified only as "Swift," unidentified car #3, unidentified, unidentified, Allan Bruce and his National, Harry Hartz and his #22 Indian and a "baby" Hudson partially built by Homer Loudenclos in Tacoma with Clarence Healy scheduled as pilot."
An article in the Tacoma Times of August 5, 1914 said that the miniature Maxwell of Earnest Johnson had been entered in the Tacoma race as number 22.
I found a pic of Hartz's car in front of a sponsor's business, the Vic-Mac Garage:


In 1915, Hartz upgraded to a miniature Mercer:

 

Not sure if this qualifies or not, but it has cycle type wheels and it looks to be very small...Amazing looking little thing.

 

Early Renault. Not quite a cyclecar, but in several ways its precursor.

 

Beautiful but don't corner it too fast!!

 

========================

Hello, ​

As was said, this little, cute Renault wasn't officially a cyclecar, but the spirit is there. It belongs to the popular class of voiturettes, a class between later-named "Baby autos" and older quadrilettes... It was the smallest practical automobile especially in this class of "Doctors Coupés"...
Well, it wasn't the only one, but the others were bigger and more comfortable, even luxurious...


Not an easy task to make a practical and elegant closed body (fix-head or drop-head coupè) on so small a chassis...

Ciao, Zoran​

 

If I build a 3-wheeler AND it's considered a motorcycle, is insurance (liability, not comprehensive) cheaper than car insurance?

Might an enclosed car with a seat (versus a saddle) be considered a motorcycle? This example is a 1930s Framo Stromer.

 

How about this one sarge?

 

...along with 14 years of existence. There aren't many threads with a longer life or more views here on the HAMB.

 

That Shotwell well is cool

This one is cooler. Split windshields might always be cooler.


https://www.grandforksherald.com/2104830-puddle-jumper-leno-meets-widow-minnesota-homemade-car-maker

 

Some states are adopting the new "Autocycle" classification but it is still not considered a car. You don't have to wear a helmet. I insure three 3 wheelers at about 200 bucks each; a good bit cheaper that my cars.

 

Finally got to see the NZ Jappic in the flesh at a car show in Auckland on Sunday.
Stunning!

 

He really did a magnificent job on that. I would have thought it would be finished by now.

 

Hello, Davie and Fred!​

I think that this Jappic replica (better said true copy) is built by Garth, known to me from CycleKart Club where he presented it some years ago... As I know, he installed a BSA engine of 500 ccs, and four years ago his car was completed and running, and moved to the UK, ready for running at the VRM (Vintage Revival Montlhery) in Paris.
As I know, Garth's replica was never used at any of the CycleKarts meetings and especially not at one of the races, often over rough, off-road terrain... (not quite good for that?)
Here are some photos from the CycleKart Club register:




There are more information, photos and films on:
Jappic NZ - Home | Facebook

--- ---
We all know our member, great designer and constructor Ade, Adrian Warde who built another replica of the same Jappic record car!
(before Jappic, he re-created cyclecar Lea Chater)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55288722@N00/
--- ---
Both replicas are magnificent achievement, especially that the original JAPIC was built as the one-off special (as I know) for speed-record braking in its class, maybe 350 ccm. So, it was ultralight, but not ultra-simple, quite opposite. It has an aerodynamic body (for two persons, at least just for rules) and wooden chassis bonded and twisted in 3-dimensions, with complicated steel reinforcements... All that represents its very well-known characteristics and is well-seen in photos. Besides that, its front axle was also very important for its style in general and details. As I know, steering is made of bicycle components or just made in a style, but light and simple for sure. It was made for high speeds over a relatively smooth surface without too much cornering and curves, tracks made of concrete or asphalt (Brooklands oval race track at the first place).

Ciao, Zoran​

 

Thanks for that update Zoran. I was not aware that there were 2 of these cars. I had followed Ade"s progress over the years and thought this was his. I got confused about the NZ location.

 

Have a nice Sunday
https://acm.mc/en/edition/grand-prix-de-monaco-historique-2021/event/timetable/ https://acm.mc/en/edition/grand-prix-de-monaco-historique-2021/event/timetable/

 

BNC body built from scratch

 

Boy, to my eye that BNC is just a beautiful car. Thank you for posting it. Until now, I wasn't even aware such a thing existed. Is there any more information on that build anywhere? I did a Google image search, but came up empty. I did find this, though: 1930 BNC Type 527 Voiturette | Build Race Party
And this: The Complete Saga of the Caswell/Lymber BNC

 

The color is perfect!

 

Welcome to the cyclecar page RWRJ!
Only the images not much text on the build process. There were more pictures. I just posted enough for folks to get the idea. I think if you post too many people loose interest. There were comments criticizing the builder for not restoring it to the correct body style for the chassis. He posted a picture of what a previous owner had done. This was a great alternative to the butchery that he started with. Fabulous workmanship!