Let's Talk Cyclecars

Good day to you Doug!

 

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But I agree- that is a wild idea for a DS!!!

 

Don't forget the Bonneville car, I saw it in the Mullin collection.

Bob

 

But how do you turn that sucker with 3 rear axles and that short of a wheelbase? I don't get it.

 

Citroen suspension could enable height control on one rear axle only, and set it to lift the others off when manoeuvring?

 

I really like the Citroen ElCamino!

 

So it's an obsession? I always thought of it as a sickness. What a great way to start the day. Thank you Bob.

 

Thank you Bob! What a great way to start the week! That is exactly how I've pictured a Vintage car garage in England, even the scenery is the way I've dreamt it to be. I'll never get there, but that video is the next best thing. Thanks again. Bob

 

Is there anyone on here that can set up Harley wheels for Ford or Anglia spindles?

 

Archibald Frazer-Nash with an early GN

 

Tamplin 1921

From ;Just A Car Guy

 

Photographed in Japan with Guzzi engine.

 

I have a JZR with a Honda engine.

 

schmitt

 

Bob, look what you've done; my wife and I had been planning a trip to England for months when I stumbled upon your post about Duncan Pittaway. I was so moved by it that I tracked down Mr. Pittaway and he graciously invited me to his shop. I accepted and drove our rental car to his shop. A better ambassador to the hobby you can not find. I got to see all his stuff and was really blown away. Thanks for the posting. The GN's have caught my eye....

 

Yes, Duncan is a gentleman. I'm glad you had a great visit! Thanks for the pictures.

 

Still my beating heart.

How goes the AK life?

 

Doug, we have had a lot of snow this winter. Thankfully it has been cool to keep the melt going slow. I'm praying it continues to be cool to allow the snow to keep melting slow and hopefully prevent flooding. The state government is happy with the higher price of oil to keep more money flowing into the stat coffers. still , oil development and production remains somewhat stagnant as well as the rest of the economy.

 

So now that I'm interested in these things, finding proper parts is half the battle. I am in no way in a position to buy anything now, I'm just trying to understand what's possible, and what's available. I like the idea of a pre WW2 air cooled V twin for power, but don't know jack about any of them. Looks like the players were Harley, Indian, JAP, and Anzani. Any others? were some better? Some to avoid? So much to learn here. I love the Chain-Gang transmission idea, but I'm not sure where to begin with that, unless I find a GN or Frazer-Nash basket case.

 

Well......You're going to have an hard time finding a GN or Frazier -Nash in any condition for sale in the U.S. . early motorcycle engines are scarce as well.Scroll up and you'll see a post by RolfZoller. Find his thread on the car he is building.

https://www.frazernash.co.uk/

 

About "The Hornet" in the words of Duncan Pittaway. I built the car about 20 odd years ago. The chassis is from a 1924/5 5cv Citroen which John Champ found in a hedge in France and bought for £35. Front axle is genuine Frazer Nash... albeit the main tube was cracked and I re-tubed it straight like a GN. The front aluminium back plates were so rotten that I cut most of them away... not sure how effective they are, but they sure look lightened! The back axle is GN and copied almost exactly from the "Ceasar" special that Mark owns. Engines are two Harley Davidson JD V-Twin's from 1926 complete with "Riccardo chips" in the top of each barrel to increase the compression ratio. When I first used it in the early '90's, I ran them on straight methanol with a pair of Amal GP carbs, but when I lent it to Robin he converted it to run on SU's and petrol. It's easier to drive on petrol, but won't rev as well ... and isn't as fast! The transmission is my own concoction.... using two 2 speed cross shafts with GN style dog clutches to get four gears, and a beefed up HD clutch. There's 11 chains in total, including the one driving the rev counter! Finally .....the steering's via a 1922 Jowett 7HP steering box... 1/3 of a turn lock to lock.... wheels 19" Rudge...... fuel tank, oil tank, pedals, gauges, etc, Beaulieau autojumble finds..... throttle pedal a '20's Whitworth spanner! Inspired by Bolster's four JAP engined car I couldn't afford KTOR engines so the HD 1,200's were the obvious vintage choice. I always planned to fit two more JD engines, and still have the other two "in stock" ready... effectively making it up to a 5 litre V8!!

 

View attachment 5372584 [A]
As you can see, I'm not so hot at loading images. But this is the Hornet, as Bob describes.

 

March 2015 when l visited Duncans Workshop

 

I've never met anyone quite like Duncan. He's a total gear head, he really loves this stuff and he's all about wrenching and racing his cars. What's so non-typical is his budget. You think you're walking around a typical English farm, and he opens a door and there's a race spec real deal Bugatti Type 35....The replicas of those cost $250,000 or so, and here Duncan has his tearin' up the racetracks like he stole it. He also has Bill Thomas Cheetah #1. Heck of a guy.

 

For sale in Victoria ,OZ $4500 AUS.

 

I dig under-slungs. I know that isn't finished, but those springs aren't going to work like that. Only the main leaf is holding the car up. Or am I missing something?

 

No, you are not missing - you are right!
Smaller leaves should be under the main one!
Ciao, Zoran