I like it! I would suggest a Yamaha XV engine or similar. Shaft drive so you can minimise the chains/belts. They have a classic look and a 90 degree V. A big inch Harley would be cool though.
The Yamaha XV engine is just the sort of thing that I think would fit wonderfully in a modern cyclecar. I have a water-cooled variant (from a Yamaha Vision) that I would love to build into a cyclecar if only I can get the flywheel off the crank enough to fix the starter clutch... That's the problem with the Yamaha V-twins, no kickstarter and design flaws in the starting system.
I use the Honda CX650 v-twin watercooled engine in my JZR three wheeled cycle car. It is very reliable, shaft driven, and 65 horsepower in stock form. The car weighs just under 800 pounds.
I envy some of you folks in other states, with your 3-wheelers and such. The trouble with using a fourwheeler motor is that many localities (including mine) require an EPA certified (or like-type) motor. So I can build my own small block chevy from bare parts because you see those on the road, but not use a snowmobile or fourwheeler motor since those are not street legal powerplants. I also can't have a 3-wheeled cyclecar without either wearing a helmet or giving it a non-removable hard top, and even then one needs a motorcycle license to operate it. Even an old Morgan 3-wheeler roadster is registered in my state as a motorcycle and requires both a helmet and an 'M class' permit to drive on the street. Sometimes it sucks to be me. But keep the pictures coming, especially those of you who have managed to build your own.
The Jalopy Journal
