Let's Talk Cyclecars

That looks like a rear axle out of a small '70s/'80s front-drive car.

Phänomobil, I'd say. The soldiers reinforce that.

Something out of the same general time and place, and closer to the (larger sort of) cyclecar as we know it, is the front-wheel-drive, two-stroke, twin-cylinder DKW of 1928-on:

 

The BSA three wheeler --similar in size and layout to the Morgan was front wheel drive.



And on another note--trikes, by their very nature, don't suffer from very much from chassis twist

Herb

 

Only when the single wheel is "in front."


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On the contrary: the Bond microcar pattern is quite elegant. It is certainly one way of redeeming the single-front-wheel configuration, provided the engine assembly is light enough. It redeems front-wheel-drive, too, by making more of it than two conventionally-steered front wheels can.

This does ring a bit of a bell. I'm sure I've seen photographs of a cyclecar with a single-cylinder engine riding on a centre-pivot-steered front axle. It is no more than a faint tinkling, though.

 

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The Bond cars were interesting and kinda cool in a odd sort of way:






Discussions of the merits of a single front wheel system always bring to mind though this bit of "Reliant Robin" video (and a grin to accompany it).

Here's a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8





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A lot of the banger races in the UK will have a Robin class...it's hilarious. I have video somewhere, but it's night and not real good...

 

Threewheeler

 

Okay, so I'm a little behind the times.

I just saw this on the show the other day (obviously a three-repeat).

This thing is powered by a 4 cylinder Indian Motocycle engine.

Anybody know anymore on this piece? Are there any other pics of this or other Indian powered vehicles?

 

A whole bunch of BSA three and four wheelers were front wheel drive:


From wikipedia


http://lightauto.com/fwd8.html

Some good videos of three wheelers galore here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRvSdFP6VDw

Morgans, Sandfords, Darmonts, I think I saw a BSA.

The linked videos to the right are well worth looking through too.

 

1913 Morgan aerodynamic racer, a very large photograph:
http://gallery.brit-cars.com/data/666/main_file_1913_Morgan_Cycle_Car_Racer.jpg

I didn't know that racing Morgans were around then - I thought the Morgans from this period were pure economy transport.

 

Have any of you guys been to the Lane Microcar musuem in Nashville? I was there last week. They have many cyclecars and other unusual stuff.

 

That's the second time recently I've wanted to go to Nashville for something.

I wonder how I'm going to pull it off.

 

For those who haven't seen it yet, the July 2012 Street Rodder has an illustration by Eric Black that draws a lot of inspration from Mr. Scaldwell's little ride, cycle cars in general and this HAMB thread. Sadly, no mention of the JAP's owner. Super nice rendering, regardless. Gary

 

where are the pictures?!

 

Sorry Bob, I got nothin'. I still have my ticket stub so it did happen. They do have pics of everything on their website, better then I would have taken. Old Fox, if you do go ask them how to get to Joey's Pizza joint right behind them. Absolutely incredible!!

 

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Here is a link to the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville.


http://lanemotormuseum.org/


There are a few early cars in the Lane Museum but the balance seem to be post-1930 or so. This web site has 250 photos though some aren't of particularly good quality. Still, I find it to be pretty interesting stuff.


Of interest also perhaps (to those who have not looked over the web-site) is the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison Georgia. Said to be the largest collection of Microcars in the world, I drool over something every time I visit this web-site.


http://microcarmuseum.com/



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threewheeler

 

Not saying you didn't go.I just wanted to see images!

 

I'm ashamed of myself. I consider myself a pretty die hard gear head yet I didnt even know they existed. I think my Ducati can feel me staring at with a predatory glare. " you look good on two wheels, why not try four?" great, another project...




Your converse are not shop shoes. Buy boots.

 

The driver is Anne Berrisford in this reposted image.

 

Gary,thanks for the heads up on this one.I normally don't read Street Rodder.Although it was my only fix when Rod and Custom quit in the early '70s.It is a cool image.

Bob

 

father and son.vauxhall and Viglione. Marc images.

 

G Type Amilcar Special.Adrian Ward image.

 

1922 Burrell. Marc image

 

Here's a guy named Tom Rolt driving a GN with a Bugatti Brescia engine at Prescott in 1938. Image thanks to Graham.

 

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Dunno what it is - - but I like it - - -




I like this too - - identified only as a "LM."




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I think the yellow one is in Australia.

 

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Mechanix Illustrated - - June, 1953





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Well, technically it is a CycleCar.

This is the Techno Ducati F4, a 250cc Mach 1 engined Formula 4, Class 1, that is for up to 250 cc.






You can read more about this one (maybe halfway down the page) at:

https://straightspeed.wordpress.com/page/62/

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I don't even know for sure this is a CycleCar, but it sure is interesting and I like it;




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