Let's Talk Cyclecars

1914 Witchiata,via http://www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

1914 Mercury , via http://www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

1913 Falcon,via http://www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

1913 DeCross, via http://www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

1913 Comet,via http://www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

There's a plan built MG T Series replica over here based on the Spitfire/Herald chassis. They look better (more vintage) when the front suspension is moved forward. Otherwise the radiator grille is too far in front of the wheels.

 

Frazer-Nash again from Ashley Boarder at www.lightflow.co.uk

 

I think you guys will like this. It was at The Elegance at Hershey last weekend.

 

You're right Doug...I like it!

 

Here's a vintage shot of the car Ade is recreating.

 

Here's a nice little 1925 Amilcar CGS on offer through our friends at http://www.PreWarCar.com. Rebuilt engine. 55,000 euros or about $ 72,240 U.S. dollars.

 

Aries cyclecar via www.lecyclecaristebelge.be

 

Boy, they really loved positive camber in those days.



Ago

 

owww... i just spend the last couple days in this thread

you guys are giving me stupid ideas ...

now i cant stop thinking about building a cyclecar

i`m seriously thinking about a 102" max length, so that it could be (legally) loaded sideways onto my truck deck
this way i could take the cycle car with me when i`m camping at an event
would be handy to go and get groceries (usually beer & ice ) instead of using the bulky truck

i love the (front) stance, low CofG and engine placement of the Morgan (but dont care much for the 3wheel ass end);


(picture by morgan3wheeler.co.uk)

so how about a shortened Morgan with 4 wheels and bobbed tail like in this photoshop i quickly made ? :



what do you guys think ?

 

Yes, what 's up with that? Spartanette, I approve, but the tires are a little big.

 

hmmmm... so your thinking smaller (lower profile) tires or the complete wheels smaller ?



btw here is what i`m talking about;


(truck & pics by Jack Mayer)

lots of truck conversion peeps haul "smart" cars as a grocerygetter
but a "shrink rod" would be a lot cooler
(and a poor guy like me could build it from scratch)

cant afford to use a Harley ... but i bet a knockoff like a Vulcan or Shadow V-twin would also work

 

That basically grew out of the structural requirements of wire wheels, the newfangled practice of fitting brakes to the front wheels which made large scrub radii impractical, and the desire to keep kpi/sai within reasonable limits. It was probably seen that positive camber helped dynamic behaviour at a time when chassis tuning basically meant containing the oversteering tendency that arose from a relatively narrow front spring base - but the reason it worked was probably only understood in subsequent decades.

 

It's just an opinion. Look at the original pic, the tire is much lower then the hood then your chop and farther away from the red decal and hood strap, smaller diameter. Looks like you shortened the WB? making the tires look too big in diameter to me.

 

Via the Gunn Cyclecar Co.

 

I like the idea of a 4-wheel morgan. Couple of thoughts...

- don't move the front axle back - the further they are forward of the radiator, the cooler the car looks.
- make sure the rears have a narrower track than the front - also for purely aesthetic reasons

 

A little Austin 7 I'm kinda smitten with. Looks like it would fit the 102" max. oal requirement.

 

iv been looking for an old gas golf cart to build an austin 7 style car with. maybe something like that lombard posed a few pages back. i think the front and rear axles and maybe the suspention too would work great. and move the engine to the front if I can figure out a driveshaft. 16" motorcycle wheels should work fine and maybe just drill the brake drums to bolt up like a normal wheel. Thats my plan anyway.

 

Some where I saw an old video of an Austin 750cc twin cam engine built in the Austin tool room. They put it in one of there race cars, showed them machining the parts. I believe the film was from the 30s.


Ago

 

Messerschmitt and Amilcar from Oliveer Meier.

 

Ago--see

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9020292#post9020292

Herb K

 

From Switzerland

 

this is a picture of the nemesis of the Jappic

this car is called vitesse built and driven by G B Gush in the early 30's he had two cars this one and mickey mouse and using alternate cars he would break and rebreak speed records claiming bonuses from his sponsoring companies ,

it was powered by a 350 TT blackburne motorcycle engine ,,

this car still holds a number of records including 12 and 24 hours,, they ran for 12 hours at brooklands , as brooklands didn't allow night running , and then in the morning claimed the 24 hour record and half the average speed of the 12 hour record

 

Mr. Colin's Amilcar...

 

^^^ That may be a Type 37 Bugatti. Bob

 

definitely cant afford to buy and restore a genuine Cyclecar,
but i`m seriously thinking about building my own "vintage styled" version

after looking at a gazillion pics i think the "airplane fuselage" Sandford cars are very inspiring.
(i love vintage airplanes ... actually i love everything made out of aluminum & lots of rivets )





i also like this `29 Speedster ;




so i used that pic to "photoshop" my vision of a "modern" Sandford trike;



i`m thinking to use a newer shaft driven V-twin Bike as driveline donor
something like a Vulcan 1500 or similar (sorry, not very HAMB friendly ... but cheap, powerful and reliable)

i guess a model A grille shell & headlights would be a good starting point
and i could shape the rest of the aluminum body to match....

what do you guys think about this ???