Let's Talk Cyclecars

Duetsch Bonnet.Unkown engine. Could be BMW or Panhard flat twin.I'd like to know if the transaxle has reverse!

 

I might have been part of the pit setup at some race track. Bob

 

Looks like an F3. Panhard engine linered down to 500cc. The same chassis, when equipped with a supercharged 750cc engine, was used in F1!

 

Yes transaxle had a reverse for it is one from dyna x as is the engine

 

I like those early industrial pictures where they used sheets as a backdrop....for what ever reason. Then you see the stuff behind and around the sheet. Like thise one from Kahlenberg Brothers in Two Rivers ,Wisconsin.... or the chain gang chassis.

 

Nice project close to completion for sale on Ebay. I'd be tempted to cover the car in clear vinyl so one can admire the thoughtfully simple design of the chassis at all times

http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/302415941070

 

When they were taking a picture of a new car in a greasy factory, or the back alley beside one, they would hang up a tarpaulin or drop sheet for a blank backdrop when they took pictures, someone would wave the sheet to blur out stains and wrinkles.

Then they could cut the car out and superimpose it on any background they liked. Or crop the photo to a blank background and airbrush out anything else. It just made things easier for the photographer or the layout man preparing an advertisement, or catalog or repair manual.

Not sure the guys in the above pictures quite get the idea.

 

...just slightly off course.

 

I was cruising Ebay for Cycle Car stuff and found something cool, so I scooped it up..

an Aug 9, 1913 Scientific American magazine with a Cycle Car on the cover. I recieved it tonoight and Scanned the cover and article.

Enjoy

 

Oh damn... wonder how that ended....

 

back on track.

 

Taking the scenic route

 

But still on the gas!

Roo

 

Great find. I had not read anywhere before that there was a control for belt tension on cyclecars. I guessed there had to be but could not see any means from photos. I wonder how well the variable pulleys worked.

 

I am seriously thinking about doing a modern, vintage style cycle car...

You figure they were running V-Twins with a screaming 10hp.... Hell, you could pick up a 500cc Japanese V-Twin with double the horsepower...

It would be some affordable hot rodding

 

HFS Morgan in an Aero at the 1925 Bournemouth Rally.Morgan Motocar Co. pic. ...

 

Notice the Stork radiator mascot. This is off his Rolls Royce. He would put it on the 3W when he drove it and the town folk would know it was HFS driving. The stork has now become a popular detail item and is being cast in al. or bronze.

 

I also just picked up a 1971 printed book about light cars under 1600cc. It has a lot of cyclecar information. It said that this car, the "clutch" was actually a lever the moved the rear axle to tighten the drive belt.

 

Reverend Bow, do you have a title for that book?

 

Hello to all interested,​

As I found a long time ago, it is a truth that Bedelia had the movable rear axle for tightening long secondary belt! Have somewhere sketch and photo for that, but couldn't find it now, just one similar system for another cyclecar (with propeller shaft).
As I could see from many photos, a front-driving pulley of final transmission could be single-pulley or double-pulley (two of different diameters) or with some kind of drum, that could be used as variable transmission - CVT?
The description mentioned in the old magazine could be connected with primary transmission, from an engine to jack-axle (middle axle) so that moving of engine front-rear could tighten and unloose a belt to serve as a clutch, with possible CVT function? I am not sure if that could be done during driving, with enough of precision, with so nervous engine? However, everything could be possible for a racing model made in small numbers.


Anyway, from photos and videos, it could be seen that rear long belt could be quite unloosed and still move a car. Maybe big rear pulley is responsible for that with large friction surface?

For sure quite unusual concept of cyclecar in general and details!

Ciao, Zoran​

 

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

Hello Rev. Bow,​

If you decide to start such a project, I would be your dedicated follower! That is one of my old dreams, that should be difficult to make a reality, I am afraid!
Knowing your work on CycleKart, I am sure that you should finish your cyclecar in an excellent way! Maybe Bedelia, as one of the most unorthodox cyclecar wouldn't be the best choice, but that is up to you. Its front suspension and steering could be quite dangerous for higher speeds with more powerful engine.
Just one note: most of the presented facts about horsepower meaning fiscal horsepower, in many European countries. In the first decade of XX century, real horse-power were near or even below number for fiscal HP, but later real horsepower was higher. Example: Austin-7 had 10-12 and later much more real horsepower. Anyway, ordinary owners more care for annual taxes than real power, using mostly half of available...
If chose Bedelia - experiment could be to design and build a tilting version imagined by our active member (sketch attached)! There were only a few tilting cyclecars.
Your project should be a realization of opening post in this great forum some 10 years ago, by our member Dave - Bigcheese! I think that during this decade, a few replicas of cyclecars were built, or light sports cars in that style...

Regards,
Zoran

​

 

But of course, fine sir....

 

Thank you very much Reverend.

 

Stole these of Facebook. Local barn find and restored. He has since found more appropriate wheels. I haven't followed this thread so I hope it fits.

 

Hell yeah that fits!

4 wheels and an old Harley power plant, it doesn't get anymore cyclecar than that!

Cool find.