Let's Talk Cyclecars

UOTE="fredvv44, post: 12566193, member: 238593"]love the Bentley Blue Train!![/QUOTE]
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Hello, Fred!​

For sure that Bentley in the background is one of the most beautiful big coupés! I like coupé variants both on small or big automobiles in spite that a ride in fully opened carrosserie should give more pleasure...

Only - the problem with that "Bentley Blue Train" exhibited and sold from time to time - is that it is totally false, from the tyres up to the top!
Now, that is mostly called re-creation for upper-crust automobiles, or replica for low-level affairs, often based on VW-beetle chassis and mechanics... This one (or a few of them) is built on chassis and mechanics of post-war Bentley limousine (besides other "modernisations" it has the 8-cylinder engine, independent front suspension)! Some are blue - some are BRG, some with beige interior - some with blue!
Even worse, as a replica it is the wrong replica of Bentley Blue Train, that was a four-door saloon, quite elegant and nice otherwise. So, original Blue Train was looking quite different and not so glorious, but it was very fast and faster than famous train express known as Blue Train, running during the night from Cannes to Calais, over Paris... The driver was famous Rolf Barnatto.










... and, finally:

https://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/bentley/blue+train+special/255654

So, why that false legend is forced for so long time (just a few years after the original race up to date), even by Bentley Register, well-established dealers and auctioneers, show-runners, owners of collections - for this and a lot of other examples of famous and glorious automobiles? For sure, a legend is more noble, glorious and attractive than true happening - but at the end because of money for all of them and vanity of buyers!

Ciao,
Zoran​

P.S.: Barnatto was not the first, but the 3rd:

1. In January 1930, the Rover Light Six started a race with The Blue Train on the train's 750-mile (1,210 km) run between Calais and Cannes - and managed to beat the train by a 20-minute lead!
2. In early March of 1930, E.J.P. Eugster raced an Alvis Silver Eagle against the Blue Train and beat it to Calais by three hours!

 

Still a great looking car.

 

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Hello, Fred!​

For sure that Bentley in the background is one of the most beautiful big coupés! I like coupé variants both on small or big automobiles in spite that a ride in fully opened carrosserie should give more pleasure...

Only - the problem with that "Bentley Blue Train" exhibited and sold from time to time - is that it is totally false, from the tyres up to the top!
Now, that is mostly called re-creation for upper-crust automobiles, or replica for low-level affairs, often based on VW-beetle chassis and mechanics... This one (or a few of them) is built on chassis and mechanics of post-war Bentley limousine (besides other "modernisations" it has the 8-cylinder engine, independent front suspension)! Some are blue - some are BRG, some with beige interior - some with blue!
Even worse, as a replica it is the wrong replica of Bentley Blue Train, that was a four-door saloon, quite elegant and nice otherwise. So, original Blue Train was looking quite different and not so glorious, but it was very fast and faster than famous train express known as Blue Train, running during the night from Cannes to Calais, over Paris... The driver was famous Rolf Barnatto.










... and, finally:

https://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/bentley/blue+train+special/255654

So, why that false legend is forced for so long time (just a few years after the original race up to date), even by Bentley Register, well-established dealers and auctioneers, show-runners, owners of collections - for this and a lot of other examples of famous and glorious automobiles? For sure, a legend is more noble, glorious and attractive than true happening - but at the end because of money for all of them and vanity of buyers!

Ciao,
Zoran​

P.S.: Barnatto was not the first, but the 3rd:

1. In January 1930, the Rover Light Six started a race with The Blue Train on the train's 750-mile (1,210 km) run between Calais and Cannes - and managed to beat the train by a 20-minute lead!
2. In early March of 1930, E.J.P. Eugster raced an Alvis Silver Eagle against the Blue Train and beat it to Calais by three hours!

[/QUOTE]
The difference is that Wolf Barnato bet that he could be at his club in London before the Blue Train made Calais. He made it by four minutes. It's a pity that no one tried the Blue Train run in a cyclecar. I'd put money on 'Owlet', the GN coupe.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming. Please?

 

This one isn't really vintage or anything. I saw it at a local car show a few months back.
It's a little roadster with a Honda Goldwing engine and transmission.

 

Loving that on so many levels

Sent from my SM-A520F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

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Fred, quite right!​

It is one of the best looking sport-lux automobiles from the period between the Wars, both in original state or re-created (replica). I found one with red leader interior and it still looks noble.
Probably that performances are even better than original, using the most important components from modern automobiles (the fifties)...













Only, as all similar big coupés with long bonnets/hoods and small windows (most of the Voisins, RR Phantom II, American big sport-lux coupés and a lot other from upper crust class) - it shouldn't be quite safe for modern traffic, especially in towns? But, a nice twisting country road on Sunday morning or late afternoon - should be magnificent?

Ciao,
Zoran​

P.S.: So, Fred - choose one and I would some from the rest!
P.P.S.: Sorry for long off-topic!

 

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Hello, Cosmo!​

Not original cyclecar, but could answer the question that started this wonderful Forum 11 years ago (total 361 page and a few thousands of postings and even more photos and sketches):

"... Which further leads to me thinking about motorcycle engines in four-wheeled contraptions in general ..."

Maybe Dave left us a long time ago (made his modern version of cyclecar?), but the Forum is alive and quite well running!

Ciao,
Zoran​

 

igor pic.

 

Nice stuff, a lot of detail there.

 

Bedelia

 

Beautiful capture

 

Wow, some of those racing Mog's are quite outrageous indeed.

 

I think that was once a sidecarbody
https://flickr.com/photos/93789798@N00/sets/72157682474922563

 

Is that thing Flinstone Powered?

 

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Hello, Rolf! ​

You are quite right - that cyclecar is developed on a base of once famous UK motorcycle sidecar - BRAMBLE!




But, it is really motorised and movable. Please, pay attention at rear-wheels brakes! Feet serve for reverse!
Somewhere I have longer video with ist rolling around, but I couldn't find it now, so just this one:
https://web.stagram.com/p/BVB4DVlBFN_?locale=en

The photo that you posted is shot by talented Stefan Marjoram - probably at the Festival of Slowth, the same as the following drawing and photos!

Ciao,
Zoran​

P.S.: the paragraph from Tim Gunn's website that explains more -
"I first saw this car about 20 years ago. It is the Bramble Cyclecar owned by Mark Walker whose other car is the 1905 200hp Land Speed Darracq. An inspiration post on that car will follow soon. But in the meantime, you are free to marvel at everything that is encapsulated in the Bramble Cyclecar. Bamboo chassis, 500cc Jap engine and a hole in the floor for your feet to walk it backwards for reverse gear.
Here is the car filmed by me back in 2017 at the 'exclusive' Festival of Slowth. I posted the film on Facebook soon after and you can see by the amount of views it has had, how much it captures everyone's imagination. Enjoy."

 

... instead of photos, some short films, with another simple cyclecars!







Ciao,
Zoran

 

Stefan is the best, whether with a camera or a pencil.

 

Nobo, quite right!
Z.

 

Ninon chassis, a photo I found on another forum posted by our much-missed SanctaRosa.


The Sports Ninon.


The family model.

 

The whole reason for having the Festival of Slowth is so the guy won't have to pay to have his grass cut!!
What a great event.

 

Any more information on this Bob?


Sent from my SM-A520F using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

That is fantastic!

 

looks like a Citroen 2CV three wheeler scooter and farm tractor sheet metal body work.

 

Miss Lillian La France
found in the blog from justacarguy http://justacarguy.blogspot.it/2018/05/wall-of-death-baby-racers-probably.html

 

http://techgeist.net/39642

 

The Goldwing was (is?) one of the engine options for my Morris Minor. Even the stock 80bhp or so is over double the 948cc A-series's output.

 

The MythBusters built a 3 wheeler from a 2CV.

 

... could the body of rat-road three-wheeler be parts of original bonnet/hood for Citroen 2cv from the fifties, the same as mechanical and chassis base?
My humble opinion is that such components should be better used for reconstruction of some old and rare 2cv - but, for sure that owner/constructor had right to do whatever he wants and that he had a lot of fun building and driving three-wheeler in such form...
Rolf, thank you for additional photos that show more details!

Well-known and old story (forgotten trough years) about converting broken Citroen 2cv into a motorcycle in the heart of desert - is cute, but to me not very real? But, who knows - everything is possible when people are desperate but with a cool head. Without other solutions, or just for fun, strong imagination and dedication are helpful? (like putting big old V-8 aero-engine into G.N. or Fraser-Nash chassis?)

Ciao,
Zoran​