I like that concept! I'd just been thinking of something similar but asymmetrically weird, using a more modern air-cooled motorcycle engine with its unit gearbox (XT500?), turned lengthwise and slung out ahead of the axle. It'd have its propshaft inside the right-hand frame rail.
I had a spot of luck. I now have a lovely brass headlamp for my cyclecar project which is going to be absolutely perfect for the job.
Wow that No: 248 is one sexy little number! That is an absolutely superb example of the cyclecar breed and all I can say is that the owner must have very good karma to have such a beautiful cyclecar in his keeping. Not a lot of cyclecar work has been happening just lately as I'm looking after some sick folk at the moment. I'm finding it difficult to keep a definite cyclecar design in my head at present which doesn't help with planning things out either. After checking into transport regulations it seems it's definitely best to build with only 3 wheels as then I stay in the motorcycle/sidecar/moped/bicycle/tricycle area of new registration regulations rather than the more tricky to deal with motorcar area. My dear old Hercules tricycle has just had its battery pack die and the replacement cost is going to be $$$$$$$$$ which I'm none too pleased about so more than ever I'm needing a more suitable replacement for it Soooooo if while out testing my new cyclecar one of the local policemen stops me I can tell him it's my new tricycle and he doesn't have to worry about it because my old electric powered one wasn't registered either ........... I'm strongly leaning towards this though; - it's an invalid car and this design would suit the sidecar body that I've already got really really well.
Thanks James (I've got a small collection of nice nun gifs salted away on my hard drive and they certainly are fun to use in messages. ) Your artistic skills could be very useful once I've got things tidied up a bit more and can take some photos.
From what I can see from the pictures and the description it looks like a Monet-Goyon cyclecar doesn't have any suspension at all! There's a better set of pictures of one here....... http://lecruchon2.free.fr/1925_Money_Goyon_VM.htm
I think the Morgan 3 wheelers are real cool, From what read the sliding pillar front suspension is still used on the Morgan cars sold today. Building a replica doesn't seem that difficult. I think a Morgan 3 wheeler would be a better layout than some of those new backwards motorcycle trikes. Ago <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Morgans are as Cool as it gets! However, the single front wheel, tricycle layout, can be more stable than they appear, as long as the weight is as far back and low down as practical. Some of the newer style VW trikes have truly outstanding stability & cornering ability. They will "drift the tail" well before tipping. Convincing the Transport Authorities that its a 'auxillary powered' Tricycle and not a car, should be easier too! (use bicycle pedals for clutch and brake pedals)
'Zactly Anyway a single front wheel type trike is much better when it comes to carrying a load of any kind which is what I'll be using mine for a lot. The two wheels in front jobs are fine for whizzing about in, but try bringing 3 large sacks of potting mix home in one
Just as a 'by the way' it's not so silly to have auxilliary pedals fitted to a lightweight cyclecar because after riding my own Hercules tricycle for the past four years it's awfully good to be able to take some of the work off the motor when getting under way with a heavy load. With the Hercules depending on battery power for forward propulsion it can be a long and miserable ride home if you run the batteries flat by being careless about how much current is being drawn by the motor. This is of course exactly how the Mochet Velocars that were fitted with a 'helper motor' were driven. Pedals were used to get underway then the clutch was released and a little 125cc two stroke engine would chime into life and you'd be away.
I found this web site today.... I'm still smiling. A pleasant diversion for anyone in the Atlanta area. Gary http://microcarmuseum.com/
Sister, what kind of material you thinking of for the body? Metal, vinyl, canvas, wicker? I'm leaning towards vintage aircraft construction for inspiration.
There is some sort of racecars here that race circle tracks with motorcycles engines. Not legend cars though. I think something like American Thunder series or something pretty cool cars. They look alittle like an '70s or '60s Indy racer. I think that might be something to look into for inspiration.
Try here? http://www.waeek.cn/ Gary And here http://www.uslegendcars.com/racing_series/thunder_roadsters/
I'm most probably going to be using quite a bit of plywood to build my bodyshell Frank. There's a lot of similarities between vintage aircraft and cyclecars when it comes to construction techniques and even with plywood some parts of the car I'm building will be taking a leaf out of the old aircraft constructors handbook. Just as a by the way I had considered wicker as I've always wanted to learn about basketwork, - only at the moment I haven't been able to find a reliable wholesale supplier in the local area as I refuse to buy cane at the price the posh craft shops want for it
Wicker would be killer!! How about a native vine? Here would be bittersweet or grape. That would be fanastic.
I had a waste-paper basket woven for my Golf Mk1. It's specially shaped to fit in a recess in the centre console and wedge in under the dash - I don't understand why cars don't come out with waste-paper baskets: mine doesn't take long to fill up with junk. It was made to my design by a local initiative for the blind (http://www.ctsb.co.za/index.php), their price was extremely reasonable, and one feels good about supporting what they do. Perhaps there is a similar organization near you, who could either advise you on good material sources or do the wickerwork for you?
How about the true cyclecar; the Mauser "Einspur auto" http://dieselpunks.blogspot.com/2010/01/mauser-eispur-auto.html
If wickerwork is good enough to carry hot air balloon pilots and crew then it should be fine for a cyclecar! There was a special cyclecar section at this year's Retromobile Paris - lots of amazing cars. I'll dig out the SD card with all those photos on and post some this evening.
There is a very good book about Morgans, with lots of details about the frame and suspension (which is not as simple as it looks, tapered tube inserts in the front tubes, thin wall chromemoly tubing) and the way the driveline is (was) set up. its title is "Morgan Sweeps the Board" , must have it somewhere, can't find it now, will come back with more info on the book, like ISBN... other idea, old golfcart rearend, has brakes, diff, early types had motor seperate from axle so would not be to hard to fit other engine.. just my 2ct
Are any of these "cycle cars" "human powered" bicycle cars or moped powered cars? I'd be interested in a lightweight that could be either human or engine/motor powered as needed. Does anyone have any past examples?
Not a car, obviously, but I was looking at this at the weekend - a very simple post war transportation solution - the Hilfsmotor. It was 31cc, and didn´t even have a clutch - the owner said you pedalled it up to speed and bump started it. He said this had the benefit of not stressing the motor and saving a few precious drops of fuel. It seemed to go along pretty well on the flat, though I don´t think you´d want to try and climb any mountains with it. The first Ducati "motorcycle" was one of these and even Bugatti experimented with these things, although in typical style he was looking at 16cc - but with multiple valves and a supercharger!
Well yes there were actually. In Europe during WWII there were various types of large pedalcars or 'Velocars' built by both private persons and some manufacturers in response to petrol shortages and these were often fitted with a 'helper motor' of around 50-125cc. The French Mochet 'Velocar' is perhaps the most well known of these. In France in the post-war years cars with small engines between 50-125cc could be driven without a licence. I'm not sure how things are now, but the regulations did change over the years with regard to engine capacity to 50cc or less. The 'Veloto' is one example that comes to mind and it was intended for elderly drivers who only wanted local transport and no longer held a drivers licence. The appeal of such vehicles was of course much wider than this and I've always thought it was a seriously good idea that other countries (including my own) should copy.
The Jalopy Journal
