Let's Talk Cyclecars

Don't forget the tie! Motorcyclist's at Brooklands were treated differently from the four wheeled fraternity but they all dressed similar.

Best of luck with the engine.

 

I have seen images of small planes with engines similar to the BMW boxed engine.2 cylinders,horizontally opposed.I have also seen images of an ultralite using an R100 BMW engine.The military built some drones using small 2 cylinder engines.They weren't very big.

Built of wood and fabric,I'm sure most early planes didn't weigh much.

 

A friend suppied a VW engine for an experimental air plane. First they cut the engine in half, only used the flywheel end two cylinders.

 

That starts to resemble a Fiat 500 engine very closely (I mean the real one of 1957):


The engine was even laid over on its side for the station wagon, further underlining the resemblance to half a VW engine.

Indeed it is not unknown to build a 500 to something approaching 800cc by using VW 1600 barrels and pistons.

 

My brother had a 1959 Fiat 500 Sport that he got new when he graduated from high school. Made an exhaust system of two pipes with motorcycle mufflers and it sounded great. I love how they used the cooling fan as a low boost blower through the carb. Wish I had it now, it was a fun little car.

 

Had a great day today, I now have the correct 350 racing engine for the jappic ,

I have the crankcases barrel and head in the garage to mock up the mountings etc , then deliver the engine back so it can be fully built up ready to race

Pictures in the morning sorry

 

I had an Abarth 695SS in a 1958 Bianchina (a Fiat Nuovo 500-based coupe) back in the 1970s. Was pretty quick with THREE TIMES the HP of the stock 500. It was a real ball to drive.

I ended up selling it when I moved to NZ in 1981.

 

Congrats Ade! Can't wait to see the Jappic ripping around the track.

 

Here's the car that the Fiat 500 engine (although the standup version in this sedan) that Ned posted a pix of.

The car to the right, in case you were wondering.



Those things managed to go 57 MPH stock, and blow up with amazing regularity. Hopping one up, I'll bet you could blow three a day.

Herb

 

Offered the engine up into it's new home, taken a few measurements and drawn up a set of mounting plates.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55288722@N00/8236897083/"****le="Untitled by little green austin, on Flickr"></a>

 

Ade, 2 exhaust valves?

BanjeauX bob

 

A mate of mine had a "twin port" Panther m/cycle - twin exhaust valves, single inlet.
I think such configuration was all the rage for the sporty types in the 30's(?) - or at least, thereabouts, anyway.

Nice clip here of a rare Duval bodied Amilcar. Health warning: there is reference to "voiturette". Somewhere or other, Amilcars drifted across the ill-defined boundary 'twixt cyclecar and things which were larger & less crude ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytQQG84IK9w

 

One valve two ports , the racing engines changed back to single port exhausts around 27 28

This one is a 1924 ,

 

Here's a 1922 Hercules cyclecar built in Spain.You can read more about it at www.PreWarCar.com

 

Good score on the JAP, Ade.

Who know's their ABCs?

 

Rover Nine

 

Early Rovers had an appealing element of weirdness that never really disappeared in later models, despite being thoroughly mixed with a more or less materteral conservatism, all the way up to the SD1 in 1976. This was the tradition that led to the combination, in the P5 Coupé, of Jaguaresque svelteness with the face of an AEC Routemaster bus.

 

Gofannon,very nice! Museum? Show?

Bob

 

Tatra engine restored by Marc. It looks a lot like my BMW boxer motor.

 

Herb,is this the same kind of car you stuffed into the back of the Caddy?

 

Interesting early v4 engine for sale

http://www.prewarcar.com/index.php?option=com_caradvert&view=ad&task=email&Itemid=433&id=74506

 

Boy, the amount of work some people will go to to build-------whatever it is!

Herb

 

It may be that I'm in need of a new optical prescription, but ... what is it that makes it a V4? Isn't it 2x2 inline?

 

There as been suggestion that the v4 engine maybe a marine engine,

It's inlet over exhaust, I'm a bit confused by one lung s remark to me it certainly looks like a v4 , but maybe it's me ,

A bit sad this week as the chater lea is off to it's new home in Belgium but the plus point is that I have some money to complete the jappic ,

If only I could buy more time in the workshop

 

I didn't realize it had been finished.

 

Chater lea running at the festival of slowth



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyryXSEs5Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

Did anyone catch the last "American Pickers" were they found a MACK aircooled Twin engine? Bob

 

You maybe getting confused as I have the chater lea wood framed body covered in canvas like vintage aircraft

And I am building the jappic replica 350 jap engine long aluminium body ,

I had to sell the chater lea

 

Stole this off the Auto Racing 1894-1944 thread. Never knew this often seen photo was on the cover of Scienticic American. Bob

 

Bob,it's amazing how this stuff travels around...