Remember Jappic? Well there's some footage of it here: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=19418 Shows the engine and cockpit, the video claims the engine is only 2 3/4 horsepower. It'd be nice to know if this is BHP or Tax hp - 70mph from under 3bhp would certainly be impressive . . .
Even as RAC horsepower it would represent a total piston area of only 4434.75mm², that is to say a single-cylinder of a reasonable 75mm bore, or a twin of a mere 53mm bore, or a four of a model-aeroplane-like 37.5mm bore. 70mph from any of those would be just as impressive. Even with a huge stroke of 150mm the above single would have a capacity of 663cc; and with that stroke it would have been a low-revving plodder, I'd say producing about 10-15bhp at well under 2000rpm.
I've seen reference to Jappic having a single cylinder 350cc engine, which with a 75mm bore makes it a squarish engine. Both left side and right side photographs appear to show exhaust pipes, so presumeably it's a four valve head. Quite an advanced little bit of kit - it'd be great to find out more. In the uk, a lightweight sub-15kW four wheeler is classed as a motorcycle, sounds like a laugh . . . In other news, I have just received my copy of "How to Build a Cyclecar" from Tim Gunn's website : http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/how-to-build-a-cyclecar-1951-p.asp For anyone who keeps coming back to this thread it's well worth getting, even if just for the adverts. Very 'Popular Mechanics' in its style but with a lot more detail, and shows how to build a traditional (well, modern when the book was first printed) wood framed cyclecar, powerplants from 2-8hp. Throw back to a time with fewer rules and regulations, of wooden cars and iron men.
A friend, and fellow HAMBster, is building one from that book. I wish he'd get on here and post about it, but he has the enviable habit of spending a lot more time in the workshop than on the Internet. -Dave
My sources give the JAP 350 of the '20s as 70mm x 90mm, 346cc, side-valve. The RAC rating actually works out to a bit over 3hp. That looks like fun. I wonder if there's a two-seater version. I was looking at the drawing of the single-seater and asked my wife, "Do we want one of these?" She replied, "But it's a single-seater!"
Years ago, at an early 'Goodguise' meet in Pleasanton, CA., some guys brought their '33 Willys Coupe (unfinished, Chrysler Hemi wasn't completed) but they had bracketed a Briggs & Stratton 7.5 H.P. engine to the rear of the center in the frame, and chain & sprocket drove the pinion flange with a centrifugal clutch! They were tooling all over the fairgrounds. Anything can power anything. Last year, I mounted a Fox .74 model airplane engine to the front of my Schwinn Cruiser fork head. A 14/6 propeller pulled it along quite briskly once I got it to speed...a CHP officer pulled me over, but just shook his head...(I was wearing my 1946 Bell canvas-side helmet & goggles) I told him it was an old "Kit" for a Schwinn! He advised me to cage the propeller. He added something else, like "at your age..."
Don't know if these have been posted, but I was searching for pics of a Morgan Super Aero and found these- thought you might enjoy:
The book primarily describes construction of a two seater of "the sociable arrangement" (side by side), but also shows a narrowed version for one person. Mac - that's hilarious! I'm not convinced an officer would be too happy about me doing somthing similar over here (I can imagine how terrifying it'd be with a 9CID Zenoah mounted up front) Love the drawings - what's the large one on the left?
Tim Gunn is just up the road so t'speak - met him at Ufford a year or so ago. Lovely bloke, good sense of humour.
I looked at the accessible illustrations on that page and got to thinking, cable-and-bobbin suspension? Cables are like hydraulics in a way: there's a lot of potential there.
Furby, The biggest issue is getting my 6'6" frame inside that thing... might have to fudge a few measurements
Thanks for the detailed images of the Super Sport. I plan to use a barrel-back tail on the Honda Goldwing-powered three-wheeler project we're gathering bits and pieces for, and these will help with the concept sketches.
Here's a 1920 Briggs and Stratton cycle car that is on a farm near Aurelia, Iowa. It was sold as a car, not a cart. Note the "starter" on the drive wheel. Would have hated to get in a wreck with something like a Franklin.
Old-time stunt pilot/driver Art Smith's Baby Vanderbilt race car was photographed at the Quail Lodge motorcycle concours and auction at Monterrey, California, earlier this month by veteran motorcycle/hot rod gearhead Jim Yarnell. There's a good article on Smith at . . . http://thegarageblog.com/garage/the-baby-vanderbilt-racers-in-my-own-back-yard/ Mike
I saw this at a AACA show in Micanopy, FL in 2008. It is a 1914 Marr cyclecar. It bears some resemblance to Buicks of the day. That's because it was built by Walter Marr the chief engineer at Buick for many years. It was displayed by his grandson Richard.
The Jalopy Journal
