Let's Talk Cyclecars

I'd be interested to know how the H-D was hooked up to the Toyota 5 speed

 

I used an adapter that was meant to put a H-D motor on a VW transaxle (for a trike). Made an extension for the drive side of the crank (with an outboard bearing) and used the Toyota flywheel and clutch. Used a Chevy style geared starter. Pretty much made it up as I went but it worked out fairly well and was a hoot to drive on the street. With two up it would wheelie very easily. The owner (who you can see in the car with his wife in the photo with Scott Kalitta) always wanted a dragster that he could drive on the street and was also a Harley guy so this is what I came up with for him. Unfortunately cancer took him out a few years back but he did get to enjoy some seat time with the car.

Roo

 

Nicely done Rooman. One of the HAMB friendliest postings to the thread...not that I have a problem with that, this is my most followed thread.

 

How well was it received by the tractor crowd? I bet they really liked it.

 

Here are some other thoughts about a seemingly out of place thread on the HAMB....regardless of content: #1) it is one of the longest running threads here #2) it does have a large following ...an international one at that! #3) do a google search for "cyclecar". Then come back and report where this thread ranks #4) when Ryan did a major overhaul awhile back I asked if this thread would be cut. No was his reply.

 

Very well. I was surprised. Lots of people taking pictures, waves, smiles and thumbs up.

 

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Hello JackdaRabbit,​

Just could sign your words!
--- ---
Hello Roo,
You made wonderful machine and even more important – you made a joy for nice couple (could be seen from photo - we seniors could recognized that), at least for last time of guy's life!
That is quire friendly seating position, close-coupled tandem? That was my favorite for some time (many years ago), when wanted to build something like that with engine from JAWA 350 motorcycle and VW-beetle front axle – quite modest variant of your H-D dragster...
Now, I would prefer something more comfortable tandem-seating, with two seats one after the other, as in (modest) theater, with space for passenger's legs after driver's seat... So, body could be narrower, but cockpit must be longer: up to 2 meters long. With small engine under one of seats, entire vehicle shouldn't be too long – opposite to Bedelia and similar cycle-cars. Generally- it should be modest vehicle, in category of “light quadricycle” according to European Union Directives for small motorised vehicles... of course, lower sides than at you dragster – hard to climb-in and out for us seniors! Good for cruising across and around Bern!
Maybe one day!

Regards!​

P.S.: On attached photos is JAWA based tricikl (three-wheeler) that gave me inspiration for quadricycle (started some 10 years ago and abounded before arrived from Belgrade to Bern)... Then, a few photos with more “comfortable” tandem-seating for seniors!

 

P.S.: If tandem-seating isn't strange enough, then to check classic Monotrace, automobile on two wheels, or cabin motorcycle:




... and, modern Swiss version of Monotrace:

Ciao!

 

Zoran,
here are a few more shots of the H-D dragster to give you a better idea of the packaging.
Here you can see the framing that supports the seat which was one that Greg had liked on one of his motorcycles.

A little later in the process with the seat in place and the lower corners of the aluminum section rounded off. The passenger's feet rested on the floor immediately behind the rear end housing.

By using the rising rate linkage I was able to place the shocks directly above the frame rails and get plenty of shock travel for better damping) with limited suspension travel. The bracket on top of the housing is for the upper trailing arm. You can also see the driveshaft shield with the shift linkage bracket on top of it.

Another shot to give an idea of how tight the packaging was. This one shows the upper link in place and under the rear end on either side of the center section you can just see the heims for the lower arms which run under the raised section of the floor. The holes in the left side floor are for the clutch master cylinder/pedal mount. On the lower left of the photo is the dry sump tank for the motor and behind it the dual circuit master cylinder. On the lower right of the photo you can see a portion of the battery mount. The steering box is a standard funny car/ front engine dragster unit which is perfectly sized for the job.


With the gear box and driveshaft installed


The Toyota flywheel and crank adapter.


We used a motorcycle foot peg on the right side immediately behind the tire to make stepping over the top frame rail easier--the sequence was footpeg, tire, rear end housing, floor.


An overall view of the bare frame. I made the roll bar hoop wide as I did not want it close to the passenger's head in case of an "incident"


Roo

 

The little green tandem was mine for many many years. Built in 1897 it kindda pre-dates cyclecars

It was a test bed for the man that invented the staple. Purpose built boxer twin with an overhead car semi automatic intake valves and roller rockers. Oil was drip fed. Two speed transmission with a cone clutch for each gear.

I once offered to race for pink-slips with a Velo Benz. Wouldn't have been fair as it would travel close to 40mph and the first Benz was little more than a toy

The car now stands in a museum in Holland .... alas never to be driven again

I won the "Unrestored class" at Torrey Pines Concourse. The bronze trophy was designed by my friend John Stewart and sits in a glass case across from my old roll top desk here.

As a side note I took the little car to this show in the bed of my 1939 GMC AC-102. The truck is really period hot rod I built in 1990. Still has a old GMC I-6.

I sold the Goddeu when getting tires became impossible, meaning no more driving. I didn't want to change the wheels and that was that.

It was so much fun to drive I just couldn't see it sitting in a corner of my collection

 

Igor Bietry driving a BNC.

 

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

Roo,
Thank you on excellent photos of your magnificent creation! ​

I enjoy to see “skeleton” that is under nice skin. Maybe I would never use any of your “mechanical secrets”, but who knows: all details are very interesting and some of them could be used for something quite different! For sure that it is “modern cycle-car” as was described in the first letter of this wonderful thread: big-V-twin engine, sporty look and performances, relatively simple (at least the body)...

Your motorcycle-type seat was what I had in mind (being in that time happily divorced and running bachelor life in my fifties), but now I am merried again... As I said - now maybe something more comfortable, but if ever started design – I could test your style of seat with my wife (cheap and simple wooden model, with cardboard plates around...). Of course, my JAWA engine should stay in Belgrade – old two-stroke, blue-smoke noisy engine shouldn't be welcomed here...
Here, I must do all by myself: no small back-yard workshops for assistance, and big official services shouldn't be interested in any work on such DIY project (beside, prices should be astronomical)... So, quadricycle should be simple, cheap and quickly built – but, adequate for registration!

Regards!​

 

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

Hello Bluto,
And thank you on wonderful information!​

What small, but magnificent World this is, with unbelievable coincidences! There is only one example that I was interested in – and now appeared ex-owner with more information!

I found and saved posted photos some years ago (maybe Goddeu was still in your ownership?), because I was always interested in tandem-seating for two persons and it was quite rare on veteran cars... I couldn't find anything about that automobile, but last year using Google-Search program I found more photos with details and information – from mentioned museum!
Do you know some more details: engine size and power, construction and size of chassis and suspension, wheel-base and size of the body? Maybe weight? (Swiss authorities accept replicas of old-timers for registration as historic automobiles!)
What were impressions from cruising around with your Goddeu?
My Very Best Regards!

 

P.S.: From internet, translated from Spanish (Google Translator):

"Louis Goddeu was a Canadian citizen who emigrated to Winchester, a town located in Middlesex County in the US state of Massachusetts, where he made his fortune. There, he worked for the "United Shoe Company" as part of its Executive Council.
Goddeu was a great inventor and had more than 300 patents, one of which was a small four wheel drive and rear-wheel drive, with room for two passengers, tandem, equipped with a boxer two cylinders used alcohol-engine denatured fuel .
It is known that Goddeu Tandem, manufactured between 1897 and 1898, was restored in 1951 by John Dodge Jr., and the August 15, 2004, was sold at auction by Gooding Company at Pebble Beach, and was awarded for $ 33,000 .
Goddeu came to build a total of four cars of different configurations that were used primarily by family members, but none of their models went into production.
His best known invention was the stapler paper we use every day."​

 

Some more of Rosemarijn's adventures....

 

Lake Como?

 

What if you were to float the grille? In other words make the opening a few inches larger and set the grille inside the opening?

 

The Speedball Special built from Renault suspension Ariel square 4 engine and transmission after plans from Mechanix Illustrated magazine. I don't know why it is so low maybe he ran out of lumber ha ha.

 

Looks like it ,doesn't it?

 

I think Ascona Lago Maggiore

 

Images by Clayton Young at Loton Park Hillclimb. ...

 

Bluto!

You've been awfully quiet. Welcome back!

 

I think that car is where the term "wings" came from!!!

 

Thank you
I'm not quiet just other places AND Recovering from a triple bypass. Nothing like open heart surgery to cramp ones style for a little while.

I got friends all over that tell me when you guys are getting out of hand

 

Hello Zoran

Here are a couple motor views. I miss both my Goddeu and my T-head Mercer, too. We are all just custodians of history. The GMC photo is many years ago. Goaded loaded and ready to go to
a "Toys for Tots' benefit



We, Zofia and I, still own many wonderful cars bikes and trucks

At the moment we stay in Poland.... as the Dr's don't really want me traveling.

Here are a couple of photos few people have seen.

 

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Hello Bluto,​

For the start, I am sorry that you have so serious health problems - but happy that you overcome that well! From experience of my friends with similar operations - after that they had regular and good life! Just must listen doctors and obey their instructions, using prescription of medicaments and procedures, changing life a little... Playing with old-timers is one of best therapies, beside living with dear persons!
--- ---
Thank you on additional photos of Goddeu – they explained a lot of its construction! It looks to me that it didn't had rear suspension at all? Something similar mechanical layout to Waltham Orient buck-board (the fist variants)... Did Goddeu has front suspension of some kind – I couldn't see on photos? Maybe it could be good base for one of the simplest replicas of veteran cars, good for registration as historic vehicle here in Swiss? (light quadricycle for my wife Olga and myself...). I would be satisfied with speeds up to 35-45 km/hour (half of city of Bern has restriction of speed up to 20 km/hour or 30 km/hour), so some modest engine and transmission should be quite good, in spite that we are heavy almost 190 kg together...
Photos of front suspension should be welcomed, the same as some dimensions if you remember them, weight too...

My Very Best Regards!​

P.S.: My granddaughter in Belgrade has name Sofija, variant of old Greek name Sofia, maybe the same case is with Zofia?
P.S.: Last night I searched a littel for 1939 GMC AC-102, and found a lot of nice photos, but your reconstructed one is magnificent! Photos of your other oldtimers shoudl be wellcomed!

 

good to know there other places on this earth with that sort of beauty....