I've got a thing for exposed drive chains. They're just plain sexy, like tandem seating and strip-built wood bodies. On the VW front beams, I've found that the Volksrod guys sometimes remove the shock towers from the front beam and the increased tension of the shortened torsion springs added to the lightness of the car allows them to run with no dampers at all.
... wonderful stuff: and for mine, any really interesting cyclecar should feature wire-and-bobbin steering, too. Merry Christmas to all.
Wire and bobbin actually makes a lot of sense with the lighter, smaller varieties. The constructor's handbook that I have shows 3 cables triple-looped around a hardwood bobbin. Where they connect at the hub, they get a sprung joint to act as a rudimentary steering damper system. Very elegant and quite secure assuming a competent constructor.
My first choice would be running gear from a Ford Anglia/Prefect post war to 1950's. Reality says a first generation Triumph Spitfire. A later one would work as well and have a bigger engine. More of them too. The suspension would be a give away but with the title and a vin number you would be ahead of the game. Just build a body around the tub. Also nice to have a son who lives in New Hampshire. No titles after 15 years old.
That 1913 Morgan three wheeler wouldn't be too hard to make a facsimile of. I say that rather than a replica because of size, though what I'm thinking might be close to the original size. It looks way too much like a T bucket with one wheel in the back, doesn't it? The front axle isn't in the right place, but the hood appear to be about the same length also. Getting power to the rear might be a problem. Dispense with reverse (really, how hard would it be to push the thing back if necessary? Keep an old cane in the car and push with that over the side on a level... and would serve as "protection" too...) and run a chain the entire length, no driveshaft. That would require a counter shaft or two and a long chain with a couple idlers, but could be done. I'd use a bike engine and come straight off the sprocket down at an angle to a counter shaft under the toe board. Then run a long chain back to the pivot point of the rear swing arm where there would be another counter shaft, and from that to the rear wheel. Dead simple. Of course a FWD trans and suspension could be used, chain drive the input shaft from the bike motor. Use an early T-bucket fiberglass body with no doors. Speedway's 23T measurements: Total Length: 52" Firewall Width: 26.5" Body Width: 45" Body Height: 24" Could cut down the sides and back a bit to match the Morgan shape. Too bad they have the door crease molded in, that would have to be dealt with. Maybe there is a T bucket with smooth sides? Maybe someone makes just a cowl section -- then the rear body could be made easy enough.
As simple as the body design is, just grab some sheet metal and bend one up. Depending on how authentic you want to be, it seems like there are always old cowls at the swap meets you could build from too, but you can always make it as complicated as you want. (No offense intended.) This one is one of my personal favorites and I'd love to build a replica after I get the HA/GR done.
I know everyone has seen the new Morgan. http://www.morgan3wheeler.co.uk/home.html It would be easy to duplicate that layout with a banger or bike engine, drive it thru a Honda Goldwing shaft drive swingarm or something similar. A straight axle could work and some Model A wire wheels would look right. Here in FL it would be considered a motorcycle. No helmet required. The procedure for getting it registered is fairly easy as well. Except for the tail, bodywork looks easy enough to do.
The "new" Morgan three wheeler is only a slight update from the popular 1930s Morgan Aero (most noted is the Mazda five speed trans). There are replicas made in Britain with a Honda CX-500 or CX-650 water cooled V-twin in front (http://www.spitfireart.com/press_release.html), and at least one from 1978 through the 80s that used a Moto Guzzi engine (http://www.triking.co.uk/article-2.php). And there is one from US that uses a Harley engine, naturally (http://cycle-car.com/index.htm). The US maker (Ace Cycle Cars) website indicates that the design is licensed from Morgan. I wonder how much of the Ace is in the "new" Morgan? I bet the reasonable success of the Ace and the other replicas, coupled with the current economy, are what made Morgan decide to reintroduce the three wheeler. If they get production up to economical numbers it could be a real affordable sports bike alternative. Ace wants "$48K and up" for one!! According to this site (http://www.conceptcarz.com/z19070/Morgan-Threewheeler.aspx) Morgan wants 25,000 English Pounds Sterling, which is just under $40K. The new Morgan is powered by an S&S "Screaming Eagle" Harley style engine of 1800 cc. I'm sorry, but this is a $25-30K "car" at best! I don't see it as worth a lot more than a new Harley Road King (about $20K stock) or a loaded new Gold Wing (just under $30K). Gold Wing trikes sell for just over $30K, and that's way too rich for what you're getting for me! A new Mustang GT is just under $30K now!! Am I the only one who thinks the prices for the Ace and Morgan are crazy high??
That's why I want to build one, along with the joy of building it, the cost will be more in my social security budget.
I've been thinking about building one for a while, but never got past locating what might be a good CX500 donor (haven't tried getting it running yet, my nephew had it and thinks the coil is shot, more likely in the electronic ignition though). I've also got a VW front end I planned on using -- run the driveshaft either under or back between the two front axle tubes. Not sure how high I need to mount the engine. I've been thinking I might have to cut my project list and use it in a boat I've been wanting to build though. The boat (http://www.instantboats.com/sneakeasy.htm) is a 30's style launch designed for a 7.5-25 hp outboard (capable of ~30 mph w/25 hp outboard), but I want to convert to a small light weight inboard. It's been done with a 20 hp Kohler V-twin. The CX500 is rated around 50 hp, but that's around 9500 rpm. I wouldn't think I'd want to run it that fast for long, but it should be equal to a 25 hp outboard at half the rated rpm (4750 rpm), and a bit faster in the long run with no more weight. Won't have a reverse though...
I've been thinking about 3-wheelers. I saw a picture but can't find it again. It's of a 3-wheeler with a motorcycle grafted onto the back of a passenger compartment. That seems like the simplest way to do it. The motorcycle could show or could be covered with sheetmetal. No reverse, or figure something out for reverse.
A Beetle front axle is easy to narrow. Disassemble it and cut both sides between the shock tower and the center Allen screw, which indexes the tortion bar. Narrow desired amount and weld the tubes back together. Then clamp the tortion bars together and redrill the outer pointed hole for the outer Allen screws and reasemble. Shorten the tie rods same amount, rethread the end, and you're done.I would cut off the shock towers as was suggested too. I did one for a drag car several years ago.
Sgtlethargic, that would be something like the Tri-Magnum (http://www.rqriley.com/tri-mag.html), Scorpion (http://www.grinnallcars.com/scorpion-III-sports-car.html), or SportCycle (http://www.3wheelers.com/sportcy.html -- and you may find more on this site).
Her is a Morgan copy that I built back in the mid 60's SORRY! JUST REMEMBERED THAT I POSTED THIS HERE BEFORE__AND NO DELETE Herb
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