Let's Talk Cyclecars

Ok, I know what it's not. It's not a cyclecar OR an Austin Seven! But, can any of you remarkably knowledgeable people tell me what this fabulous ORIGINAL looking old girl (top) is? (Only original once, oily rags rule Ok!?) Thanks in advance, Le Zebre Curtiss special photo (bottom) for cyclecar content!

 

Areo engined Race car.

 

What's that snake head thing?

 

The horn, common back then.

 

I think the left one is an American La France based Speedster, pieced together in the recent past. Not sure on the maroon one, but it's powerplant is an OX-5 aero engine.

 

The maroon one is the Le Zebre Curtiss special with, as you correctly pointed out, the OX-5 engine. Thanks for your thoughts on the other one!

 

The real answer is did the idea endure?

 

Are those 2 cycle engines? I see a bunch of holes low in the cylinder wall on both of them.

 

Hi fredvv44, this from wiki
"They were all air-cooled side-valve engines; each exhaust valve was controlled from below by a cam in the crankcase.[2] Each was mounted in a cell to the side of the cylinder, with the automatic, atmospheric pressure-driven spring-loaded inlet valve immediately above it, partly to minimise volume and partly to help cool the hot exhaust valve."
You can see the exhaust valvegear in the attached photo.

 

Neumann-Neander-Fahrmaschine

 

A very interesting engine. In some ways similar to the Gnome rotary. It had it's intake through a hollow crankshaft and a passageway to ports in the cylinder wall similar to a 2 stroke. My all time favorite engine.

 

Austro-Grade. Interesting steering setup, and chain drive to right hand rear wheel only, solid back axle.

 

Racy version!

 

Pretty little car:
Koco 4/12 PS HK1 - 1922
1.020 cc
Flat 2
12 hp
Vmax : 65 km/h

 

Interesting that it should have coil springs at the rear?

 

Yes, I thought the same Ned. So far been unable to unearth a photo of the bare chassis to get a better look at the setup.

 

That style of Dutch sounds quaintly archaic to my Afrikaans ears!
"Springing: very soft and pleasant. The front springs semi-elliptic, rear spiral." — in spite of the apparent total lack of damping.

 

Found this.

 

Thanks j hansen, interesting that this shows quarter elliptics at the rear, not coils. I wonder when/why they changed?

 

I thought it might be familiar Ned!

 

1902 Sunbeam Mabley. A cyclecouch?

 

That's amazing.

 

Obviously before the 'Elfe and safety' regulations . . .

 

The mud guards are insane!!!

 

OMG...

 

Found a replica...

 

And the Big Boy...

 

What a contraption!!!

 

Here's some more 'amazingness' for you fredvv44 . . .

"The unconventional vehicle had four wheels, one at the front, one at the back, and two in the middle. It was shaped like an 's' sofa with a seat on each side facing in different directions, and powered by a 2.75hp. De Dion single cylinder, water-cooled engine.

The engine, mounted above the front wheel, drove the middle wheels by a leather belt and chains. It had tiller steering on the front and rear wheels, pneumatic tyres and a drum brake on each driving wheel."