A better image of the Sima Violet that Banjeaux Bob posted on page 95 (I think). Fascinating little car with a two stroke, air cooled flat twin with front mounted flywheel and short megaphone exhausts. Apparently painfully loud!
There are several other images of this same car taken from various angles by the same chap. Just type 'Sima Violet' into a google image search and they'll come up. For instance;
. The Sima Violet 500 cc two-stroke Boxer twin - - - it had to have been a joy to hear I'd think (for those of us with a passion for two-stroke engines). **(I'm sorry not to be able to credit these photos - - a friend found them on-line somewhere and sent them to me).
Looks a bit like a Bedelia or Scripps-Booth - - but not a whole lot like either one - - So, yes - - we'd love more details on what it is and updates on progress if possible.
I've always had an interest in this stuff. As the street bikes became increasingly fast and we progressed to "crotch rockets", I always thought it would be great to take the bike engine and transplant into a vintage Subaru 360 or Fiat 500. There are many foreign makes suitable for this but....... I have always loved the Morgan and of course there is my avatar..... that should say enough. LOL!
I had the remains of one of these with the delivery box years ago. Sold it to the right guy who restored it perfectly. When looking at one you have a hard time thinking it was the forefather of the 427 COBRA.
The MOTORETTE built by C.W.Kelsey in Hartford, Ct. has many lookalike features of the AC. I'd really like to fine one of these. Bob
I know a Morgan racing chap who does this on public roads, with a twist; he lifts the inside wheel over kerbed corners! So predictable is the lift, that he can corner with the inside wheel pawing the air directly over the pavement (sidewalk) and put it back down on the road after rounding the corner! Mad as a box of frogs! Brooky.
* Question - - (if this is the correct place to ask such things): Is there a forum or other venue for people actively involved with building replicas of and/or restoring early Cyclecars? Someplace where questions can be asked with a eye toward solving fabrication problems, parts procurement problems and the like?
I wonder if this is a mismatched tire/rim problem? Note the clincher style tire, I can't tell if the outer ring is smooth (for a drop center side wall) or has the clincher tire grove?
I tried enlarging the photo but I don't think there is enough detail there to be sure (at least with my limited skills and software):
That Bug rim my be one of the type that had two separate outer rings--assembled one way, they were contoured for clincher tires, flipped around, the other side of the rings worked with straight side tires. The inner flange of the wheel in question looks very much like it it two pieces, and of this style. It is unlikely that if some idiot put a clincher on the rim setup for straight sides (as the one in the photo is) that they would get very far inflating it before the non-wired bead of the clincher climbed over the rim and blew however. And Dale--An excellent idea--why don't you start such a thread? Let us know so we can bookmark it! Herb
One can't help but wonder about a possible connection between the flatted front tire and the blaze merrily warming in the cockpit - - - I'm not sure just how the two events were related but seems to be a sort of odd coincidence.
I'm still the new guy here Herb - - and technology challenged to boot: in fact I'm still trying to figure out navigating this site. Perhaps you could take up such a task? At age 72 my learning curve more resembles a straight line than anything remotely useful. In the process of changing hobbies after a lifelong love affair elsewhere in technology, I'm now working on plans and acquiring bits to build a long-dreamed-of cycle car. Then too there is still the somewhat knotty problem of the daily toils in the fields of commerce to keep body and soul suitably housed and nourished.
The title here is Let's TALK Cyclecars. Might be nice to have it all kept together right here. This is one of my fav threads.
Sounds like a great idea to me - - I'd thought this too, but, being new here I wasn't sure of the rules and/or restrictions.
Hi Dale, I've got a smashing little book that might be of interest to you. It's a reprint of a comprehensive instruction manual called 'How To Build A Cyclecar'. It's supplied by Tim Gunn of 'The Old Bicycle Showroom' here in the UK. He built this using the plans therein; and here's the link to his website and the book; http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/how-to-build-a-cyclecar-1951-p.asp
Engines used in cyclecars.... Images by Frank Seeger. #1) SCAP w/ Cozette supercharger #2) 1100cc Ruby
The Jalopy Journal
