The cork jet gasket was always the H-series's weak spot (it could of course be that the carb kits you find these days have been sitting on shelves for decades. Whatever the case replacing the H2 with an HS2 was almost the first thing I did to my Morris Minor.) I do seem to see an improvised bracket to hold the float chamber at the right level and angle. More fascination from those photos: the Bugatti-standard reversed rear quarter-elliptics can be seen clearly. The T23 did not yet have the through-frame rear axle arrangement, nor the through-axle front leaf spring detail. Note the hefty cast-in engine mounts and rigid mounting - something that "can't be done" with street-driven modern engines, for some reason - and the exposed flywheel, clutch, and forward driveshaft. The front bearing of the driveshaft rides on a frame crossmember: there is no bellhousing. The gearbox is a short distance further back in the frame. Did your friend build that body? It is unusual to have the hood sides overlapping the cowl like that, without any sort of rebate. The last T13/23 I inspected had a gap there, so that opening the hood gave access to the footwell too.
Possibly supporting my conjecture of the unknown cycle-car being incomplete or under construction when the photograph was made are the odd controls festooning the steering wheel - - - a temporary situation I'd imagine. (Dear Lord, I'd hope that was a temporary placement at any rate.) Then too there is the previously mentioned horn, apparently either mounted or temporarily parked midst the steering wheel spokes - - another largely unworkable situation I'd think. By the bye - - does anyone recognize the engine? .
Hey Dale, Morgan owners like myself could be quite offended by your comments about the steering wheel mounted controls as we've all got three levers on the steering wheel; throttle, choke and ignition advance/retard. This does cause enormous hilarity when novice drivers attempt to 'have a go'. As soon as you've turned the steering wheel through 180 degrees, the throttle is upside down, which is why Morgan trike drivers will always cross their arms when steering and throttling at the same time (manoevering). Brooky.
Looks like it might be a version of the Mochet Velocar, (or something similar): Then too, kinda looks like a converted, surplus "wing-tank" maybe - - Apologies folks - - - I've been tied up with work for most of the last week or so - - and will respond to a couple of earlier queries and thoughts as I find time to get to em. .
I don't know what it is.I like it.I like the lines.I like how delicate it appears.I think it is probably fiberglass with at least 3 parts.The upper and lower shell portions along with the top of the cab.I think it's probably an adult pedal car like you suggest.
Looking again at this very interesting car, I'm struck by both the simplicity of the design and its overall attractiveness. I'm pretty sure it's pedal-powered, but to me - - it is a much more attractive design than most of its brethren. My musings prompted me to wonder a bit about how entrance and egress might have been accommodated in this somewhat unusual design. The photo's quality isn't great enough to allow large scale amplification, but a modest blow-up of the pictures shows a "break" line just in front of the windscreen, about where a usual cowl/firewall might be located. The line seems to continue aft ward uninterrupted, and then just past the driver's position, the line begins a gradual ascent, finally turning vertical again just behind the rearview window. This prompts speculation then if the upper body-greenhouse section might have been pivoted at the front (the firewall line), at the rear (behind the rearview window) or perhaps it tilted horizontally, with the entire cabin/greenhouse section swinging up and over to the side of the vehicle. Interesting, to say the very least. Another photo of this unusual design appears on this page - - - which I unfortunately cannot read: http://www.mochet.org/non-mochet/non-mochet.html Add: I find on further searching, this vehicle dates to 1925 and was called a "Landskiff." http://fahrradzukunft.de/0/alltagsfahrzeug-velomobil/ Add again: Aha - - with enough additional searching I found that the original photo as posted here by banjeauxbob appears on-line with this caption: .
That link suggests Germany, 1926, which is consistent with the plan-oriented approach to aerodynamics but predates glassfibre. Lacquered papier-maché? It is a material I've often thought might have use in a hot-rod context, especially if modern sealants are used. Most exciting to me are the modified linseed products recently developed: they are non-petrochemical and translate easily to a mom-and-pop scale.
Just imagining something like that using a modern fibreglass belly tank replica, a similar glasshouse and the business end of a 400cc Suzuki Bergman twist and go scooter stuffed up the back - would make a nippy, weatherproof and economical commuter trike. I wonder why nobody is making something like that priced at around £5000 ($7000)??
I fear I've caught a hatred of CVTs from my wife, who is a (proper) Vespa fan Though a three-wheeled layout might expand the legality of such a thing vastly. I must say my own first reaction was a rear-mounted engine, something like a '80s Japanese 250 twin with the barrels and head exposed, but keeping the four wheels.
Ned - I'm just a Brother of the Third Wheel so favour trikes. Your idea sounds like a real drivers car - I'm thinking of twist and go for general commuting and ease of use.
I was thinking more of an old 500cc motorcycle engine up front, the driver sits far enough back to allow for that and fuel tank and such. Just with slightly more robust wheels to handle the power and speeds I would ask it to deal with.
The Jalopy Journal
