Let's Talk Cyclecars

There is a most interesting and rare project for sale in France, near to the Luxembourg border. Just an hour away from me. But I have no space, no time and too many other projects to tackle (and a persistent veto from my wife) to tackle it myself. It does however keep me sleepless during the nights, so please somebody go for it. When it is gone I can find my rest!

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/984040782.htm?ca=12_s

I surfed the net and the pictures show what you can do with it.

 

To Motoklas:
What I do at the moment, when I find some spare time? Well, I bought two cheap MG Midgets. I love cyclecars, and I consider the MG Midget as a modern product of their evolution. I plan to use one Midget as my everyday car when I finally have it finished. With the Ashley hardtop, the MG Midget looks a bit like a scaled down Aston DB4 (again my personal opinion).

 

1923 Collet with Anzani engine

 

Morgan factory today Morgan factory 1928

 

Starting line at la Sarthe in 1920...

 

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Hello Talgil,​

Nice projects, but not so easy with a lot of rust on on chassis-less bodies? I remember my pains when have such work on a few bad, old cars (not classic) – job was never-ending, cleaning one part of rust; I found some more and more – sometimes not one good steel to accept welding of new metal pieces or plates... If not done properly with good protection after welding – new paint and nice look didn't last long!
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In Belgrade was more popular Triumph Spitfire, in spite that many people said that MG cars were better designed and engineered! As I remember from my youth, there were a few dozens of Spitfires, (and even more Heralds, that we consider as sport cars, too), but now all of them mostly disappeared from streets! The same happened with MG midgets and a few B types... I remember on nice MG Midget in BRG colour, when I was student. Everyday when I was going to faculty, I passed beside one big building with wide parking and it was there – not quite old and in good condition. Every time it was on different place, so I concluded that it was regularly used. Finally, one day I saw nice old couple driving it (maybe not older than I am now) – and hope that once I would have one, even in pensioner's days … Not this time, I am afraid!
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Some years ago, I saw one cute white MG Midget and took a few photos (attached)!
All the best during reconstruction process! I suppose that “mini-Aston-martin” should be used daily because of hard-top and better condition?

Zoran
P.S.: There just now one for sale for 15000 Euros! Maybe the same one as I saw?​

 

Where the hell is my time machine?

 

Those 1928 Morgan 3 wheelers were a lot more affordable than the ones they build today!

 

Auto art by Henk Bult

 

AMEN!

 

Here in Bern I often see two Morgans driving around, especially during nice weather weekends. One is old original and one modern Morgan: I must said that old one I would prefer, because of its style and historic values (great sound too), in spite that modern is more practical and probably faster. Obviously that both older gentlemen enjoy in what they have and drive! I couldn't be sure if today new one (quite expensive) is cheaper than well reconstructed old one?
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Dodge, I am glad that there is nice progress on your magnificent project of “Rapid Rabbit”! Pity that most of old photos gone somewhere?
It looks to me that chassis rails are now closed at front – to single point, with just one quarter-elliptic leaf spring?

Zoran​

 

Rosemarjin and her Amilcar.

 

Amilcar C-6 by Kevin Vrolijk. ...

 

darmont from Gregorie Colliard

 

Morgan Super Sports by Stan Irenel-mihai

 

Here is a close up of the engine in the Amilcar C-6 (post #8595) by Rosemarijn. ...

 

Modern Morgan Three Wheeler and Georges Irat @ Bergerac Rally.900 all makes and years of cars in attendance. Images by Marc. ...

 

Zoran, Progress on the "Rapid Rabbit" has been slow, but it is coming along. I lost a lot of the early photos when the HAMB upgraded to the newer format and don't have any new photos right now as the open floor space in that picture is currently filled up with 2 motorcycles, a wire feed welder and a bunch of other stuff. It seems like if there is open floor space in the garage it fills up with more piles of parts and such. The chassis does indeed come together at the front as it is in the form of a triangle and the front suspension is a single quarter elliptic spring to the center of the front axle.

The next project is planned to be the build of a Morgan trike style car powered with a 500 cc single cylinder motorcycle engine. First I need to finish the Rabbit.

 

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Dodge,​

No use of having bigger garage/workshop - there would always appear new objects to fill all free space! The same is with space at attic or cellar...
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That system with central single-leaf-spring and triangle chassis - I saw somewhere before, probably some hot-rod or similar auto... It could be useful for some replica of cycle-car, too? As I could see, axle could go translatory up and down, but also change position to chassis: one wheel up and another down, and combination of both movement? Would such front axle be “too nervous”? Should you limited/control such movements: maybe by a pair of shock absorbers?
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Some time ago, I posted photos of Morgan three-wheeler with single-cylinder engine at front: very well visible... Looks quite right and nice. (I just found a pair of photos!)

Today I was following for 10 minutes new Morgan three-wheeler: magnificent vehicle indeed! I enjoy in watching it and old guy enjoy in driving and attention of public! As it is too expensive, you have to build one by yourself?

Happy building and later driving!

Zoran
​

 

For all of Americans from this Forum,

HAPPY 4th OF JULY – THE DAY OF INDEPENDENCE​

Regards,
Zoran​

 

Just few of Kate Clark-Kennedy's images from her coverage of LANTILLY 2016,French Festival of Slowth.

 

Zoran,
I know what you mean about filling the space. Whatever space exists, there will always be just a little more stuff than space.
The main purpose of the triangle chassis and single spring suspension is weight reduction. Part of the game in drag racing is pounds per horsepower and I learned bach in the early '60s that if you couldn't afford more horsepower, remove more weight.
Like the Morgan single. This is the picture that got my interest and then your pictures hooked me.

 

Zoran,
I know what you mean about the space filling up, there's always more parts than room to store them.
This is the picture that got me interested in building a "Morgan" single and then when I saw your pictures I was hooked.

 

I think I posted these here before. Supercharged twin !!!

 

Aren't you afraid it will handle like a Reliant Robin? With the front axle pivoting in the middle you have no roll resistance at the front.

 

The rear axle is mounted solid to the chassis and the car is being built for drag racing not going around corners. It works nicely on this much quicker car so I don't foresee any problems.