Let's Talk Cyclecars

A few of the images captured by Gerard G. at the 2018 French Festival of Slowth.

 

Back to Artcurial:
All of the cyclecars (& most of their bigger sisters, the light cars) in the Retromobile auction came from the same museum. Most sold for well above their reserves, which were often fairly low. For example, the Auto Red Bug which sold for € 22,648 was estimated at € 4,000 - 8,000, but I thought a fairer estimate would have been € 12,000 - 14,000.
Of the few that fell below estimate, all but one were one-offs & prototypes. The exception was a lovely (and rare) Amilcar Type M fabric-bodied saloon. Sadly, at the price it sold for, it will likely end up as just another CGSs roadster replica.
301. c. 1925 Auto Red Bug No reserve Sold 22,648 €
302. 1947 Dolo Type JB 10 No reserve Sold 27,416 €
304. c.1928 Rally "Roy" (Georges Roy special) No reserve Sold 101,320 €
307. 1929 Amilcar CGSS No reserve Sold 83,440 €
311. c.1924 Amilcar Type CC No reserve Sold 19,668 €
312. 1929 BNC 527 Monza Saint Hubert No reserve Sold 71,520 €
313. c.1921 Ruby Cyclecar No reserve Sold 14,304 €
316. 1934 Tracfort type B1 Sport "Mouette" No reserve Sold 3,576 €
318. 1925 Salmson Type VAL3 No reserve Sold 16,688 €
320. 1922 Citroën B2 "Caddy" No reserve Sold 50,064 €
321. 1931 Villard Type 31A No reserve Sold 17,880 €
325. 1932 Amilcar Type M3 Cabriolet No reserve Sold 15,496 €
326. c.1925 SIMA-Violet Type VM No reserve Sold 26,224 €
327. c.1922 Mathis Type P No reserve Sold 7,152 €
328. 1931 Salomon Prototype No reserve Sold 5,960 €
330. c.1932 Donnet Type Donnette No reserve Sold 5,960 €
332. 1937 Georges Irat Type MDU 6CV No reserve Sold 15,496 €
333. 1939 Georges Irat Type OLC3 11CV No reserve Sold 24,436 €
337. c.1925 Monet & Goyon type VM2 Cyclecar No reserve Sold 5,960 €
339. c.1922 EHP Type B3 No reserve Sold 21,456 €
340. c.1927 Taupin 1100 Prototype No reserve Sold 19,072 €
343. 1929 Amilcar Type M No reserve Sold 9,536 €
345. c.1922 Sphinx Type E No reserve Sold 3,576 €

 

Agreed:


The early French attempts to find a language for pontoon coachwork have long fascinated me:


And there is something hugely appealing about the way this one sits:

 

Tell me more about this car. Bob

 

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Lot 322 c.1929 Chenard & Walcker 1500 Type Y7 Coach Extra-Léger --- No reserve --- sold 38.144 Euro

... more details and photos at the page:

https://www.artcurial.com/en/lot-c1...-extra-leger-no-reserve-3279-322#popin-active

Ciao,
Zoran

 

Thank you Zoran, What does that say about me? I find the car interesting, maybe it's the puppy dog eyes, out of alignment headlights.

Bob

 

Bob ... nothing special on that usual small coupé! ​

But, there are a few details that are attractive, besides those warm-looking headlights: fenders/mudguards half-circular over wheels, then boxy cabin and trunk in accordance with nice bonnet/hood, and angled radiator shell... simple but elegant steel-wheels ...

... and as a result: in general, ordinary but practical and cute design!
Zoran​

 

It probably comes from watching "CARS" too many times with the grandkids....

 

Our friend BLUTO had the foundations to build a Rosengart TANK" .

 

Morgan from Francois R. ...

 

...and here I was just dreaming of a random event to attend with a reasonably priced vehicle of strange. The festival of Slowth came to my mind! Also, as did the Mille Miglia, which has incredibly strict entry rules: the vehicle has to have had run in the MM during the original dates. Basically every obscure FIAT based contraption is allowed, but that is no fun. I cant afford a 50's Ferrari, if you can believe that. But, in my searching did you know that a '55 Saab 93B is eligible? 2 strokes and freewheeling!! Another idea would be a '54 MG Magnette (which of course would get a very hot B motor and an OD). Either way, back to the Slowth, I think this would be a blast for a reasonable sum. I may make it a mission to find a suitable vehicle! By suitable, I mean exceptionally vile and possibly underpowered. Something in the 125kg range, 350cc...so underpowered it wont move under the mass of mine fat arse!

 

Some pictures from Festival of Slowth 2018 from Michis flickr account
https://flickr.com/photos/73246214@N00/sets/72157669785328728

 

The fun of the 'Fiat-based contraptions' is that you get to run the Miglia like they did in the 50s, flat out. The million-dollar cars have to run it as a time-speed-distance rally. I've always wanted to run the MM in an ISO Isetta...

 

Here's a possible build for some kind of off the wall racing event. Small displacement and I always wanted to build one. I'm sure others here remember the articles on these "back in the day".

 

Ah, yes, T. Tom Meshingear and Trebor Crunchog did so much with Piero Martini's masterpiece...
Who else could win the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio & Great Wall of China Grand Prix?
For those not familiar with Road & Track magazine, the Cyclops II was the creation of Stan Mott, an illustrator and former GM stylist. From 1957 to the early 1970s, R&T sporadically published articles 'documenting' the fantastic accomplishments of the Cyclops II.
Among other things, Mott drove a Lambretta-engined 175-c.c. Italkart with a ground clearance of two inches, around the world: 23,300 land miles through 28 countries from February 15, 1961, to June 5, 1964, beginning and finishing in New York.:

 

I've loved Stan Mott's surrealistic drawing style since I was a child. My perpetually-postponed '31 project was hugely influenced by the hairy-fendered Bugatti T41 into which the Cyclops turns at full moon in "Cyclops' Night Out." The piece is incredibly rich in imagery and deeply weird. The cop lifting the corner of the lawn and looking underneath in the last frame is classic.

 

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Hello, Dodge!​

Cyclops was unknown to me until some years ago - (blessed be the Internet), when I saw it at photos, in original (?) variant and replica... However, such micro-cars of various styles including Cyclops "turtle" was my boy's and teenager's dream, when I made a few naive sketches of such "auto" for me and possible girlfriend...
Foreign motoring magazines arrived at old Yugoslavia in the late sixties, early seventies... There were only some photos appeared here and there with motives of oldtimers or strange micro-cars (not one with Cyclops)... So, I was left with my imagination and some of my brother Roki mechanical and machine technique knowledge, without too much of my own knowledge and experience about mechanics of motorised vehicles...







It seems to me, from many photos and one plan, that Cyclops is quite small "auto", with extremely low ground clearance because of small wheels and low positioned axles? Seating must be quite uncomfortable even for short rides, even for smaller persons? Probably accompanied by swinging of a body forward-and-rearward like at teeter, because of unusual suspension? Could it be really used in serious rides and mentioned races?


Anyway, Cyclops is cute "auto", maybe had as a replica, built something bigger for me and my wife (two 68 year pensioners) - but, then it wouldn't have charm and cuteness of original?

Ciao,
Zoran

P.S.: If it is cyclops II, was there Cyclops I?
P.P.S: Was this sentence American type of joke:
"... winning LeMans in 1960, The East African Safari in 1964, The Targa Florio in 1965, the Indy 500 in 1968, the Nurburgring in 1969, the Japanese Grand Prix 1971 and the Great Wall of China Grand Prix in 1972 did help sales."???

... and, this, too: "... through nearby Fernandina Beach at speeds approaching XCVI kilometers per hour." (that should be 46 km/hour)???​

 

================================
Hello, Dawie!
I didn't know for Mott's artistic work - but found a few of satyric drawings:











Couldn't find complete "Cyclops' Night Out", but found a few sequences:









All of his art is really great, both in a style and a spirit!

Ciao,
Zoran

P.S.: The size IS important - being small and cute has some advantage?

 

A short movie from michi about the festival of slow 2018 https://michisoldtimer.com/2018/06/08/festival-of-slow-der-film/

 

Interesting. I wish he had left the piano off and let the cars speak for themselves.

 

===================================
...quite right!
Any kind of music is welcomed only if there is not original sound recorded! Piano jolly music is good for original antic silent films with auto-motto races or anything connected with motorisation!
--- ---
But, it is nice to be a witness of little-secret happenings on Festival of Slowth ...
Obviously that both festivals, in UK and France, have the same character and spirit, with something different surroundings, but beautiful countryside, parks, and castles in both cases...

Most of the automobiles are present at both of festivals, drivers, too. They are mostly older persons and males often had beards - and stomach! Tim Gunn is an exception (for stomach and years)...
There are not enough of films and photos from those festivals, but I could conclude that the most important thing is the attitude of persons from the organization and entire bunch of contenders: no vanity, no show-off, no prepotency - just great fun and comradeship, relaxed rides around!

Some cars are really slow - some not so, some are apathetic - some have enough of power - but not one is pathetic! The main is spirit - not just slow speed and low power! And, even more important - to be invited to the festival, especially for the second time!
--- ---
It would be nice if some of our members were present at any of festivals, if not as owner/driver then at least in public gathered around! Direct impressions and information are the best! (not too much people there, maybe just family and friends?)

Ciao,
Zoran​

P.S.: Author of the film has an interesting blog about oldtimers:
https://michisoldtimer.com/category/benjamin-racing-club/

 

The folks at the Slowth Festivals don't take too much seriously.

 

I've got the beard and I'm gradually getting the stomach, but I have neither the funds nor the leisure ... nor consequently the machinery.

 

... all the same at my side! ​

Only my stomach is quite old, something younger than my beard!
Still, I am naively waiting on the Serbian government to return us a lot of percentage stollen from our pensions during a few past years!


Therefore, even modest reproduction of the simplest cyclecar - American-type buckboard - is postponed to future. One was well shown in Rolf's photo posted some days ago - father built for his son probably...
This one shouldn't be good for the Festival of Slowth, or maybe would?

But, I have ready 1/2 of conditions for the Festival of the Slowth: have beard and stomach, being quite relaxed and unserious in my 68th...

Ciao,
Zoran​

 

That is exactly that what I like.

 

How it should be.

 

If all you need is a beard and big stomach I am a ready Freddie.

 

... then: cute cyclecar and invitation! ​

Old cutting-grass machine (steam-powered, the best) to shave lord's grass-field (one of the competition forms) - would be welcomed...
But, for the start, you have all as I have, and many other presented here...
Competition should be strong!

Ciao, Zoran!​

 

If you haven't seen this..

 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What were they driving? Bob