Let's Talk Cyclecars

This is by far the most entertaining thread on the forum. Always something interesting to look at and imagine building it yourself. Thanks to the regular posters. I have no idea where you get all these cool pictures from.

 

Doing valve work on one of those is like going to a proctologist for dental work.

 

...it would be painfull just to watch!
Zoran

 

Does anyone know what this is?

 

Hello Talgil,​

Quite interesting vehicle! Maybe combination of a few of them?

Chassis looks made in a style of early quadricycles/voiturettes, with bicycle-tube construction. Front suspension/steering - sliding pillars, rear suspension quite classic (just for the body). Rear axle with differential possibly of some more serious automobile? Rear wheels of some vintage motorcycle? Probably that engine was in that wooden box that could be lower part of the body? Seats and steering wheel or column are missing...

Maybe, just my imagination, but could be modified unknown original or totally DIY project! Anyway, I would like to Havel one in may garage!

Ciao, Zoran​

P.S.: Just found more photos and short text on PreWarCar advertisements:
"Kleines Fahrgestell. Radstand 109cm, Spur vorn 73cm.Spur hinten78cm."
Meaning: “small chassis, wheel-base 109 cm, track at front 73 cm, track at rear 78 cm”
Price is 1200 Euros.

 

It looks like it might have been electric: motor lengthwise ahead of the rear axle, and batteries in the box at the front?

 

Thanks Zoran and Ned. All these were exactly my thoughts as well! I hoped someone on this thread would identify it, which would made it easier for me to take the decision to travel over 1200km to have it standing in my garage.
Second, what would I do with it? Instal an early pre 1905 single cylinder under the seat, a period gearbox and a tiller steering? This would not make it eligible for the London-Brighton! Or instal an electric motor directly on the rear drive? Would be nice and I could drive it all the 11 km of deserted country roads to my work on sunny days, - if I would ever get allowed to do so, as there are no papers with it !
But it is nice, and I cannot stop thinking about it !!!

 

Hello Ned, ​

You must be right: that could be some kind of electric-powered "carette"! Alas, we shall never know who build it, for what use and how it looked originally? Therefore - not any chance to re-created it to its original shape...

Talquil, ​

I like it too - but as above: no chance for London - Brighton rally or any other serious veteran show? It could be good if transferred into replica of antic vehicle if somebody have knowledge and money for that. Would it be worth of it - who knows. In my country Serbia, as in many other European countries, it could be reconstruct, attested and registered as "light quadricycle" and use at roads, under regulations from EU directives. Some Diesel engine or electric-motor of up to 4 Kilo-Watts should be enough and in limits of regulations and standards (moped engine of 50 cc shouldn't be quite in style?).
Now – next question: what is this on attached photos? I saw it on Swiss Ricardo (the same as E-Bay) without many explanation. It has four-wheel brakes, not-so-bad steering, with passenger seat at front and “driver” standing at rear. No motor/engine or pedals! If I saw it before I bought two MTB for my pedal-powered quadricycle, I should buy it. It was much cheaper then my bicycles – around 300 $$$...

Ciao, Zoran
​

 

The lack of cooling vents in that compartment does lean towards an electric. As does the height of the pinon of that worm drive. Given the low yield of batteries 110± years ago, the front box is too small to hold the necessary batteries. It is likely a toolbox, if it is even original to the car. I suspect it is not. It appears it would interfere with the chain steering system.
If this is a battery electric, the batteries probably surrounded the motor.
The other clue is the suspension. There isn't much travel in the front suspension and the rear springs only suspend the body. The axle is fixed. Its builder expected relatively smooth roads, only available in cities back then.

 

Hello SR100, ​

With each comment, we are closer to solution of this small catch - but, I am not sure if we could ever find exact answer? Probably that this "auto" was some kind of electric-kart, used at industrial plants to pull trailers or some machines? There isn't place enough on this chassis for any serious freight. However, it is strange that driver's seat had such serious suspension (comfortable?) for industrial vehicle?

Ciao,
Zoran
​

 

I'm pretty sure it is not industrial. The box and the springs are both pinstriped. Unless it was a show display model, who would go to that effort for a industrial tug? After doing some digging, it appears that the front suspension was based on a circa 1898 Decauville, but with the spring moved under the crossmember to facilitate the chain steering. This reinforces my hunch that it is either French or Italian. Looking at the Decauville below, it doesn't appear to have any rear suspension!
It's a real shame that there is no database where we could plug in a few parameters; say French-built, tiller steering, underseat engine, dos-a-dos seating etc, and see a list of likely suspects. I've long thought that the Beaulieu encyclopedia would be a good start for such a project.

 

... just as illustration of Decauville's suspension-less rear end, a few photos are attached. Some of the French voiturettes had such rear ends, using de-Dion-Bouton engine and transaxel from thier three-wheelers.

Ciao, Zoran​

 

Some pics from a recent trip to Southwards , New Zealand

American underslung Woods

 

Phenomobile

 

smith flyer

 

The usual bubbles & a Bantam

 

Morgans

 

1914 Dudly Bug at the Petersen.

 

1922 Peugeot Torpedo Type 161.

 

You could also buy a smith motorwheel kit , not much different than the drive unit on the Flyer.
You mounted it on you bike

 

Did you happen to see if the bantam was RHD or LHD?

 

With the reflection on the windshield it's sort of hard to tell, but the windshield wiper on the right side is a bit of a give away.

 

RHD

 

Wow, you don't see many photos of those.

 

Hello Kume,​

Nice photos of excellent collection! Anyone of them should make me happy to have.
I will sugets that everybody use option of tumbnails when attach phtos - it would be easier to open this page and photos should be easier to watch.

Ciao, Zoran​

 

my apologies for the large pics. I appreciate that they are a little clumsy for some. I will in future reduce the size or post them as thumbnails as you suggest

 

... not any big problem, but it is simpler to use THUMBNAILS option and keep original size: nice to watch them later, or to save them to comouter.
Again, thank you Kume for wonderful photos!
Ciao, Zoran

 

Frazer-Nash
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171537954...TRK:MEBIDX:IT&clk_rvr_id=730501322705&afsrc=1

 

Finally a Fraser Nash that I could possibly afford!