Let's Talk Cyclecars

Geoff Robinson's image of the recreated special 'Friekaiserwagon" at prescott.

 

Cyclecar engine

 

Sold for 26000 euros

http://www.lva-auto.fr/petites-annonces.detail.php?id=173154

 

L’Oeuf électrique

 

Aircooled four cylinder Marmon from Lee Stohr

 

Appropriately named "The Egg"

Roo

 

Stefanie Broch image for V.S.C.C. ..

 

Frazer Nash Ulster

 

Duncan(in tie) with his Hornet.

 

THE Hornet!

 

More McIntyre IMP,Auburn ,Indiana

 

Mini Cadillac for the prince of Siam 1913.The shovel was probaly used to scoop horse crap in the street.

 

Jay Leno's 1931 Shotwell 3 wheeler with Indian 4 cyl engine .

 

more great amilcar postcard images from J-P C. ...

 

Jean Pascal along with his Amilcar

 

from A-T. The supercharger looks like it larger than the motor!

 

Chamberlain running 2 crankshafts and opposing pistons.

 

Funny, I just came across this across this article on twin cranks this morning.
http://newatlas.com/dan-gurney-mome.../39344/?li_source=LI&li_medium=default-widget

 

Also the
Ariel Square Four motorcycle had two crankshafts in England there is a prewar special racing car with two square four engines.

 

This is a long but very interesting thread. There is a large group of "legend Cars" racing. Most resemble miniature prewar cars, some "mini sprints" race and look like sprint cars and the really pretty "Mini Indy" cars that resemble the "roadster" style of front engined Indy cars. How do these cars rate on this thread? They are all motor cycle engine powered, chain drive to a solid axle. Perhaps I missed a section with them in it. Any feed back on this? Bill Rinaldi

 

Ah,great question Bill.Although largely left to ourselves and relatively unmoderated.. I would have to say the rules would have to be the same as the main board. Cyclekarts come to mind too. I think we kinda shy away from them because of the prevalent employment of modern components.

 

====================================

Bill,​

I think that all mentioned special mini-racers could be accepted here as some modern variants of cycle-car racing cars from vintage era. They were simple and relatively cheap, quite light, powerful and fast, as Morgans, GN in all special variants and many else unknown today... From all of them, many still existed today more-or-less modified and are still present on classic car races of all types, mostly in UK...
Therefore, I think that some information (photos and videos, too) would be welcomed here in this Forum? It started as discussion about possibility to build modern cycle-car today (not exact replica of vintage originals): light and simple, motorcycle engines and transmissions, chains – high speeds and great fun...
--- ---
Legend-Cars were my favorite between all you mentioned, and I enjoy watching them on cable-TV in Belgrade, some years ago...

Ciao,
Zoran​

 

1901 Perfecta quadricycle

 

Thanks for the replys---I appreciate it!! Last year I bought a retired 500c.c, mini sprint---complete, minus engine trans. The tail section is a classic midget race car design, unchanged since the the 40's. The nose is a modern style "high hump" style seen on current midget and sprint cars. The frame is a full cage, multi-tube design, obviously professional built. Don't know what I want to do with it, or exactly how to do it if I did. I'm to old to race it, besides the latest style of chassis is more advanced (steering, suspension arms, torsion bars etc.). I guess I'd like to make it into "poser" that LOOKS like a 50's era midget, only with a motor cycle side winder style drive train. Any body seen any thing like that? Banjauex Bob, I think you have a picture of just about EVERY cyclecar ever made. I've only seen mini sprints in from the last 6 or 7 years, do early ones have the lower hood and early style nose. Well, no matter what, I'm really impressed with the very old and established cycle car concept, it sure brings out the what if I........ in you. Bill Rinaldi

 

All these wee cars photographed in competition mode remind me of the Ralph Watson BSA.
Built around 1950 from a BSA V twin car as a fun sports car for both road use and competition, the car proved hugely successful.
This car did thousands of miles on the road, as well as many hill climbs and race meets.
Ralph later developed the car even further, building his own rotary valve cylinder heads.
Ralph later built another sports car for road and race use using a flat four Lycoming aircraft engine - incredible to watch and listen to. Both cars still exist in good hands, and regularly come out for Vintage racing.
There is much information about Ralph and his cars on the 'web' - too much to include here.
look for "Ralph Watson Special Engineer"