Velocars and other interesting vehicles.

GoldenMotor.com

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
4,954
113
British Columbia Canada
I'm sure as well that as soon as the egg is on the road there will be a stream of orders. What a great way to get around at a reasonable cost and the mileage will be really hard to beat.
You have done it again Rick. Absolutely out standing.

Steve.
 

Ludwig II

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2012
5,071
783
113
UK
Monet Goyon early days
http://www.monet-goyon.net/Voiturette.html

I'm still looking for the silver monocar, but haven't found anything beyond 1930s French. To keep you happy, though, here is the AV Monocar of 1920


This was photographed at Montlhery, but that's all I have on it
 
Last edited:

atombikes

New Member
Feb 14, 2010
525
2
0
Northern VA
This was photographed at Montlhery, but that's all I have on it
This is the "Grafton Cyclecar" which is a recreation of what bicycle shop owner Timm Gunn believes a proper cyclecar should have been, using mostly bicycle parts. Very cool, but not streetable as a motorized cycle (at least in the US due to the 4 wheels and larger displacement).

Note in the first link below there are plans for purchase from Timm Gunn.



http://www.prewarcar.com/magazine/previous-features/worlds-cycliest-cyclecar-the-grafton-019576.html

https://www.google.com/#q=grafton+cyclecar&spell=1
 

atombikes

New Member
Feb 14, 2010
525
2
0
Northern VA
http://www.instructables.com/id/Velomobile-Three-Seat-Electric-Car/

This is a really cool velocar built in the Mochet style, but with some updates in construction.
I have been in email contact with the creator of this velo, he suggests he will one day develop plans for this velomobile, but at the time of my email, he only had pictures with generalized dimensions.

He also said the the body work was easy; the front geometry much harder. In fact, he said do not try to copy the front suspension as it introduces bump steer. He currently has his set up with 2" tires and no suspension.

Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vy519dajgupoiva/qoHAyC_bnf/Dimensions
 
Last edited:

Ludwig II

Well-Known Member
Jul 17, 2012
5,071
783
113
UK
Bugger! You beat me to it with more information as well. From The Vintagent:

"More fantasies! This cyclecar was built by Tim Gunn of the Old Bicycle Showroom in London, using mostly bicycle components, with a J.A.P. sidevalve engine. The steering arms are made from bike pedal crank arms, the axles are bike cranks, the steering hubs are bicycle headstocks, etc. All very simple, clever, and it works! A good look at cyclecars makes me wonder why more people don't build them just for fun...dangerous fun its true, but hey, we're bikers!"
 

wheelbender6

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2008
4,059
221
63
TX
The Mochet style build is beyond my skill level (the wife won't let me use a welder). However, I do plan on using some of the bracketry ideas from the article.
 

Intrepid Wheelwoman

New Member
Oct 29, 2011
2,830
62
0
Hauraki District, New Zealand
I have been in email contact with the creator of this velo, he suggests he will one day develop plans for this velomobile, but at the time of my email, he only had pictures with generalized dimensions.

He also said the the body work was easy; the front geometry much harder. In fact, he said do not try to copy the front suspension as it introduces bump steer. He currently has his set up with 2" tires and no suspension.

Dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vy519dajgupoiva/qoHAyC_bnf/Dimensions
He's right to advise not to copy the suspension because it's just plain terrible, Same goes for the guy who did the Instructable based on John Foster's velocar design. In fact his attempt was just plain worse! He even drew it up in CAD and one glance at the CAD image was enough to tell me that he didn't have a clue how to layout a suspension design. Talk about unsafe at any speed!

When my Dad and my brothers were building up a car they'd usually draw it out in chalk on the garage floor. It might sound primitive, but at least they knew what they were doing! At least three cars that I can remember that were bought cheap with torn up front suspensions were successfully rebuilt at home, so I got several lessons on how steering and suspension works when I was growing up. Some years ago I rebuilt the suspension and steering on my 1954 Morris Minor and that little car steered and handled just so sweetly once the job was done.
Morrie suspension and steering pivots on 'trunnions'. Good word that, - 'trunnions'. Makes guys in classic car breakers' yards sit up and take notice :D

When it comes to velocar replicas and front suspensions the diagrams in those French book scans I posted in another thread can't be beat. And Wheelbender, - there's no welding to speak of so you can build away to your heart's content without alarming your good lady.
 

Attachments

RicksRides

Member
Feb 22, 2012
864
6
18
osceola IN
Just about finished. The customer will be here to pic it up this afternoon. just have to paint the metal top.

P.S. For some size references, Steve in pic 4 is 6'4" and 300lbs. Plenty of room. Its not the smallest car around, but its likely the most comfortable scooter around.
 

Attachments

Last edited: