Velocars and other interesting vehicles.

[moto-klasika]

... a copy of Stevenson's sketch from plans for building kids automobiles... They abounded bicycle's pedals with sprocket and chain system, and accepted levers as simpler and more efficient, as they said.

Ciao, Zoran

 

[Ludwig II]

The old kingdoms and duchies of Europe have loaned their names to many bikes. Batavus and Flandria from the Low Countries for two. Was there a Franconia? Whatever, the place names and the history are hugely absorbing.

Was Thuringia an Electoral state, for example?

 

[moto-klasika]

... and, one velocar for two (tandem seats) and simple pedalling!
... and, one tandem with bicycle's pedals!
Ciao, Zoran

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

I like the blue one, the yellow one looks a bit silly.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

A cyclecar symptom?


Behind the wheel, Paris, 1920s
Photographer: Jacques-Henri Lartigue

Likely an Amilcar, I'll confess I jus' liked the pic

I like that picture too
The inescapable conclusion we must make is that cyclecars cause outbreaks of happiness.

 

[moto-klasika]

I think you might be right about it being a Spyker. I'd nearly forgotten about them. Those bear the closest resemblance I think. I may also see how long ago Lorraine Dietrich had been building cars. I wonder too about Unic, and I'm curious to see what the old Peugots looked like. I'm having fun puzzling it out.

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Hello to all interested
(in this a little OFF-TOPIC issue)
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For sure that Spyker is the most known by its barrel-type bonnet (or hood?), but was not the only one in belle-epoque. That shape wasn't rare, but wasn't so popular as Renault type (sometime called "alligator") that was copied a lot, especially for smaller cars, or simple boxy "dog-house" as Panhard, Mercedes and many other had...

Some of the American cars use it, too: National and Franklin (air-cooled engines!), but the same magnificient were French Delaunay-Belleville and Georges Roy. Mostly they were used on big limusines and thier sporting variants (simbolising power of steam-boilers), but sometimes on really small cars.

This time, some big representatives of type.
(not one of them had the exactlly same radiator grill as that on old photo - nothing strange, many companies were closed after year-two of production and now are forgotten)

Ciao, Zoran
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[moto-klasika]

... and, a few more really biiiig!
American National, French Niclausse, Amerian Rainier (not quite circular grill) - and Spyker in a few variants!
Ciao, Zoran

 

[moto-klasika]

... American Rainier was lost somewhere in cyber space. So, here it is!

Than, a few photos of small (really small and cute) French Delaugere Clayette...

That was all folks! Maybe, too much for trade about velocars?

Zoran
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[BarelyAWake]

1911 Super



Interesting to note - while this sporty little cyclecar had an impressive 998cc engine, in actuality it was only producing about 9.3hp for max speed of 45mph/70kph... not so very different then some motorized racing bicycles, displacement notwithstanding lol

 

[silverbear]

Zoran,
Not too many for me. Like the rounded grills very much and fell in love with the little Delaugere Clayette.
SB

 

[silverbear]

That Super is a handsome machine. 45mph in that would probably feel like going 70mph.
SB

 

[moto-klasika]

Hello SilverBear,

Than, just one more for you: not-so-clear photo taken from film "Those Magnificient men in their Flying Machines". For me, that was the main film in my life and I watched it dozens times, from school days trough many years and even now on cable-TV, or computer...

That magnificient yellow runabout fired my love for such barrel-shaped, or boiller-shaped bonnet/hoods... Me too like the most Delaugere Clayette, cute small auto, but some big two-seaters are nice too!

Ciao, Zoran

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[Ludwig II]

It's rather sobering, seeing those old films, most of the stars are dead now. On the plus side, we're alive, and that's fine by me.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

A homebuilt velocar/cyclecar from 1920.
I think I did post some pictures of this car quite some time ago, but these are larger and clearer images.

 

[Intrepid Wheelwoman]

Another velocar that I posted earlier in this thread, but a new and better picture has come to light.

 

[moto-klasika]

..and one more! Tandem seating, bur driver onlly pedaling...

Ciao, Zoran
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P.S.: IWW, your velocars are cute! I am wondering if the first one (gray), had pedals at all? Yellow is almost automobil on pedaling (burning fat not gas). It use ordinary bicycle's wheels?

 

[moto-klasika]

... attachment is lost somewhere! I will try again!
The first one (plywood body/chassis) is maby just a model. Another is with engine only!
Zoran

 

[silverbear]

IWW,
Both examples are about as bare bones as it gets, yet each one has its own appeal. They are made with simple ingredients and minimal skill and each one provides transportation which is what they are all about. And I bet they are fun to get around with. Sometimes when I find myself imagining making one of my own I tend to get grand about it, making the likelihood of ever following through more remote with each mental upgrade.

So which is better, something grand which is imaginary or something plain and simple which you can ride? There's a lot to be said for keeping things simple.
SB

 

[wheelbender6]

I'm a big fan of the tandem (front/back) seating. it feels more like a vintage aircraft fuselage.
If I were to try to reproduce one of these cycle cars, I think I would use aluminum angle iron for the load bearing part of the frame and 3/4" pvc to support the body panels.
With my wood working skills, I would be better off making body panels with coroplast.

 

[moto-klasika]

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Hello WB6,
Just the same is with me!
I like to work with wood and would like all-wood monocoque body, but that ask for good wood, good glue and good talent with a lot of precission and patience!

Tandems are cute and practical, only could be too long if there is separate seating (with two setts of pedals, especionally) - but could be shorter if seats are joined, something as on more comfortable motorycle. If passenger keep his legs on side of driver's seat, than body could be shorter but should be wider... Compromise?

Koroplast as is known here, could be good, simple and practical solution!

Ciao, Zoran
P.S.: Attahced are photos of magnificient Paul Elkin's Velocar: couldn't be simpler or more practical, beutifull too?

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