Cyclecar

Cyclecars were small, generally inexpensive cars manufactured mainly between 1910 and the late 1920s.

General description[]

Cyclecars were propelled by single cylinder, V-twin or more rarely four cylinder engines, often air cooled. Sometimes these had been originally used in motorcycles and other components from this source such as gearboxes were also employed. Cyclecars were half way between motorcycles and cars and were fitted with lightweight bodies, sometimes in a tandem two-seater configuration and could be primitive with minimal comfort and weather protection. They used various layouts and means of transmitting the engine power to the wheels, such as belt drive or chain drive often to one rear wheel only to avoid having to provide a differential.

The rise of cyclecars was a direct result of reduced taxation both for registration and annual licences of lightweight small engined cars. In France, for example, a car was classed for reduced rates if it weighed less than 350 kg (772 lb).

On 14 December 1912, at a meeting of the Federation Internationale des Clubs Moto Cycliste, it was formally decided that there should be an international classification of cyclecars to be accepted by the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Austria and Germany. It was also decided to establish two classes of cyclecars, as follows;

(i) Large class
- Maximum weight 350 kg (772 lb)
- Maximum engine capacity 1100 cc
- Minimum tyre section 60 mm (2.4 in).
(ii) Small class
- Minimum weight 150 kg (331 lb)
- Maximum weight 300 kg (661 lb)
- Maximum engine capacity 750 cc
- Minimum tyre section 55 mm (2.2 in).

All cyclecars were to have clutches and change-speed gears. This requirement could be fulfilled by even the simplest devices such as provision for slipping the belt on the pulley to act as a clutch, and varying of the pulley diameter to change the gear ratio.

The cyclecars appear[]

From 1898 to 1910, automobile production quickly expanded. Light cars of that era were commonly known as voiturettes. The smaller cyclecars appeared around 1910 with a boom shortly before the outbreak of World War I.

The first successful cyclecars were Bédélia of France and G.N. from Britain.

Sporting cars and cyclecar races[]

Some cyclecars such as Amilcar, Major or Salmson of France had good enough performance and handling to be regarded as sports cars.

Races dedicated for cyclecars were also run with the first event of this kind organised by the Automobile Club de France in 1913 and a Cyclecar GP at Le Mans in 1920.

The decline of cyclecars[]

By the early 1920s, the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as Ford, were able to reduce their prices to undercut those of the usually small cyclecar makers. Similar affordable cars were offered in Europe such as the Citroën 5CV, Austin 7 or Morris Cowley.

The cyclecar boom was over. The majority of cyclecar manufacturers closed down. Some companies such as Chater-Lea survived by returning to the manufacture of motorcycles.

After World War II, small, economic cars were again in demand and a new set of manufacturers appeared. The cyclecar name did not reappear however and the cars were called microcars by enthusiasts and bubble cars by the general population.

Cyclecars by countries[]

Argentina[]

Viglione

Austria[]

Grofri

Belgium[]

SCH

Canada[]

Baby Car
Dart Cycle Car Co
Glen Motor Company
Gramm
Holden-Morgan
Welker-Doerr

Czechoslovakia[]

Novo
Vaja

France[]

Able
Ajams
Alcyon
Amilcar
Ardex
Arzac
Astatic
Austral (cyclecar)
Bédélia
Benova
Bignan
Buc
Causan
Coadou et Fleury
Contal
De Sanzy
D'Yrsan
Grouesy
Huffit
Ipsi
Jack Sport
Janoir
JG Sport
Jouvie

Laetitia
La Confortable
Le Cabri
Le Favori
Le Roitelet
Major
Marr
Molla
Orial
Quo Vadis
Roll
Salmson
Sénéchal
SIMA-Violet
Sphinx
Spidos
Super
Vaillant
Villard
Violet-Bogey
Violette
Viratelle
Virus
Weler

Germany[]

Arimofa
Cyklon
Grade
Koco
Pluto
Spinell
Staiger
Zaschka

Italy[]

Amilcar Italiana
Anzani
Marino

Poland[]

SKAF

Spain[]

Alvarez
David
Izaro
JBR
Salvador

Sweden[]

Mascot
Self

Switzerland[]

Speidel

United Kingdom[]

Adamson
Aerocar
Allwyn
Alvechurch
Amazon
Archer
Armstrong
Athmac
Atomette
Autotrix
AV
Baby Blake
Baker & Dale
Bantam
Barnard
Baughan
Bell
Black Prince
Blériot-Whippet
Bound
Bow-V-Car
BPD
Bradwell
Britannia
Broadway
Buckingham
Cambro
Campion
C & H
Carden
Carlette
Carter
Castle Three
CFB
CFL
Chater-Lea
Chota
Coventry Premier
Coventry-Victor
Crescent
Cripps
Crompton
CWS
Dallison
Dennis
Dewcar
Douglas
D.Ultra
Duo
Dursley-Pedersen
Economic
Edmond
Edmund
Edwards
EYME
GB
Gerald

Gibbons
Gillyard
Glover
GN
Gnome
Grahame-White
Guildford
GWK
Hampton
HCE
Heybourn
Hill & Stanier
HMC
Howard
Howett
HP
Imperial
Invicta
Jappic
JBS
Jewel
Jones
Kendall
LAD
La Rapide
Lambert
LEC
Lecoy
Lester Solus
Lington
LM
Matchless
Marcus
Menley
Morgan
Norma
Perry
Princess
Richardson
Simplic
Skeoch
Sterling
Tamplin
Tiny
Truner
VAL
Vee Gee
Victor
Warne
Westall
Wherwell
Wilbrook
Willis
Winson
Winter
Woodrow
Xtra

United States[]

American
Argo (automobile)
Asheville
Burrows 1914 cyclecar Ripley NY
Car-Nation
Coey
Comet
Cycle-Car
Cyclops (cyclecar)
Dayton
Delco
Dodo
Dudly Bug
EIM
Falcon
Fenton
Geneva
Greyhound
Hanover
Hawk
Hawkins
Hoosier Scout
IMP
JPL
Kearns LuLu

Keller
La Vigne
Limit
Malcolm Jones
Merz
Michaelson
Mecca
Mercury
Motor Bob
O-We-Go
Pioneer
Post
Prigg
Pacific
Real
Saginaw (cyclecar)
Scripps-Booth
Smith Flyer
Trumbull
Twombly
Vixen
Winthur
Wizzard
Woods Mobilette
Xenia

Books[]

Worthington-Williams, Michael (1981). From cyclecar to microcar the story of the cyclecar movement. [London]: Beaulieu Books. ISBN 0-901564-54-0.
David Thirlby (2002). inimal Motoring: From Cyclecar to Microcar. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2367-3.

External links[]

North American Cyclecars
Cyclecar rivals to the Morgan 3 wheeler
Orphan Babies Volume 1 book on cyclecars
"Car History 4U - Special Features / Cyclecars". Retrieved on 13 January 2011.