Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Cyclecar shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Cyclecar offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Cyclecar at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Cyclecar? Wrong! If the Cyclecar is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Cyclecar then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Cyclecar? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Cyclecar and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Cyclecar wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Cyclecar then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Cyclecar site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Cyclecar, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Cyclecar, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
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 (mechanical) 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 classed for reduced rates if it weighed less than 350 kg.
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
- Maximum engine capacity 1100 cc
- Minimum tyre section 60 mm.
- (ii) Small class
- Minimum weight 150 kg
- Maximum weight 300 kg
- Maximum engine capacity 750 cc
- Minimum tyre section 55 mm.
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 (automobile) 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 1920's the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as
Ford Motor Company, 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 Type C,
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
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czechoslovakia
France
Germany
- Arimofa
- Koco
- Pluto (automobile)
- Spinell
- Staiger
Italy
Spain
- Alvarez (automobile)
- David (car)
- Izaro
- JBR
- Salvador (automobile)
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States
See also
Books
- 'From Cyclecar to Microcar - The Story of the Cyclecar Movement'. Author - Michael Worthington-Williams. Publisher Beaulieu Books 1981.
- 'Minimal Motoring - From Cyclecar to Microcar'. Author - David Thirlby. Publisher Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-7524-2367-3, 2002.
External links
- North American Cyclecars
- Cyclecar rivals to the Morgan 3 wheeler
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 (mechanical) 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 classed for reduced rates if it weighed less than 350 kg.
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
- Maximum engine capacity 1100 cc
- Minimum tyre section 60 mm.
- (ii) Small class
- Minimum weight 150 kg
- Maximum weight 300 kg
- Maximum engine capacity 750 cc
- Minimum tyre section 55 mm.
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 (automobile) 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 1920's the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as Ford Motor Company, 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 Type C, 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
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czechoslovakia
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States
See also
Books
- 'From Cyclecar to Microcar - The Story of the Cyclecar Movement'. Author - Michael Worthington-Williams. Publisher Beaulieu Books 1981.
- 'Minimal Motoring - From Cyclecar to Microcar'. Author - David Thirlby. Publisher Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-7524-2367-3, 2002.
External links
- North American Cyclecars
- Cyclecar rivals to the Morgan 3 wheeler
Cyclecar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyclecars were small, generally inexpensive cars manufactured mainly between 1910 and the late 1920s.
SZ cycle-car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SZ cycle-car is a series of SeAZ microcars, including SZA and SZD, manufactured in Serpukhov, Russia (SZ means Serpukhovskiy Zavod, Serpukov Factory, Russian ...
www.triple-s.co.uk
Cycle Car Racks - Car Racks & Bike Boxes from CycleExpress.co.uk
Cycle Car Racks - The easy way to transport you bike(s) is with a car rack. Available to carry from 1 to 4 bikes. Racks are fitted in a number of ways, to the back or top of your ...
Lincoln Motorcycle and Car Club
Welcome to the Lincoln Motor Cycle and Car Club Please use the pictures below to select either cars or bikes
Liberty Motors ACE Cycle Car
ACE Cycle Car. Home Site Menu... Home; About Us; History; Specifications; Driving the ACE; Audience Reaction; Production; Photo Gallery; Photo Gallery 2; Newsletter; Comments
photo gallery 1
ACE Cycle Car
Morgan, the World's Leading 3-Wheeler
This web-site is about the Morgan three-wheeler runabout, a car (or better cyclecar) built from 1909 till 1952 by H.F.S. Morgan and about the French built Darmont Morgan.
Morgan Motor Company > About Morgan 1910
During this period the Morgan name was heard for the very first time in racing circles when a Mr Henry Martin easily won an International Cyclecar Race at Brooklands.
Ben Nevis Webcam, Scotland
... with this view of Ben Nevis click on the advert at the top of the page or here. Woodside B & B is less than 10 minutes from the Nevis Range Ski/Snowboard/Downhill Cycle car park ...
