Cars - Cyclecar

	Cars - Cyclecar

Cyclecars were small, generally inexpensive cars manufactured mainly between 1910 and 1923.

General description

Cyclecars were propelled by single cylinder, V-twin or four cylinder engines, or sometimes motorcycle engines. Several motorcycle-derived components were used. Cyclecars were half way between motorcycles and cars, some historians say. Bodies were lightweight, sometimes in a tandem two-seater configuration. They used various layouts and means of transmitting the engine power to the wheels, such as belt drive or chain drive. Some cyclecars were primitive and offered minimal comfort.

The rise of cyclecars was a direct result of taxation for the registration on cars, because taxation was based on displacement of the engine and weight of the car.

The cyclecars appear

From 1898 to 1910, automobile production quickly expanded. Light cars of that era were commonly known as voiturettes. Cyclecars appeared around 1910. The cyclecar boom began 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

There were sporting cyclecars such as Amilcar, Major or Salmson of France. There were also races dedicated for cyclecars with the first event of this kind organised by the Automobile Club de France in 1913. Memories preserve the Cyclecar GP at Le Mans in 1920. Until the late 1920's, there were races for cyclecars and voiturettes.

The decline of cyclecars

By the early 1920's the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as Ford, were the extremely successful competitors. The answer of Henry Ford to cyclecars was simple: he introduced a scaled down Model T to bring the price of new Ford cars closer to the price of cyclecars. Similar affordable cars were offered in Europe such as Citroën, Austin 7 or Morris Cowley. The cyclecar boom was over.

The majority of cyclecar manufacturers closed down. Some companies survived, such as Chater-Lea which returned to the manufacture of motorcycles.

After World War II, small, tiny cars were again in demand, but this time they were called microcars by enthusiasts and bubble cars by the general population.

Cyclecars by countries

Austria

Grofri

Belgium

Canada

Dart Cycle Car Co
Glen Motor Company
Gramm

Czechoslovakia

Vaja

France

Ajams
Alcyon
Amilcar
Ardex
Austral (cyclecar)
Bédélia
Benova
Bignan
Buc
Contal
Grouesy
Huffit
Ipsi
Jack Sport
JG Sport
Jouvie
Laetitia

Major
Marr
Molla
Orial
Roll
Salmson
Sénéchal
SIMA-Violet
Sphinx
Spidos
Super
Vaillant
Villard
Violet-Bogey
Violette
Viratelle
Virus
Weler

Germany

Arimofa
Koco
Pluto
Spinell

Italy

Amilcar Italiana
Anzani

Spain

Alvarez
David
Izaro
JBR
Salvador

Sweden

Self

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
British Salmson
Broadway
Brough
Buckingham
Cambro
Campion
C & H
Carden
Carlette
Carter
Castle Three
CFB
CFL
Chater-Lea
Coventry Victor
Crescent
Cripps
Crompton
CWS
Dallison
Dennis
DEW
Douglas
Dursley-Pedersen
Economic
Edmond
Edmund
Edwards
EYME
Frazer Nash

GB
Gerald
Gibbons
Gillyard
Glover
G.N.
Gnome
Graham-White
Guildford
G.W.K.
HCE
Heybourn
Hill & Stanier
HMC
Howard
Howett
HP
Imperial
Invicta
Jappic
JBS
Jewel
Jones
Kendall
LAD
La Rapide
Lambert
LEC
Lecoy
Lington
LM
Matchless
Marcus
Menley
Pinnace
Premier
Simplic
Sterling
Tamplin
Tiny
VAL
Vee Gee
Victor
Warne
Westall
Wherwell
Wilbrook
Willis
Winson
Winter
Woodrow

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