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World's cycliest cyclecar : The Grafton

We have shown it earlier on these pages, but we can't get enough of Tim Gunn's faithful interpretation of a sporting cyclecar based on the 1913 book "How to build a cyclecar" and an article from the cyclecar magazine from 1913 telling the story of an employee of the GN works who built a 1/2 size GN using bicycle and motorcycle components. 1919 300cc JAP sidevalve motorcycle engine with racing cams - 3 speed Sturmey Archer motorcycle lightweight gearbox and ash wooden chassis frame.
The result is the bare essence of the cyclecar: not too much more weight than a light motorcycle with two extra wheels. Lightyears below the French standard which allowed for a maximum of 350 kilograms.

photos courtesy The Old Bicycle Showroom

Today on PostWarClassic: Now you can get back the rallycar you once owned.

Comments

#5 2013-03-11 11:59

Thanks to Prewarcar.com for the article. Thanks also for the comments. The book "How to build a cyclecar" is currently at the printers, but will soon be available here: http://www.theoldbicycleshowroom.co.uk/how-to-build-a-cyclecar-1951-p.asp

#4 2013-03-06 20:46

Is "How to build a cyclecar?" available as pdf or a hardcopy for sale?

#3 R.Mawer 2013-03-06 16:25

Notice the steering kingpins & stub axles on this brilliant "graft-on".They are bicycle "bottom bracket" assemblies with suitably-bent pedal cranks (held by cotter pins,of course!)Not sure if he has used the bike frame tubes,welded together in the centre,as the axle beam-its possible,with,h opefully,extern al close-fitting sleeve tubing,as reinforcement.As to brakes,I can spot what might be a small(very!)ext ernal-contracting band brake on the nearside-maybe thats all!Amazing resourcefulness !Note-"graft on" means to join together two (or more) pieces from different sources!

#2 R.Mawer 2013-03-06 12:06

It takes a highly skilled artisan,with artistic gifts besides,to create something as good as this-totally in period,&,most importantly,onl y loose parts used.No hacking or chopping of an existing old vehicle.I imagine steering (with no,or at best,variable, castor action,+ incredibly high gearing)& stopping (brakes in name only?)are a bit troublesome,how ever? Must have taken a bit of effort to get it road registered & MOT tested.A terrific achievement-real creativity,with out spoiling anything!

#1 2013-03-06 04:13

And you can still build your own today.
A group of enthusiasts in the US are building and having fun in what they call CycleKarts.
The only restriction, ...... you have to build them yourselves.
They have some advice for how to get the most fun out of them, but it's all up to you ! see :
http://www.cyclekarts.com/

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