About Quiz #222, the amazing (Mochet )Vélocar.
Tricycle fan Luc Rijckaart from Belgium gave us this postcard to show on the website. Basically what you see is a quadricycle with pedal-power, the grandfather of the recumbent bicycle. The teardrop formed airstream coachwork is made from thin aero-plywood making the vehicle dangerously fast! They came complete with three speed gearbox and differential. Some of these were motorised (aftermarket?) with a one cylinder two-stroke; reason why you can find it in Georgano... Officially this is the Vélocar 'camionette' (pick-up !!), check the Microcarmuseum. The biker's oddball is quite well known, resulting in a group of competitors that all were very near or spot on: Paul Linster, Nathan Lenz, Jonathan Baker, Bob Gordon Champ, Ted Wilmarth, Nico Claerhout, Michael Grutzner, Adrian Ward. Now if you know the word Vélocar, google will give you all details, so we decided to make the winner who showed most 'intelligence'. Although some of these cars were motorised (aftermarket) it is very hard/impossible to say if that is the case with the one showing here (and we don't know). Finally we decided Michael Gruetzner from the UK is the true expert in this. See his comments under 'Read More'. Congratulations Michael!
Read more:
Michael Gruetzner: "It's a Mochet Velocar from the 1930-ies. It has NO motor but one steering wheel, two seats, tree gears (later models four) and four wheels. The photo was probably taken later than the 30s as there are not originals tires. There should be slightly wider tires on it. Mochet father (Charles) and son (Georges) builded these Velocars from 1925 till 1945 in several models. This one has a factory fitted giant boot. In 1932 they invented the recumbent bicycle. That got forbidden by the UCI in 1934. In the 50ies the son builded small motor cars. Georges Mochet died on the 1.1.2008 in the age of 93. See as well: www.mochet.org."
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Editor's Choice:
Front Wheel Drive vintage racing is a rare-rare delight: 1928 Alvis TT Replica. Private sale, Australia.
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Solid weekend planning: Model A Pick-Up. Private sale, UK.
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