Engineering:Economic (cyclecar)
| Economic | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Economic Motors |
| Production | 1919-1922 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | cyclecar |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 165 cc flat twin, two-stroke cylinder |
| Transmission | friction drive |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | none |
The Economic was a British three-wheeled cyclecar made from 1919 to 1922 by Economic Motors of Wells Street, London, W1. It was, at £60, almost certainly the cheapest car on the British market at the time.[1]
The car had a single front wheel and no suspension, relying on the tyres and the flexibility of its ash frame to absorb road bumps. The two-seater body was very simple with no windscreen or weather protection. The bodywork was minimal.
The 165 cc, air-cooled, flat twin two-stroke engine drove the right-hand rear wheel by chain, and a variable-speed friction drive transmission was used, giving two forwards speeds and reverse. A top speed of 30 mph was claimed.[2]
A motorcycle using the same engine, also with friction drive, was also offered for £28 10 shillings.
See also
- List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
References
- ↑ Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.
- ↑ Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
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