A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive motorized car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the car. It could accommodate only two passengers, often sitting in

tandem Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which two or more animals, machines, or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction. ''Tandem'' can also be used more generally to refer to any group of persons or objects w ...

. The demise of cyclecars was due to larger cars – such as the Citroën Type C, Austin 7 and Morris Cowley – becoming more affordable. Small, inexpensive vehicles reappeared after World War II, and were known as microcars.

Characteristics

Cyclecars were propelled by engines with a single cylinder or V-twin configuration (or occasionally a three or four cylinder engine), which were often air-cooled. Sometimes motorcycle engines were used, in which case the motorcycle gearbox was also used. All cyclecars were required to have clutches and variable 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. Methods such as belt drive or chain drive were used to transmit power to the drive wheel(s), often to one wheel only, so that no differential was required. The bodies were lightweight and sometimes offered minimal weather protection or comfort features. The rise of cyclecars was a direct result of reduced taxation both for registration and annual licences of lightweight small-engined cars. 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, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Austria and Germany. As a result of this meeting, the following classes of cyclecars were defined:

Origins

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 sales boom shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, with Temple Press launching ''The Cyclecar'' magazine on 27 November 1912 (later renamed ''The Light Car and Cyclecar''), and the formation of the Cyclecar Club (which later evolved into British Automobile Racing Club). From 1912, the Motor Cycle show at Olympia became the Motor Cycle and Cycle Car Show. The number of cyclecar manufacturers was less than a dozen in each of the UK and France in 1911, but by 1914, there were over 100 manufacturers in each country, as well as others in Germany, Austria and other European countries. By 1912, the A.C. Sociable was described as "one of the most popular cycle cars on the road, both for pleasure and for business", though another source states that the "Humberette" was the most popular of cycle cars at that time. Many of the numerous makes were relatively short-lived, but several brands achieved greater longevity, including Bédélia (1910–1925), GN (1910–1923) and Morgan (1910–present).

Demise

By the early 1920s, the days of the cyclecar were numbered. Mass producers, such as Ford, 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 5CV, 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 the Second World War, 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.

Motor racing

Several motor racing events for cyclecars were run between 1913 and 1920. The first race dedicated to cyclecars was organised by the Automobile Club de France in 1913, followed by a Cyclecar GP at Le Mans in 1920. The Auto Cycle Union was to have introduced cycle car racing on the Isle of Man in September 1914, but the race was abandoned due to the onset of the war."Current Chat", The Motor Cycle magazine, 3 September 1914, p300

List of cyclecars by country

Argentina

* Viglione

Austria

* Austro, 1913–14 * Grofri

Belgium

* CAP (de: CAP) * SCH

Canada

* Baby Car * Campagna T-Rex * Dart Cycle Car Co * Glen Motor Company * Gramm * Holden-Morgan * Welker-Doerr

Czechoslovakia

* Aero 500 * Novo * Vaja

Denmark

* Dana

France

* Able * Ajams * Ajax * Alcyon * Amilcar * Allain et Niguet
(AN) (de: Allain et Niguet) * Ardex * Arzac * Astatic * Astra * Austral * Auto Practique (de: Auto Pratique) * Automobillette (de: Automobilette) * Autorette (de: Autorette) * Bédélia * Benjamin (de: Benjamin) * Billard (de: Billard) * Blériot Aéronautique (de: Blériot Aéronautique) * Benova * Bollack Netter and Co (B.N.C.) * Bucciali (Buc) * Causan * Coadou et Fleury * Contal * (Coudert), see
Lurquin-Coudert * Croissant (de: Croissant) * De Sanzy * D'Yrsan * D'Aux (de: D’Aux) * De Marçay (de: De Marçay) *

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

* Deschamp (de: Deschamps et Cie) * Désert et de Font-Réault (de: Désert et de Font-Réault) * Dorey (de: Dorey) * Eclair (de: Eclair) * Einaudi (de: Cyclecars Einaudi) * Elfe * Emeraude (de: Emeraude) * G.A.M. (de: G.A.M.) * G.A.R. (de: G.A.R.) * Gauthier (de: Gauthier et Cie) * Griffon (de: Établissements Griffon) * Grouesy * HP (de: H.P.) * Huffit * Ipsi * Jack Sport * Janoir * Janémian * JG Sport * Jouvie * Julien (de: Julien) * La Confortable * La Flèche (de: La Flèche) * La Perle (de: La Perle) * La Roulette * La Violette (de: La Violette) * Lacour (de: Lacour et Cie) * Laetitia * Lafitte * L.B. (de: L.B.) * Le Cabri * Le Favori * Le Méhari (de: Le Méhari) * Le Roitelet * Lurquin-Coudert * Major (de: Cyclecars Major) * Marguerite Typ A (de: Marguerite Typ A) * Marr (de: Max) * Max (de: Max) * Molla (de: Molla et Cie) * Micron (de: Automobiles Micron) * Molla (de: Molla et Cie) * Monitor * Mourre (de: Mourre) * Noël (de: Noël) * Orial (de: Orial) * Patri (de: Patri) * Pégase (de: Pégase) * Pestourie et Planchon (de: Pestourie et Planchon) * Phébus (de: Cyclecars Phébus) * Quo Vadis * Rally * Revol (de: Revol) * Roll * Salmson * Santax * Sénéchal * SICAM (de: SICAM) * SIMA-Violet (de: Sima-Violet) *

Sphinx A sphinx ( ; , ; or sphinges ) is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. In Culture of Greece, Greek tradition, the sphinx is a treacherous and merciless being with the head of a woman, th ...

(de: Sphinx Automobiles) * Spidos (de: Sphinx Automobiles) *

Super Super may refer to: Computing * SUPER (computer program), or Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer, a video converter/player * Super (computer science), a keyword in object-oriented programming languages * Super key (keyboard butto ...

(de:

) * Tholomé (de: Tholomé) * Tic-Tac (de: Tic-Tac) * Tom Pouce (de: Tom Pouce) * Utilis (de: Utilis) * Vaillant * Villard * Violet-Bogey (de: Violet-Bogey) * Violette * Viratelle (de: Viratelle) * Virus * Weler (de: Weler) * Zénia (de: Zénia) * Zévaco (de: Zévaco)

Germany

* Arimofa * Bootswerft Zeppelinhafen
(B.Z.) (de: Bootswerft Zeppelinhafen) * Cyklon * Dehn (de: Fahrzeug- und Maschinenfabrik K. C. Dehn) * Grade * Koco * Minimus Fahrzeugwerk (de: Minimus Fahrzeugwerk) *

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of Trans-Neptunian object, bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Su ...

* Slaby-Beringer (de: Slaby-Beringer) * Spinell * Staiger * Zaschka

Greece

* Theologou

Italy

* Amilcar Italiana * Anzani * Baroso
(Officine Barosso)(de: Officine Barosso) * C.I.P.
(Cyclecar Italiana Petromilli)(de: Cyclecar Italiana Petromilli) * Della Ferrera
(Fratelli Della Ferrera)(de: Fratelli Della Ferrera) * Marino * Meldi
(Officine Meccanica Giuseppe Meldi)(de: Officine Meccanica Giuseppe Meldi) * San Giusto
(S.A. San Giusto)(de: S.A. San Giusto) * SIC
(Società Italiana Cyclecars) (de: Società Italiana Cyclecars) * Vaghi
(Motovetturette Vaghi)(de: Motovetturette Vaghi)

Poland

* Cyklonetka * SKAF

Spain

* Alvarez * David * Izaro * JBR * Salvador

Sweden

* Mascot * Self

Switzerland

* Moser (Fritz Moser, Fabrique d’Automobiles et Motocyclettes) (de: Fritz Moser) * Speidel

United Kingdom

* AC (Auto Carriers Ltd) * Adamson * Aerocar * Allwyn * Alvechurch *

Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...

* Archer * Armstrong * Athmac * Atomette * Autotrix * AV * Baby Blake * Baker & Dale * Bantam *

Barnard Barnard is a surname of Old English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon given name "Beornheard". It is composed of two elements: "Beorn," meaning "young warrior" or "bear," and "heard," meaning "hardy," "brave," or "strong." In some ...

* Baughan * Beacon Motors * Bell * Black Prince * Blériot-Whippet * Bound * Bow-V-Car * BPD * Bradwell *

Britannia The image of Britannia () is the national personification of United Kingdom, Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used by the Romans in classical antiquity, the Latin was the name variously appli ...

* Broadway *

Buckingham Buckingham ( ) is a market town in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, which had a population of 12,890 at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census. The town lies approximately west of ...

* Cambro * Campion * Corfield & Hurle (de: C & H) * Carden * Carlette * Carter * Castle Three * CFB * CFL * Chater-Lea * Chota * Coventry Premier * Coventry Victor * Crescent * Cripps * Crompton * Crouch * Cumbria Motors * CWS * Cyclar * Dallison * Day-Leeds *

Dayton Dayton () is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Ohio, sixth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 137,644 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Dayton metro ...

Dennis Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius. The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is some ...

* Dewcar * Douglas * D'Ultra (D-Ultra) * Duocar * Dursley-Pedersen *

Economic An economy is an area of the Production (economics), production, Distribution (economics), distribution and trade, as well as Consumption (economics), consumption of Goods (economics), goods and Service (economics), services. In general, it is ...

* Edmond *

Edmund Edmund is a masculine given name in the English language. The name is derived from the Old English elements ''ēad'', meaning "prosperity" or "riches", and ''mund'', meaning "protector". Persons named Edmund include: People Kings and nobles *Ed ...

* Edwards * EYME * GB * Gerald (de: Gerald Cyclecar) * Gibbons * Gillyard * Glover * GN * Gnome * Gordon (1912-1914) * Grahame-White *

Guildford Guildford () is a town in west Surrey, England, around south-west of central London. As of the 2011 census, the town has a population of about 77,000 and is the seat of the wider Borough of Guildford, which had around inhabitants in . The nam ...

* GWK * Hampton * HCE * Heybourn * Hill & Stanier * HMC * Howard * Howett * HP * Humberette * Imperial * Invicta * Jappic * JBS * Jewel * Jones * Kendall * LAD * La Rapide * Lambert * LEC * Lecoy * Lester Solus * Lington * LM (Little Midland) * Matchless * Marcus * Marlborough (Anglo-French car) * Mead & Deakin (Medea) * Medinger
(de: Medinger Cars & Engine) * Menley * Meteorite Cars
(de: Meteorite Cars) * Metro-Tyler (de: Metro-Tyler) * Morgan * New Hudson * Nomad Cars (de: Nomad Cars) * Northstar (de: North Star Works) * Norma * Paragon (de: Paragon) * Pickering, Darley & Allday (PDA) * Pearson & Cox * Perry * Premier Motor
(PMC) (de: Premier Motor) *

Princess Princess is a title used by a female member of a regnant monarch's family or by a female ruler of a principality. The male equivalent is a prince (from Latin '' princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for ...

* Projecta (de: Projecta) * Pyramid (de: Pyramid) * Ranger (de: Ranger Cyclecar) * Rex * Richardson (1903) * Richardson (1919) * Robertson * Robinson & Price * Rollo * Royal Ruby * Rene Tondeur (RTC) (de: Rene Tondeur) * Rudge-Whitworth * J. A. Ryley (de: J. A. Ryley) * Simplic * Skeoch * Speedy (de: Speedy) * Sterling * Stoneleigh * Swift * Tamplin * T.B. * Tiny * Turner * Unique (de: Unique) * VAL * Vee Gee * Victor * Wall * Warne * Warren-Lambert * Westall * Wherwell * Whitgift
(de: Whitgift) * Wilbrook * Willis * Winson * Wooler * Wrigley * WSC * Winter * Woodrow * Xtra * Zendik

United States

* American * Argo * Arrow * Asheville * Beisel * Buick prototype built by Walter Lorenzo Marr * Briggs & Stratton Flyer
''see Smith Flyer'' * Bull Moose-Cutting Automobile Company
''Baby Moose''
(de: Bull Moose-Cutting Automobile Company) * Burrows
(1914 Ripley NY) * Car-Nation * Ceco
(Continental Engineering Company)
(de: Continental Engineering Company) * Coey *

Comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, a process called outgassing. This produces an extended, gravitationally unbound atmosphere or Coma (cometary), coma surrounding ...

* Continental Engine Manufacturing Company
(de: Continental Engine Manufacturing Company) * Cycle-Car * Cyclops (de: Cyclops Cyclecar) *

(de: Dayton Cyclecar) * De La Vergne * Delco * De Soto (1914) *

Dodo The dodo (''Raphus cucullatus'') is an extinction, extinct flightless bird that was endemism, endemic to the island of Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The dodo's closest relative was the also-extinct and flightles ...

* Dudly Bug * Economy car * EIM * Engler * Falcon * Fenton * Flagler (de: Flagler Cyclecar) *

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

* Greyhound *

Hall In architecture, a hall is a relatively large space enclosed by a roof and walls. In the Iron Age and the Early Middle Ages in northern Europe, a mead hall was where a lord and his retainers ate and also slept. Later in the Middle Ages, the gre ...

Hanover Hanover ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Lower Saxony. Its population of 535,932 (2021) makes it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-l ...

* Hawk * Hawkins * Hoosier Scout * IMP * JPL * Kearns LuLu * Keller (de: Keller Cyclecar) * La Vigne * Limit * Logan * Malcolm Jones * Merz * Michaelson *

Mecca Mecca, officially Makkah al-Mukarramah, is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia; it is the Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. It is inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley above ...

* Mercury * Motor Bob * O-We-Go * Pacific * Pioneer * Portland * Post * Prigg * Puritan * Real * Rex * Saginaw * Scripps-Booth * Smith Flyer * Strouse, S.R.K. * Storms Electric * Trumbull * Twombly * Vixen * Winthur * Wizzard * Woods * Xenia * Yankee