JZR Trikes is a UK producer of traditionally-styled, motorcycle-engined trikes in
kit form.
History
From their workshop in Darwen,
Lancashire
Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a Historic counties of England, historic county, Ceremonial County, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significa ...
, John Ziemba Restorations began to market the JZR in 1990. Some 320 JZR's were produced up until 1998 when there was a production hiatus until 2000. It continues in production today.
The Car
JZR was inspired by the early
Morgan Aero
The Morgan Motor Company is a British motor car manufacturer owned by Italian investment group Investindustrial. It was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan.
Morgan is based in Malvern Link, an area of Malvern, and employs ap ...
three-wheelers and more recent cars like the Triking. The kit comprised a square tube steel chassis with a galvanized floorpan and body sides. The upper body consisted of GRP panels. There were two rear body styles: the “barrel back” which allowed a spare tyre to be mounted at the rear; and the curved “beetle back”.
Power could come from a variety of engines. Initially the
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.
Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a producti ...
CX 500 V-twin was used. Later Honda's CX 650, CX 500/650 turbo and Pan-European ST1100 V4 and Moto Guzzi's 850 and 1000 V-twins were added. Even the
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (H-D, or simply Harley) is an American motorcycle manufacturer headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1903, it is one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depressi ...
motor has been fitted to some examples, using a
Ford Cortina
The Ford Cortina is a medium-sized family car that was built initially by Ford of Britain, and then Ford of Europe in various guises from 1962 to 1982, and was the United Kingdom's best-selling car of the 1970s.
The Cortina was produced in fi ...
gearbox and clutch. The power was transferred to the rear via shaft drive.
The front suspension used the spindles and disc brake assemblies of the Ford Cortina Mk IV/V, with bespoke wishbones and coil over dampers. The
Ford Escort Mk II supplied the rack and pinion steering rack. At the rear, the donor Moto Guzzi or Honda motorcycle suspension was used with its twin coil over dampers, brakes, and transfer case.
See also
*
List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom
:''This list is incomplete. You can help by adding correctly sourced information about other manufacturers.''
As of 2018 there are approximately 35 active British car manufacturers and over 500 defunct British car manufacturers. This page lists ...
External links
JZR Pilots Association
Kit car manufacturers
Three-wheeled motor vehicles