3-Wheel Cyclecar! 1960 Velorex 16/350
The Velorex was an “Oskar” which meant “car on axle.” Produced in the Czech Republic, it was a tube-framed, 3-wheel cyclecar powered by a 2-stroke air-cooled engine that displaced either 250 or 350-cc. Half the body was a canvas-like material that appeared to be bent or distressed but it wasn’t. This 1960 edition with the larger motor is street legal and in good running condition. Located in San Ramon, California, this oddity is available here on craigslist for $12,000 OBO. Thanks to T.J. for making the discovery for us!
Two brothers named Stránský came up with this design in 1942 and continued to refine it during and after World War II. Motorcycle sidecar construction techniques were integrated into the process including the leather-like material used in the front, rear, and over the top. When the latter was removed, the Velorex would become a convertible. After the Czech government got involved in the car in the 1950s, production took off with disabled Czech citizens being a target market.
By the 1960s, production was sufficient such that distribution was expanded to include other eastern European countries. The 16/350 had a 12-volt starter and the cars could manage 53 mph wide open. The last of the 3-wheeled Velorex models were built in 1971, to be replaced by a fiberglass-bodied, 4-wheeled model, the Velorex 435, which was not as successful.
The seller’s Velorex has the 16 hp, 350-cc Jawa twin-cylinder engine that was recently treated to a rebuild. We’re told that its registration is current so it’s street legal for those inclined to venture out into traffic in a 3-wheeler. The odometer reading is 843, but we don’t know what that tells us. These cars had a 4-speed manual transmission with both forward and reverse gears. Built in some variant or another between 1950 and 1974, it’s estimated that 16,000 copies were produced overall of which 12,000 were the more powerful 16/350. Estimates are that two-thirds of them in Europe are still on the road. How this one managed to make it to the States would probably be an interesting story in itself.
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Comments
Well it ain’t a Morgan but it might be almost as much fun as one. I don’t think they could go wrong with the Jawa engine. Jawa/CZ was a fierce competitor in the dirt bike class back in the 60s. In fact it pretty much set the standard that others had to follow. Take this, fix it and have a good time with it. I sort of doubt that I would do anything with the top other than fold it up and put it away…
yup, Sweds finally ripped it away. Not sure where it’s all at these daze:
https://riskracing.com/blogs/news/motocross-track-guide-terms-layouts-and-obstacles
I say: rip off all that canvas’n have some fun~
I think the Czechs found Morgan in Communist Czechoslovakia and decided to replicate it in good old Commie fashion and this was the result.
Bet you it wasn’t speced out and built by Tatra, but they did find the Jawa engine and reverse engineered it to the outside body.
Yes, that’s what they did.
It’s a Czech muscle car!
Al,
The only things a Velorex and a Morgan have in common: They are 3 wheel automobiles, with a motorcycle engine.
It also had nothing in common with Tatra. When I was hunting for unusual cars right after the fall of the iron curtain, I was offered several Velorex cars, but shipping costs were about 4 times the cost of a running example, so I ended up buying a couple of Tatra V8 cars instead.
Saw one of these a few years ago in Chicago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8cK7iYe_0Q
Jeez, what a death trap!
Y’mean like *motorcycles*, with one-third fewer wheels and no body protection whatever?
(Okay, fenders, right. Fenders can be considered “body parts”. Yep.)
At least a motorcycle is more nimble and maneuverable. My old Yamaha RD350 had more power than this. Belongs in a museum like a Conestoga wagon, not on a public road.
—— the engine is first-class.
Very interesting. I’ve never seen canvas as a body material. Jawas were really fast dirt bikes back in the day as mentioned above. Bet it has the same overheating issues as an air cooled VW.
mr hulot holiday
Bet you most of you know nothing about these.
Mechanically it looks like it’s in good shape but that canvas body looks like it rolled over!
Not a $12K car in my eyes.
You need parts for a what?
saw one in Zagreb Yugoslavia in 1979….great sound!
This thing came out around the same time as the Tatraplan. The Czechs called it the “Hadraplan,” (“hadr” means “rag”), or “létající hadr” (“the flying rag”).
Good project to restore in your lounge room over winter!
I am a sucker for 3 wheel cycle cars. Not a huge fan of the leatherette body panels. I would think it would look better with Saturn like polymer panels or aluminum bonded to plywood.
I know that original is more valuable, but I imagine the wind noise of the soft panels flapping would get annoying.
Kelly,
As long as the fabric panels are fastened down correctly, plus due to the lack of any real “high speed” travel in a Velorex, there won’t be much in the way of panel flapping noises! I’ve driven one, and was a passenger in another, and while they seem fast because it’s like riding in a shoebox on a skateboard, they really don’t go very fast!
A predissesor to the Yugo?
I just looked up the word ugly and it was no surprise to find a picture of this thing.
John Traylor,
On the other hand, if you use a French language dictionary to look up the word “Beautiful” you will probably see many Czech & French cars featured!
The Soviet Union built quite a few versions of this type of vehicle after WW 2. Ostensibly created for crippled soldiers and invalids.
Apparently the government supplied these at no cost to the deserving.
Mother Russia also supplied universal healthcare to everyone across 7 time zones and free education. Quite the daunting task for a nation that suffered so much destruction.
England also built several models of 3 wheel cycle cars, notable the Reliant and the Bond. Raleigh bicycle company built a 3 wheel motorized cycle car, in the 1930’s
The Davis 3 wheel car was built in the USA, appearing in the late 40’s and 50’s. Jay Leno has one and it can be seen on his Youtube channel. Notable too is the Elio trying to launch for the last several years. Two wheels up front, one in the rear….claiming 100 mph and 70 miles per gallon…handling is enhanced with front wheel drive.
some dont get it. Need their toyota or beemer. Must see the historical and future for fuller perceptions. Need a larger ‘world view’ than self, “contribute to something larger than oneself’.
Form follows function here (“ugly”) and has its own beauty (industrial design/art). Conspicuous consumption (plus a dead end rather than circular path for product) means ‘ego buys’, debit service, extra pollution, energy consumption and poor health returns compared to other nations.
Taking the foregoing all into consideration (with ‘death trap’) is because mericans have the highest per-capita auto death rates after africa, s, merica’n india. Canada, europe and down under all do better than us(a).
Seriously think about what U can contribute to ‘better’ rather than ‘same’. That is the 1st step toward ‘action’, a long way off unfortunately, for far too many.
Great perception chrisful…..
Of all the cars I’ve owned, from Austins to Cadillacs…my absolute favourite was a Citroen 2CV
….form to function engineering, superb!
Laughable and sad to see cars being sold to the masses that are capable of 150 mph ….talk about “death traps”
Gosh, chrisful, you seem to suffer from delusions of philosophical grandeur. Please, take a deep breath, open another beer, sit down and read a good book, preferably something by Turgenev, but please no Nietzsche.
Ahem… Look inward, Gerard.
I saw some of these in Hungary, in 1967. My Hungarian friend told me that they were for disabled people. I was fascinated by them, but I had no chance of getting a ride in one.