Description
The ingenious Cyclonette was built by the Cyklon Maschinenfabrik GmbH in Berlin, whose earliest vehicles were motorcycles. Using a similar configuration to their motorcycles, with the engine mounted above the front wheel and the front wheel driven by a chain, Cyklon introduced their first three-wheeler at the 1902 Leipzig Motor Show.
The Cyclonette was aimed directly at the economy market and was powered by a 450cc single cylinder, air-cooled engine, the distinctive pierced metal bodywork with wickerwork details that offered seating for 'ohne driver and ohne mechaniker'. Steering is done using the tiller with the ignition, mixture tap and throttle attached, which requires a degree of manual dexterity – but ultimately easy to master. The gear can be activated by means of a simple “Crypto gear” with one turn on the tiller. The cooling is done via a friction-driven fan. The tri-car has the handy feature that it can be driven from both the left and right seats. C-suspension at the rear provides most comfortable ride and the car can reach a speed of 40 km/h.
At some point in the vehicle's history, the surface carburetor was replaced with a more efficient and safer jet carburetor. Later models were built with two-cylinder engines and some with a four-seater body and others with a van body. That the concept survived and that the Cyklon remained in production until 1922 is testament to the undisputed success of the Cyklon, despite its idiosyncratic appearance.
This Cyclon has a beautiful history; Sold new in Sweden and owned by the same family until 1927 when it was stored in a barn. Discovered by an English enthusiast in 1983, it was in very original condition, after which it was brought to England for restoration, where the tri-car was repainted in its original black and red colours.
Over the next twenty years in the hands of its new owner it successfully took part in many Sunbeam MCC Pioneer Runs and London to Brighton Runs. Certainly rare, this example is believed to be the only running example in the world, although a similar vehicle – car no. 69 – resides in the German National Museum. This tri-car has a Sunbeam MCC Pioneer certificate from 1904. The Cyclonette offers the most economical way to participate in both the London to Brighton Run and the Pioneer Run with driver and passenger comfortably next to each other, and without the driver doesn't have to provide pedal assistance, and of course it qualifies for so many of the most popular events for single and twin cylinder cars.
