Velorex

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Velorex 350/16 from 1971 (tricycle)
Velorex tricycle
Velorex four-wheeler
The four-wheeled model had a flat loading area behind the front seats. Because of the engine underneath, the loading height was limited.
Video

Velorex is the name of a motorized tricycle from the former Czechoslovakia , of which over 15,000 copies were produced from 1950 to 1973.

development

The brothers František Stransky (September 20, 1914 - June 25, 1954) and Mojmir Stransky (June 29, 1924 - June 13, 2011) began building prototypes of a small car named Oskar with three wheels in 1945 in Parník near Česká Třebová the single wheel was in the stern. The vehicle had two seats and a hood. The tubular frame was covered with the synthetic leather-like fabric Igelit in order to save the high costs of sheet metal processing. Initially, the vehicles were preferably bought by disabled people, as they received particularly favorable conditions. In 1951 production was moved to Solnice . From 1956 the vehicles were renamed Velorex. From 1961 certain parts were produced in the new plant in Rychnov nad Kněžnou . It was not until 1971 that the tricycle was replaced by a new four-wheel model. In 1973 production was finally stopped.

The models

OS-KAR (1950–1952)

From 1950 to 1952, about 36 of the first edition of the OS-KAR were produced. A single - cylinder two-stroke engine from Jawa of the type N 11 with 250 cm³ displacement and 9 hp was used. External distinguishing features are the high front of the vehicle, the notchback body and the 19-inch wheels.

OS-KAR (1952–1954)

About 130 of the second edition of the OS-KAR were produced between 1952 and 1954. The snout became flatter, as in all subsequent Velorex tricycle models. The engine, the body and the wheel size have been retained.

Oscar 54

This model was produced between 1954 and 1955. The wheel size was retained, the rear became a hatchback.

Velorex Oskar 16 and Velorex 16/250

This model, initially called Velorex Oskar 16 and later called Velorex 16/250, was produced from 1955 to 1963; it had 16 inch wheels. From 1955 a Jawa engine of the type N 353 with 250 cc displacement and 12 hp was used.

Velorex 16/175

This model from 1963 to 1964 had a single-cylinder two-stroke engine from ČZ with a displacement of 175 cm³, which made 11.5 hp. A 12 volt, 100 W alternator was used.

Velorex 16/350

This model from 1963 to 1971 had a two-cylinder two- stroke engine from Jawa with a displacement of 350 cm³ and an output of 16 hp.

Velorex 435-0

This model was produced from 1971. It was driven by the Jawa engine with a displacement of 350 cm³. In contrast to its predecessors, it had four wheels and a completely different appearance, which was adapted to the appearance of small cars that was common at the time. However, the competition in this market segment was greater, so that production of this model was stopped as early as 1973 after only 1380 copies had been produced.

literature

  • Walter drafter: Kleinwagen International , Motorbuch-Verlag. Stuttgart 1999. ISBN 3-613-01959-0
  • Ivo Fajman: Velorex - historie, vývoj, technika, současnost , 2010, ISBN 978-80-247-3274-9 , 140 pp. - (Czech)

Web links

Commons : Velorex  - collection of images, videos and audio files