This Sidewalk Runabout is Easy to Build
By Hi Sibley
THERE is one definite rule to follow in making a sidewalk automobile—get your engine first and build the car around it. This applies pretty much to the wheels, too.
A half-horsepower, two-cycle washing machine engine is available in nearly all sections of the country, and as these can be had second-hand at a reasonable price and have sufficient power for moderate speeds, they make satisfactory installations. Herewith are working drawings of the little car owned by Richard Weber, of San Marino, California, which is driven by this type of motor and has proved successful for a long period. It is very easy to build.
Read the rest of this entry »
FIZZ-WHIZZ…A Midget Steam Car
By ROY L CLOUGH, Jr.
MEASURING but 5″ in length, this tiny steam car chuffs along rapidly on any smooth surface. Doughnut-style model airplane tires give it a good grip on the “road”—whether concrete driveway, tennis court, or polished floor. Power is supplied by a 3/8″ by 5/8″ double-acting oscillating engine, while the crankshaft doubles as the rear axle. No flywheel is used, the car itself having sufficient momentum. An “ink-pad” burner fires the boiler and, unless oversup-plied with alcohol, will not constitute a fire hazard. Caution: Don’t operate Fizz-Whizz where it may run under furniture or into inflammable material.
Read the rest of this entry »