Single piston engines

Yamaha XT-450, only one cylinder, used probably can be had for under $3000, dirt cheap insurance. Small, fuel efficient, nimble and goes most places modern SUVs cannot. I think they get between 40 to 50 mpg.

Has anyone else noticed how cities are building more and more of those 'bike paths' and 'walking paths' that stretch the entire length of the city?

I have here and they never really admit the reasons for it.

When the CO2 car taxes starts, some people won't have any freedom to drive cars as much as they do now.

Big problen is emissions. A 3.5HP 4 stroke lawn mower produces more polution than a current 3.8 V6.

False. The Crosley C.O.Bra was a totally inhouse fabricated (Copper Brazed steel) overhead cam engine, and the replacement cast iron engine was also a totally inhouse overhead cam design.

While that is true, there is no reason why a 3.5 HP engine has to produce more pollution (NOx and SOx) than a current car engine. There is no reason why you can't put the same pollution controls on a 3.5 HP motor that are on a 3.8 V6.

Ditto a 40 HP engine that would power a small car.

Jeff

I stand corrected.

mike

Or the Honda N360, Honda 600, Subaru 360,Subaru FF1, Toyota UP7 (Seven UP), all of which there are examples of in both Canada and the US. Or even the Fiat "little mouse" 500 and 600.

But there is no limitation on how long that power must be produced. A strong human can produce 746 watts of power (1 HP) for 35 seconds to

90 seconds? He has still produced one HP of power. He may sustain only 500 watts for several minutes, or 300 watts for an hour. (numbers may be off a bit, but general range)

None of which I've ever seen.

Come to think of it, the Renault Dauphine was likely in the ballpark. They sold 'em in the E. US in the early 60's. Before Honda exported their Moped+ stuff to the US, if I'm not mistaken.

Al

"The monkey and the baboon was playing 7-up. The monkey won the money but he scared to pick it up. The monkey stumbled, mama. The baboon fell. The monkey grab the money and he run like hell!" - from "Dirty Motherfuyer", Roosevelt Sykes, around 1935

The Dauphine was a 750 to 850 cc - 19 to 32 HP 1956 to 1965, 4 cyl Water cooled. Only the 850 came to North America. (including the Dauphine Gordini sport.

Friends had one with the small engine.. It wouldn't go up hill with a full load of passengers - even if the passengers were 8th-graders.

Wikipedia claims Toyota are planning to release the Aygo in the US, but 'with a redesign to make it smaller(!)'. If it gets any smaller it will be a golf cart!!! Sadly they don't give a source, so could be baloney.

claims Ford is releasing the Fiesta in the US- it's bigger than the Ka but smaller than the Focus. The basic Fiesta actually gives a better MPG than the Ka though.

Just as an experiment, I looked on craigslist for something similar to the 10 year old Fiesta or Corsa a British motorist on a budget might buy. It simply doesn't exist- hardly anything smaller than a Corolla or Escort.

I'm glad things are slowly improving.

Pert near what I expected.

They had a big marketing campaign in my home town around 1961. Sold a bunch 'cause they were cheap.

By '67, it was rare as hens teeth to see one on the road.

Al

"The monkey and the baboon was playing 7-up. The monkey won the money but he scared to pick it up. The monkey stumbled, mama. The baboon fell. The monkey grab the money and he run like hell!" - from "Dirty Motherfuyer", Roosevelt Sykes, around 1935

The poor Dauphine, it was like the French Army, it 'surrendered' rather quickly. The 2CV was worse, when one considers their selling price in the US vis a v its competition. LOL

mike

But the 2CV endured. I don't know if they're still in production today but they were built under license in various countries well into the '80's.

I've driven a 2CV. And I've passed them on the freeway while riding a moped.

No, production ceased in 1990

I had a few cars in that category. one was a 1980 Civic 1.5 CVCC, 46hp . Top speed on a good day was 85mph. Mileage was only in the thirties highway. A underpowered tin can that everytime you pulled out of a blind city intersection it was a stomp and pray adventure. Same specs for that '64 Beetle I had......

I wonder what car has been in production the longest. Reportedly, the Peugeot 504 is still in production in Kenya. It start production in the early 70s or late 60s.

Jeff