Cars and bikes I’ve come across in my travels

'Corvair' tank A.E. reminiscent. Although overall style questionable to me, body work appears unique though and well made. We are fortunate to have these amazing bikes crop up here. It's the only social media I do.
 
3CBRG said:
'Corvair' tank A.E. reminiscent. Although overall style questionable to me, body work appears unique though and well made. We are fortunate to have these amazing bikes crop up here. It's the only social media I do.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPEou8t2Spo
Click to expand...
Yes, the Corvair had a good engine. The engine was used for many tasks, motorcycles being a very popular use in the US after the Corvairs fell apart, rusted away, or, most likely, crashed. A lot of Corvairs are still going strong, though, like old VW Beetles.
The guy in the video took a different approach.

 
The great car engine bike conversions in my experience usually took the form of VW engines
installed in /2 BMW frames. A not uncommon though still unusual ride in SoCal in the mid to
late 1960's. At least one conversion used a Porsche Speedster engine and was in a chopper
configuration....maybe a guy from San Diego..! Corvair engined bikes were around but mostly
in showbike iterations. A famous one was built by Norm Grabowski, an occasional actor in biker
films due to his appearance. This bike was featured in a 1967 issue of "Cycle Guide" magazine.
Norm was also a well known and respected hot rod builder. Some old Indian frames were also
likely sacrificed to house VW and the odd Corvair engine. Also the oddball pairing of a Subaru
engine in a bike chassis. Strangely,enough nobody ever coined a descriptive word to designate
these bastard hybrids. Late breaking news..Grabowski's bike.."The Boneshaker".
 
Last edited:
EncinoBoy said:
The great car engine bike conversions in my experience usually took the form of VW engines
installed in /2 BMW frames. A not uncommon though still unusual ride in SoCal in the mid to
late 1960's. At least one conversion used a Porsche Speedster engine and was in a chopper
configuration....maybe a guy from San Diego..! Corvair engined bikes were around but mostly
in showbike iterations. A famous one was built by Norm Grabowski, an occasional actor in biker
films due to his appearance. This bike was featured in a 1967 issue of "Cycle Guide" magazine.
Norm was also a well known and respected hot rod builder. Some old Indian frames were also
likely sacrificed to house VW and the odd Corvair engine. Also the oddball pairing of a Subaru
engine in a bike chassis. Strangely,enough nobody ever coined a descriptive word to designate
these bastard hybrids. Late breaking news..Grabowski's bike.."The Boneshaker".
Click to expand...
The Panhard flat twin was perfect for bike use.
1770461353575.png1770461376625.png1770461409063.png
Not to mention the BFG produced in large numbers with a Citroën flat four or the MF with a Visa flat twin engine.
1770461513370.png1770461555626.png
 
And there is of course the Boss Hoss montrosity and the anectdotic Brough with an Austin 7 engine.
Plenty more out there. I think that the Saab two stroke ended up in a few two wheelers and numerous ski doo engines as well.
Paul
 
Quasar had a Reliant engine and the Honda Acti- Van had half a Goldwing engine in it, the Heinkel Scooter & Bubble car had the same engine and of course ,my beloved Guzzi Vee twin was originally destined for the original Fiat 500 - interestingly the modern Fiat 500 has a parallel twin engine variant..
 
35 years a sitting in a shed, awaiting restoration, which never happened.

Its diesel motor was so quiet I thought it was a petrol jobbie. Given its tropical location it was pretty much rust hole free.
 

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