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Did You Know? French Micro Car Had A Motorcycle Engine

Published by Cyril Huze January 3rd, 2012 in Builders, Editorial and Engines.

Without doors and enough room to fit 2 very slender adults, the Rolux VB61 convertible micro car was produced in France between 1947 and 1952.

It was powered using a 175 cc Ydral single cylinder, air cooled two-stroke engine mounted behind the driver with a final chain drive to the rear axle. Not easy to get in and out and no reverse (if necessary, you picked up the car and turned it in the direction you wanted to go!) made it a 300 units only production car. And now it’s a collectable… easy to fit in most garages.

6 Comments

6 Responses to “Did You Know? French Micro Car Had A Motorcycle Engine”

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  1. 1 Jim C Jan 3rd, 2012 at 1:19 pm

    Met a man in Ft. Smith Arkansas a few years back that put CX750 Honda engines in Crosley autos. He said it made them faster and more reliable 🙂

  2. 2 Iron Horse Jan 3rd, 2012 at 7:51 pm

    I’ll take two…one for each foot.

  3. 3 Dr Robert Harms Jan 4th, 2012 at 7:26 am

    Mini cars with bike engines were not that uncommon thru the 1950’s in Europe and the UK . The interesting (to me) thing is the huge difference in style between France (kinda nice although a bit 39’chevy/Terraplane-esque) and the UK models (yuck). Run a search on “Bond Minicar”. At least the UK stuff had reverse however . You rotated the motor. Really

  4. 4 Rodent Jan 4th, 2012 at 8:00 am

    BMW made the motorcycle engine powered Isetta and so did Henkel.

  5. 5 Smittydog Jan 4th, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    To Rodent what is a Isetta and Henkel?

  6. 6 Mike corbin Jan 9th, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Rodent, are you back ?

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Cyril Huze