the official manufacturers of the BRA CX3 & MG3 cycle cars
www.BRA-Cyclecars.com
www.veetwintrikes.com
www.morganreplicas.com
www.aero-cyclecars.com
24/03/2008
New Beetle-back chassis
and vintage looking 19 inch wheels and tyres!
+44 (0)1273 843749
+44 (0)7976 312058 (mobile)
art@spitfireart.com
HISTORY
click on the above pix
or here reaches the home page
I purchased the full rights to the BRA CX3 and MG3 in 2003 from the previous owners in North Wales, UK.
Impending legislation called MSVA (Motor Cycle Single Vehicle Approval) had been mooted for some years before hand and this finally came into force in August 2003. I worked closely with the MSVA authority (VOSA) in Bristol, indeed, the head of MSVA invited me to bring my demonstrator car to a training session at one of their test centres.
MSVA is a stringent set of rules exempting vehicles from European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. It is designed to be harmonised across all EU states in time.
Each vehicle is subjected to an individual test costing £90. An MSVA manual is available from VOSA and costs £30.
Three wheelers of our type have to comply with specific regulations contained within the manual.
In order to comply with the new legislation, we had to make a number of very important changes to the chassis design. In undertaking such changes, we made further safety and aesthetic changes, and have offered further options. The chassis design has substantially changed including of course a very pleasant rounded beetle-back option.
The most important change was to seat belt mountings. The old mountings did not comply. The steering column did not comply.
Other important changes are as follows:
Re-designed front suspension/steering rack location:
This eradicates bump steer, by running the steering rack and track rod ends in a straight line and in a vertical plane identical to that of the suspension upright tapers (where the track rods locate).
The upper wishbones have adjustable castor angle.
As an overall result of this, the exhausts "sit" inside the chassis more. There is less likelihood of burning oneself on the hot exhausts.
We use 1.9 inch I/D suspension springs.
Additions to the chassis generally include:
Better lower wishbones, central plate made from 5mm steel not 3mm (it bends easily in a vice with 3mm), now similar to Westfield's as theirs are from 5mm plate. Different ball joint...the old Ford Cortina joint is heavy and clumsy. The industry standard for coil over wishbone suspension is now a two bolt lower joint, and we use these.
Beefier headlamp mounting points out of 5mm steel.
Stronger steering rack location plates, out of 5mm plate, not 3mm. Use of genuine Ford Escort rack saddles and rubbers, or alloy saddles, and not the often used exhaust clamps.
Engine and gearbox mountings out of 5mm plate.
Honda CX swing arm location points. Use of far simpler threaded insert bushes.
Top chassis rails are now one piece and bent using gas in a jig and finally rolled.
Bottom chassis rails, similarly gas bent.
New Beetleback shape! Plus GRP to match.
One piece aluminium floor. This is bonded/riveted/bolted...and is similar to Westfield/Caterham.
Deeper chassis by 50mm. This means you sit in it far better and more comfortably.
GRP changes:
New rounded nose cone, far more period.
Additional scuttle option. We have a vintage scalloped/humped scuttle available. An engine turned dashboard looks very vintage/period with this option.
The old wing stays will fail MSVA. Therefore we have re-designed these in round tube. We have three different styles of wing and stay.
We offer 19 inch wire wheels which look far more period. The vehicle sits better, a more vintage feel.
Arthur Rayner
02/11/07
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+44 (0)1273 843749
+44 (0)7976 312058 (mobile)
art@spitfireart.com
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