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21
 And so with spring sprunging all over, its back to inserting the cheapo chinese Honda-Villers clone engine properly, and finally sorting out that back sprocket. A weekend spent hacking away with hacksaw & drilling with Black & Decker, two six inch bolts and emptying the shed of all 17mm nuts and the engine is in firm & solid with reliable 420 chain slung between. For those pondering what sprocket & what chain fitted, the sprocket is from a 2001 Derbi scooter & the chain from a Yamaha FS1E no less.

 With Hamond Harding featuring 19-inch rear wheels (21-inches overall if tyre height is also included), an engine running at 3,600rpm flat out, driving a 10-tooth centrifugal cluch and a 52-tooth rear sprocket, an hour spent browsing through varius speed/gearing caculations would seem to suggest Hammond Harding may well be capible of pulling some 50mph top speed with a good run-up! Tis going to be interesting when I fire that engine up for the first time in a few days time methinks... But certainly the target 25-30mph normal use cruising speed looks eminantly sustainable.

  Meanwhile, a throttle cable takes shape right here right now, using a suitably converted 9ft long heavy duty tandem bicycle brake cable no less. Well, it was there in the shed & if it can stop a fully-loaded tandem it can take care of a dinky little throttle arm...

   Stay tuned folks for the next exciting instalment of the resurection of Hammond Harding as its only a matter of days now til it goes broom broom again for the first time in at least three & half decades...   
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Microcar News / Mini M2
« Last Post by Horst on March 19, 2021, 08:21:32 AM »
Mini M2 microcar. Will it work as a replacement for a regular electrician, or will it only tempt the young impatient? First impression - quite good build quality. It is obvious that the vehicle comes from China, but it does not have to mean poor quality. The materials are well-fitted and aesthetic. Dynamics does not really knock, but to 35-40 km / h the vehicle accelerates quite nimbly, and that should be enough. For "racers" there is a High-Speed version, which can go about 80 km/h. There is enough space inside for two people (fatter ones may have problems with elbows, but that's the width of the body), a large suitcase or medium shopping will also fit. The bench at the back has no belts or homologation, a dog can sit on it.

Does such a car make sense? Depends on the situation. I would certainly advise against daily driving in a large city when we need to move efficiently and over long distances. Mini M2 will not be a substitute for an electric vehicle, it is cramped and slow. But if a teenager (sensible!) is in a hurry behind the wheel or older people are looking for a vehicle to move to get groceries - we can recommend this vehicle. However, the condition is to drive in a quiet neighborhood, changing three lanes on a busy street is not a task for the Mini M2. However, as a four-wheeler for local driving, it defends itself excellently.

Mini M2 microcar - technical data:
Electric motor. Nominal/peak power 6/13 hp
Rear-wheel drive/reduction gear
Length/width/height 2845/1500/1565 mm
Wheelbase 1815 mm
Suspension, front independent, rear rigid axle, springs
Maximum speed 50 km/h
Range 80-100 km
Battery 8.6 kWh

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RUMCar News / Re: Rumcart News 148
« Last Post by Jean on March 10, 2021, 11:03:12 AM »
My copy of RUM CAR NEWS  arrived yesterday so I have only had a quick flick through.  It is sadly dominated by the obituries for Tony Marshall and Robb Dobie
both key players each in their own way  to the story of microcars.  This was followed by the news that Mike-Worthington Williams yet another well known figure in the microcar world, had also passed away.  I feel this a sign of the fact we are all getting older, time to hand over to a younger generation to keep the flag flying.  I look forward to reading the rest of the articles, thanks Chris for another interesting read. Don't forget to pay your subs everybody so you can keep up with  the news.  Jean.
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RUMCar News / Rumcart News 148
« Last Post by Chris Thomas on March 06, 2021, 05:20:26 PM »
Dear Rumcar News Readers

I am pleased to tell you that the paper copies of issue 148 ( Spring 2021) were sent out in the post on Friday Afternoon and the Digital copies were emailed out this morning Saturday 6 March, which was 10 days early

I am pleased to tell you that we have 16 new subscribers to Rumcar News this year. However 36 people are late in subscribing for this year, even though I have sent out email reminders to everybody.
It is very noticeable that the number of Digital copies has increased. But has a long way to go to catch up with the number of readers who like paper copies of Rumcar News.

It is never too late to subscribe to Rumcar News. If by 15 March you have not received a copy through your letter box or in your email, then it is likely you have not yet subscribed to Rumcar News for 2021.

Keep safe

Chris Thomas
The Archive of Microcars
Rumcar News
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Microcar News / Re: Rob Dobie
« Last Post by Chris Thomas on February 18, 2021, 04:34:53 PM »
Dear All

Another contributor to Rumcar News has passed away. Mike Worthington Williams died on Monday 8 Feb in Hospital (Covid related). His funeral is tomorrow, 19 Feb in Narbeth South-west Wales.

Chris Thomas
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Microcar News / Re: Rob Dobie
« Last Post by Chris Thomas on February 15, 2021, 04:49:04 PM »
Dear Stuart

I have managed to verify that Rob Dobie died back on 2 March 2020. Not Covid Related.

This has posed the question, who else may have silently slipped away?

Chris Thomas
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Microcar News / Re: The Jarc/ Astra
« Last Post by Chris Thomas on February 15, 2021, 04:45:24 PM »
Dear All

The second part of the Jarc/ Astra article in "the Automobile" is now out in the March issue. There is a bit of a surprise at the end.

Chris Thomas
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Microcar News / Re: The Jarc/ Astra
« Last Post by Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker) on February 06, 2021, 06:09:54 PM »
Hi Marge

I haven't had a chance to read through the article myself yet and a I don't think I've come across Scott Barrett,, but the fact that it's a 2-part article and already in part one has far more words on the car than have every appeared before suggests it either has quite a lot of new material about the development of the car or it's extraordinarily verbose! My experience is that the magazine usually offers high quality photos, but the writing is somewhat varyable, although often covering cars not seen anywhere else. The magazine website is here  http://www.theautomobile.co.uk/february-2021-issue/
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Microcar News / Re: The Jarc/ Astra
« Last Post by LargeMarge on January 21, 2021, 12:04:44 PM »
Hi!
I am not familiar with the magazine. Could you please, review what you have read? It doesn't have to be lengthy but I would be very interested to hear what Mr. Barrett had to say. Just go over the most important issues. Also, I would be extremely grateful for a piece of information where I could buy (subscribe) to The Automobile. Thank you!
30
Unusual Microcar Discussion / Re: Mini Comtesse France
« Last Post by Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker) on January 17, 2021, 11:50:13 AM »
Ateliers de Construction de Matériel.  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Comtesse
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