20-06-2023, 07:38 AM
The Leyat prototype in 1913 had three wheels, by the time it went onto production in 1919 it was on four wheels., Brakes only at the front, as steering was by the central pivoted rear axle. As Mike points out there was full safety wire cage, a feature which was shared by the prop powered four wheel cyclecar built by Walter Jones, here in Abergavenny. Jones had initially essayed a fearsome looking three wheeler using the engine from the Bleriot crashed by his employer, Sir Edward Channing Wills. The three wheeler could only have been used on the estate whereas the subsequent four wheeler had mudguards and running boards as well as a propeller cage. Now no doubt many Seven owners can easily reach round to a groaning bookshelf in their study, and pull down their copy of "Cyclecars, An Annotated Index" a rather helpful reference book on such matters. If by any chance the vital volume has yet to be acquired, copies are still in stock, a PM will cause a copy to be posted, or handed over at Shobdon airfield tomorrow, or at Shelsley on Sunday 2nd July or Ian Grace's Prescott swansong the following weekend. Book promotion here endeth.