Obscure retro with massive rims!

[bigalan]

I have never heard of this until today. Found an article in the local paper about them Knocking down the Madelvic factory in Edinburgh. Apparently it's Britains oldest surviving car factory. They made 5 wheeled electric cars!




Story is here
edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Historic-Madelvic-car-factory-.5973894.jp
More info here www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_edin_t/0_edinburgh_transport_cars_vans_lorries_-_madelvic_rg_collection.htm

[Tim]

I wonder if theres any still in existence!

[bigalan]

Jan 12, 2010 20:26:19 GMT Tim said:

I wonder if theres any still in existence!

would be cool to see one on the road! I bet the handling would be interesting! Front wheel drive too!

[bigalan]

Had my pupils try to find out more about this today. Found very little. Apparently the post office used them in Edinburgh. They made a two seat version with normal front wheel drive. The power unit and the 3 front wheels could be detached and used to replace a horse on a normal carriage! Madelvic were the first British car company to go bankrupt!

Must have freaked people out to see one driving along the road when new!

[tonycocacola]

haha, a fifth wheel thats actually a wheel.
front section replaces a horse eh, nifty.
"i say florence,should we take the hansom or the landau?"
lmao.

[rmad]

Donk in 1899? It really has all been done before.

[bigalan]

Had another look myself. The van version weighed 900kg and could carry 500kg of mail uphill. I'd like to see them try that with a G-wizzzzzzz!

[Blue850]

pshh electric, steam wagons ftw

[bigalan]

Bloody hell, wonder what the handling us like on that!

[qwerty]

Jan 13, 2010 23:29:12 GMT Blue850 said:

pshh electric, steam wagons ftw

That needs a bodydrop and a few coils cut!

[suterman]

Check this one out, The puffing Devil.

It was at the Trevithick Festival in Bridgnorth, I was behind it in my car on the main road! it was doing about 15-20mph.



It is steered with the lever at the front, The steerer has a peg to put through a hole in the steering bar and holes in the front rail to keep the wheels pointing where he wants them.

[VWPowered]

thats steamers not that old on a Y reg lol

[Andy Camaro]

isnt this the earliest "DONK"