1967 Velorex 16/350

Description

The emergent, post-WWII economies of the European Eastern Bloc lacked an auto industry capable of meeting the demand for affordable ground transportation, leaving small manufacturers to develop their own surprisingly innovative solutions. Taking inspiration from the Morgan Motor Company three-wheelers, Bohemian brothers František and Mojmír Stránský designed a motorized tricycle out of their bicycle shop in 1943, naming it Oskar (kára na ose, or 'car on axle’). By 1956, the brothers’ operation was nationalized and became Velorex, which produced three-wheeled vehicles using motorcycle sidecar construction techniques for one-fourth the manufacturing cost of a conventional four-wheeled car. Produced under the designation Model 16 from 1963, the Velorex consisted of heavy-duty vinyl stretched over a lightweight tube frame – evocative of pioneering aircraft – with a choice of a ČZ 175 or Jawa 350 type 572 motorcycle engine. Nearly 13,000 units of the stalwart, affordable machine were produced in total, and today they have become a unique collector's item among historical vehicle enthusiasts.

Highlights

• Freshly refurbished in 2022, receiving a new canvas top, vinyl upholstery, clutch cable, starter brushes, ignition points, carburetor, and wiring including cleaned connections and fuses

• Equipped with a correct 350 cc two-cylinder Jawa engine with fewer than 3,000 miles 

• Final, most refined generation of the Velorex three-wheeler

• Power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a four-speed manual transmission

• Brown vinyl over a red vinyl interior and a tan canvas soft top

• Very few surviving, and an especially rare sight in the United States

• Clean title

Features

• Wire wheels

• Vinyl bodywork

• Fixed tubular chassis construction

• Driver side rear view mirror

• Three-spoke steering wheel

• Color-matching red vinyl dashboard

• Skoda-sourced speedometer

Known Flaws

• Some stainless steel vinyl bodywork twist latches broken

• Engine is not timed properly to fire up in reverse rotation (and as a result does not engage reverse running)

Included 

• Single key

• Original top

• Original ignition points

• Original carburetor

Ownership History

Prior to being acquired and refurbished by the consignor in late 2022, the Velorex is understood to have been in storage in Tennessee for over 20 years.

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Group Car Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner for this vehicle.

Contact: Cason Vogel Phone: 904.504.7848 email: cason.vogel@broadarrowgroup.com