Steampunk Express

Steampunk Express

Two cut-up Nimbus engine blocks welded together, two-piece handlebar for a good view of the sixteen exposed rocker arms. Fuel & front suspension lies ahead of the engine, a Moto Guzzi auto-transmission behind it. An SU carburetor on a low-pressure blower feeds the cylinders. The frame is made of eighteen aluminium plates bolted together, the center ones doing double duty as the wet sump. Wooden wheels and an abundance of brass bits are all essential parts of the steampunk style.

If I ever do a major project, this straight eight will be it…

The Boxer Eight (a.k.a. The Lobster)

The Boxer Eight (a.k.a. The Lobster)

The lower one of the two Nimbus engine blocks bolted together has a reversed cylinder head, and a modified cam and ignition. Conrods with ‘slave’ rods are used for the upper part. It’ll be a right pain to assemble the engine, but Nimbus experts say it can be done. The oil ends up in the lower camshaft housing, to return to the oil tank right behind. Fuel tank is above the oil tank. Dual exhaust systems resemble a lobster’s legs, when the latter is lying on it’s back.

Der Big Willy

Der Big Willy

The smallest of the German 1950’s three-wheelers had just borrowed their famous name from WW2 aircraft designer Willy Messerschmitt, but this is the real thing. The late-model DB 601 inverted V12 makes 1,475 bhp on aviation fuel. Power goes via the propeller shaft to a two-speed gearbox, and further on to the front wheels. The 'NRA Special' version get to keeps the two 20 mm cannon mounted above the engine.

Seeing that lately old 'warbirds' have gotten quite pricey, this will be one expensive vehicle.

The Prattster

The Prattster

2½ litre cylinder off a Pratt & Whitney radial aircraft engine, custom crankcase and longitudinally mounted transmission. Compression is lowered to prevent everything from rattling to bits, but I’m still not sure how it can be kicked into life. A potential winner of slow idle contests.