Vintage trike
I know you are a fan of the wacky and unusual (well, you have two OECs, including a duplex steering example…) so I thought you’d like this picture of a 1923 three-wheeler photographed at last August Bank Holiday Monday’s Grimsthorpe Speed Trials, taken by my mate Mike Smith. Gerry Allen, email.
In my first reply to Gerry, I wrote: ‘I assume this wondrous vehicle is an AVRO…’ but couldn’t recall the whole story. As I pinged off the above reply, the grey cells slithered into action to add a second reply: ‘It’s a Harper Runabout built by AV Roe of Manchester.’
This narrow track threewheeler designed by RO
Harper was built first at the AVRO Works, Newton Heath, Manchester c1921-1924 then by Harpers Motors, Old Trafford, Manchester c1924-1926 (perhaps 1928/9).
Of an estimated production run of 300 or so vehicles, the first examples were powered by 269cc Mk.V Villiers engines, then later by 343cc V1B (1922-3), V11B (1924-5) and V111B (1926).
All were mounted outboard of the trike’s offside. Sources suggest the engine drove a countershaft and thence a clutch and gearbox with independent chains for each of its three speeds. It is unclear whether any used more conventional motorcycle-type gearboxes.
Steering control to the single front wheel was by motorcycle type handlebar to which the brake, clutch and carburettor control levers were fixed.*
Starting and handbrake levers were to the near side and gear selection lever to right side.
The maker stated their threewheeler had good brakes and thanks to its engine and light weight, performance was better than that of many rival period cyclecars. The design included full suspension and a sophisticated chain adjustment system.
Launch price in 1921 was in the region of £100 (which compared favourably with other cyclecars and many motorcycles) before falling to £70 by 1926. Some sources suggest the Harper Runabout was in production until 1928 or even 1929 – however, these dates may relate to the registration of remaining unsold machines from the 1924-26 production run. A handful of owners competed in long distance reliability trials in period with their Harper Runabouts with some success.
Although the Harper
Runabout appears a single seater, it could carry a passenger, either facing forwards astride the vehicle with their arms wrapped round the driver to hang on (cosy). Or if they fell out with their pilot they could sit back-toback, their feet on a rearwards footrest provided for such…
*In some photos, the handlebars appear clean of all levers – in that instance, I have no idea where the controls were sited!