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Sunbeain-Mabley

I was fascinated by your article on cyclecars (TCM April 2020, pages 68-73) but there is another one, which, apart from its weird configuration, is an interesting example of a cyclecar produced before a famous motorcycle manufacturer began making motorcycles.

Described as 'the Victorian love-seat on wheels; this odd vehicle had its wheels in an offset diamond configuration, with one at each side, one at the front and one at the back.

The front wheels were thoughtfully placed out of line with each other, so that there was no chance of missing a single bump! The engine was placed over the front wheel and steering was by tiller.

Around 130 of these vehicles were produced by John Marston Ltd between 1901 and 1903. Although it was the first production Sunbeam car, I always think of it as a cyclecar.

Paul Hutton, archivist to The Marston Sunbeam Club and Register.

Thank you, Paul, for your email and accompanying period photographs. Despite some averring true cyclecars were produced in their defined period 1910-1925, your reminder of the Sunbeam-Mahley proves, to my mind, they were built over a much wider period, as this motorised love-seat ticks all the boxes to make it a cyclecar.

Described by the company as a 'voiturette' - though love-seat or loving seat sounds more romantic - the Sunbeam-Mahley was unveiled at the 1901 Crystal Palace Show, along with a couple of more conventional car prototypes. Although history informs us this vehicle was built by John Marston Ltd of Sunbeamland, Wolverhampton,