Acoma Mini Comtesse - Any Help?
Discussion
I've just bought this Acoma Mini Comtesse at auction, it doesn't run (probably a good thing!) though I would like to restore it. If anyone knows anything about these I'd much appreciate it. It's a funny and very ugly little car but I just couldn't leave it sitting there. Also does anyone know what sort of spark plugs these use and what sort of fuel - whether two stroke or four stroke?
Thanks
Thanks
Ambleton said:
Worst "I got drunk one night and woke up in the morning to find I won this on ebay" thread ever!
good luck - what could possibly go wrong!!
good luck - what could possibly go wrong!!
Haha nope I was completely awake and sober and at a physical auction. It was only cheap and I quite looking at it, though most people who've seen it just want to watch me get in it because I'm tall.
According to these articles I found on Jalopnik and Barnfinds:
http://jalopnik.com/what-it-s-like-to-drive-a-tiny...
http://barnfinds.com/smaller-than-a-mini-1975-acom...
... the engine is a 49cc single-cylinder 2-stroke unit capable of outputting a blazing 3 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 2-speed automatic gearbox.
The car was designed for people who have no license to drive any other type of vehicle (voiture sans permis, literally "car without a license"). The law was intended to allow people with no drivers licenses get on to mopeds, but creative designers wanted people to be driving cars instead, hence the tiddly engine and strange number of wheels (5, in this case - the driven front wheel, the two rear wheels, and a pair of casters to stop it falling over during cornering, Reliant Robin-style).
You might not get to where you're going very quickly, but on the bright side - you'll only need to buy a quarter of the number of spark plugs most people do...
http://jalopnik.com/what-it-s-like-to-drive-a-tiny...
http://barnfinds.com/smaller-than-a-mini-1975-acom...
... the engine is a 49cc single-cylinder 2-stroke unit capable of outputting a blazing 3 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 2-speed automatic gearbox.
The car was designed for people who have no license to drive any other type of vehicle (voiture sans permis, literally "car without a license"). The law was intended to allow people with no drivers licenses get on to mopeds, but creative designers wanted people to be driving cars instead, hence the tiddly engine and strange number of wheels (5, in this case - the driven front wheel, the two rear wheels, and a pair of casters to stop it falling over during cornering, Reliant Robin-style).
You might not get to where you're going very quickly, but on the bright side - you'll only need to buy a quarter of the number of spark plugs most people do...
406highlander said:
According to these articles I found on Jalopnik and Barnfinds:
http://jalopnik.com/what-it-s-like-to-drive-a-tiny...
http://barnfinds.com/smaller-than-a-mini-1975-acom...
... the engine is a 49cc single-cylinder 2-stroke unit capable of outputting a blazing 3 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 2-speed automatic gearbox.
The car was designed for people who have no license to drive any other type of vehicle (voiture sans permis, literally "car without a license"). The law was intended to allow people with no drivers licenses get on to mopeds, but creative designers wanted people to be driving cars instead, hence the tiddly engine and strange number of wheels (5, in this case - the driven front wheel, the two rear wheels, and a pair of casters to stop it falling over during cornering, Reliant Robin-style).
You might not get to where you're going very quickly, but on the bright side - you'll only need to buy a quarter of the number of spark plugs most people do...
Thanks this is great! those 3hp are going to feel like even less I'm sure!http://jalopnik.com/what-it-s-like-to-drive-a-tiny...
http://barnfinds.com/smaller-than-a-mini-1975-acom...
... the engine is a 49cc single-cylinder 2-stroke unit capable of outputting a blazing 3 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 2-speed automatic gearbox.
The car was designed for people who have no license to drive any other type of vehicle (voiture sans permis, literally "car without a license"). The law was intended to allow people with no drivers licenses get on to mopeds, but creative designers wanted people to be driving cars instead, hence the tiddly engine and strange number of wheels (5, in this case - the driven front wheel, the two rear wheels, and a pair of casters to stop it falling over during cornering, Reliant Robin-style).
You might not get to where you're going very quickly, but on the bright side - you'll only need to buy a quarter of the number of spark plugs most people do...
LeoZwalf said:
A mad purchase and one I salute entirely! The guys and girls at Practical Classics might well know more about these things, especially Sam Glover (although as it isn't Eastern Bloc or similar, it might be out of his range)
Keep us updated, what a thing!!
Haha thanks I willKeep us updated, what a thing!!
The engine is probably the same Motobécane 49cc 2-stroke unit as found on Motobécane's own Mobylette range of mopeds.
The good news is that Motobécane built more than 14 million Mobylettes between 1949 and 1997, so chances are than if the little 2-stroke is toast, you'll be able to lay your hands on a working example without parting with too much cash. It should also be fairly easy to find a guide on stripping down the engine and building it back up again, or mechanics who've seen them / worked on them previously.
The bad news is that with that same engine, the Mobylette would only do a maximum speed of 40 MPH (depending on which version you bought). And the bike weighed less than your car does...
The good news is that Motobécane built more than 14 million Mobylettes between 1949 and 1997, so chances are than if the little 2-stroke is toast, you'll be able to lay your hands on a working example without parting with too much cash. It should also be fairly easy to find a guide on stripping down the engine and building it back up again, or mechanics who've seen them / worked on them previously.
The bad news is that with that same engine, the Mobylette would only do a maximum speed of 40 MPH (depending on which version you bought). And the bike weighed less than your car does...
406highlander said:
The engine is probably the same Motobécane 49cc 2-stroke unit as found on Motobécane's own Mobylette range of mopeds.
The good news is that Motobécane built more than 14 million Mobylettes between 1949 and 1997, so chances are than if the little 2-stroke is toast, you'll be able to lay your hands on a working example without parting with too much cash. It should also be fairly easy to find a guide on stripping down the engine and building it back up again, or mechanics who've seen them / worked on them previously.
The bad news is that with that same engine, the Mobylette would only do a maximum speed of 40 MPH (depending on which version you bought). And the bike weighed less than your car does...
ah perfect thank you, to be honest I wasn't expecting to get half of 40mph out of it! hoping to get it running at least and see how well it runs and then set about restoring it. The good news is that Motobécane built more than 14 million Mobylettes between 1949 and 1997, so chances are than if the little 2-stroke is toast, you'll be able to lay your hands on a working example without parting with too much cash. It should also be fairly easy to find a guide on stripping down the engine and building it back up again, or mechanics who've seen them / worked on them previously.
The bad news is that with that same engine, the Mobylette would only do a maximum speed of 40 MPH (depending on which version you bought). And the bike weighed less than your car does...
406highlander said:
The engine is probably the same Motobécane 49cc 2-stroke unit as found on Motobécane's own Mobylette range of mopeds.
Further info: your car is the later Type 73, so the engine would have been either the Saxonette type 50 AMALX (47cc) or the Motobecane type 93D (50cc) engine. You may even have a 4-speed gearbox.This link I found mentions these two engine choices, and also gives some kind of explanation for the barmy doors!
http://smallcarsclub.com/catalog/acoma/acoma-mini-...
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