The 1932 Helicron, found in a French barn in 2000, is an automotive unicorn. The old vehicle used a propeller for propulsion, creating a loud and difficult to drive car that now resides in Tennessee. A new video from the Barcroft Cars YouTube channel gives a full look at the vehicle that perfectly encapsulates its eccentricity.
The Helicron has been completely rebuilt, and it’s road legal, spinning propeller and all. The car has been fully restored with as many original parts as possible. However, some things had to be fabricated, such as the propeller fairing. The gauges also had to be repaired, although the car’s dashboard is still the original one, as well as the 19-inch spoked wheels, headlights, brake pedal, steering wheel, power switch lighting, steering gear and nameplate.
It’s 14 feet long and it steers the rear wheels. The original designers reversed the chassis, placing the engine compartment in the front and the steering wheels in the rear, which makes driving frustrating with its large turning radius. Its length does not help.
The original engine was not found with the car, which was a flat-twin engine. Instead, the restoration process saw a more robust and modern Citroën engine power the propeller, with the crankshaft directly coupled to the blade hub. It has a fixed propeller with a climbing pitch, which helps the car accelerate since it is not fast. A simple incline may require the driver to exit the vehicle to push it, but the steering, throttle and brake are easily accessible from outside the car, making it a bit safer to push than a vehicle modern.
The 1932 Helicron is unlike any other car. Instead of an engine turning a driveshaft that spins the tires, he used a simpler design – a propeller. These cars often used simple and efficient motorcycle engines. The idea never caught on, and many propeller-powered vehicles of the era have not survived. They testify to the creativity, the ingenuity and, perhaps, our pride at the time.
The 1932 Helicron, found in a French barn in 2000, is an automotive unicorn. The old vehicle used a propeller for propulsion, creating a loud and difficult to drive car that now resides in Tennessee. A new video from the Barcroft Cars YouTube channel gives a full look at the vehicle that perfectly encapsulates its eccentricity.
The Helicron has been completely rebuilt, and it’s road legal, spinning propeller and all. The car has been fully restored with as many original parts as possible. However, some things had to be fabricated, such as the propeller fairing. The gauges also had to be repaired, although the car’s dashboard is still the original one, as well as the 19-inch spoked wheels, headlights, brake pedal, steering wheel, power switch lighting, steering gear and nameplate.
It’s 14 feet long and it steers the rear wheels. The original designers reversed the chassis, placing the engine compartment in the front and the steering wheels in the rear, which makes driving frustrating with its large turning radius. Its length does not help.
The original engine was not found with the car, which was a flat-twin engine. Instead, the restoration process saw a more robust and modern Citroën engine power the propeller, with the crankshaft directly coupled to the blade hub. It has a fixed propeller with a climbing pitch, which helps the car accelerate since it is not fast. A simple incline may require the driver to exit the vehicle to push it, but the steering, throttle and brake are easily accessible from outside the car, making it a bit safer to push than a vehicle modern.
The 1932 Helicron is unlike any other car. Instead of an engine turning a driveshaft that spins the tires, he used a simpler design – a propeller. These cars often used simple and efficient motorcycle engines. The idea never caught on, and many propeller-powered vehicles of the era have not survived. They testify to the creativity, the ingenuity and, perhaps, our pride at the time.