Puisque je suis dans les voiturettes à roues-rayon, en voici une repérée depuis longtemps, un must en la matière : une Briggs & Stratton Flyer !
depuis le temps, elle est malheureusement vendue !
Je vous le fais dans le texte anglais :
The early days of the Motorcar
have brought about some very interesting solutions to self-propelled
transportation. It was a time of grand experimentation. Car builders were
producing a vast array of machines that ranged from the bizarre and silly to
the brilliantly simple. Some went on to greatness, while others became mere
footnotes in the vast history of the automobile. One such footnote comes
courtesy of A.O. Smith and his little Smith Flyer minicar. What looks like a
cross between a Radio-Flyer toboggan, a bicycle and a Go-Kart, the Smith Flyer
was a tiny thing at just 70 inches long that featured two bucket seats, a
steering wheel, some floor boards and, well, little else. The only thing that
differentiated the Smith Flyer from a gravity racer was the tiny two-horsepower
engine that hung off the back. The engine powered a unique motor-wheel that was
hinged to contact the ground and provide forward momentum. Although only
capable of two horsepower, it weighed in at just 135 pounds, and – providing
the passengers aren’t too heavy – could return at least a moderate bit of
speed.
In 1919, Smith sold the rights for his buggy to Briggs & Stratton,
who renamed it the “Auto Red Bug”, and later “Briggs & Stratton Flyer”, who
continued to produce it until about 1920. The Flyer was mainly seen as a
novelty item for the wealthy or as a fun source of transport around amusement
parks. Today, a small group of loyal collectors now covet these little buggies,
more than just a novelty; these are highly sought after collector pieces.
This fully restored example is
surely one of the very best Briggs & Stratton Flyers in existence. It hails
from 1919-1920, and was most recently part of the highly regarded Sterling
Walsh collection. While certainly a minimalist machine, it has been beautifully
restored and remains in outstanding condition. Careful attention has been paid
to every detail, from the signature red paint on the fenders and wheels to the
Briggs & Stratton engine which beautifully detailed with correct plating
and finishes and decals. The wooden floors/chassis are excellently presented
and the paint quality is outstanding – well above what one would normally
expect on a vehicle of this sort.
This Briggs & Stratton Flyer
is a charming and fabulously presented little vehicle that would make a
wonderful addition to any collection of early motorcars, automobilia or
Voiturette. For discerning collectors of automobilia and early motoring
history, we are confident this would be a delightful addition to any
collection, and would certainly make for great fun from behind the wheel.
