THREE-WHEELED CAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 261, 28 June 1932, Page 2

THREE-WHEELED CAR

ORIGINAL GERMAN DESIGN AROUSES MARKED INTEREST. A German three-wheeler of disotinctly original design, known as the Neiman, has just arrived in Paris, where its advent has created not a little interest. From external appearance there is nothing about the Neiman to suggest that the engine is at the rear, although such is the case. Closer examination reveals even greater surprise in the design of the frame, which appears to have been inspired by that of certain well known Austrian cars in which a single-steel tube of large diameter constitutes the chassis. In the case of the Neiman the tube is offset relative to the centre line of the vehicle, and the rear wheel is anchored from one side only, an arrangement which makes for easy wheel changing. 'The power unit is a 600 c.c. side-valve N.S.U. single cylinder incorporating a three-speed-and-reversing gear-box. Final drive is by a short chain. The cylinder is enclosed in a cowling through which air is forced by a large four-bladed fan driven by a belt from a pulley on an extension of the camshaft. The engine-cradle is attached to two very substantial steel collars, brazed on to the central tube. Suspension arrangements, both front and rear, include helical springs working in leather gaiters, aeroplanetype elastic belts and pneumatic shock absorbers beneath the axles. It may be noted that one of each pair of belts is longer than the other and does not come into action until the short belt has extended a little, thereby reducing fatigue in the elastic. At the rear the suspension arrangement is completed by a stout, single-leaf spring which acts as a radius arm. The suspension may seem rather needlessly complicated, but it is certainly efficient. Accessibility is a good feature of the Neiman. The tail portion of the body hinges upwards like a bonnet, exposing the engine and transmission. A point which appears open to criticism is the fact that the exhaust is carried directly into the central tube 01- "chassis," which .acts as a silencer, albeit in a highly efficient manner. ^ , 1 Exchange tlre right front tyre with left rear and right rear with left front. Changing them in that fashion enables you to get the utmost mileage' out of a set of tyres. If your spare is in good shape be sure to put it on a wheel joceasionally, even though you are not forced by a puncture to do so. Tyres will wear out almost as fast on a spare as they will on a running wheel.