Lypsoid tyres

 I'm not sure why military people thought the future was 3 wheelers but to rival the Moto Guzzi oddity, here is the entry from Straussler. 
Nicholas Straussler was a Hungarian-born automotive engineer working in England, becoming a citizen. He was known for a series of innovative trucks and tractors in the mid thirties, and one of the designers of the floating DD tank system. Postwar he came up with what he called Lypsoid tires, fat low pressure tires which he thought could replace tank tracks as well as provide better floatation for conventional wheeled vehicles. One of the test vehicles was this 2 stroke twin powered thing, basically the forerunner of the ATV!

Below, Lantrac from 1969, about the time the Honda ATC was introduced.

Swap meet transportation

Classy!

Shelby Dowd Daytona wheels

 The Munch Mammoth had cast wheels in 1966, and Peter Williams experimented with them in the late sixties on his race bikes, but by the mid-seventies there were many choices. These are from Carroll Shelby's aftermarket company. The company must have been short-lived, I don't think I've ever run across examples of these anywhere. For American competition, Morris and Lester were selling their own versions.  By the late seventies the motorcycle companies were all doing their own. 

Morris motorcycle

Before going into the automobile business William Morris had tried motorcycle manufacturing. He showed 2 of his self-designed and built machines at a Motor Show in 1902 but it took a couple of years to get into production. However the venture was not as successful as he would have liked and he sold the rights in 1908. He continued with a dealership selling different makes of motorcycles and cars until he went into car manufacturing (successfully) in 1912.

"This is how a Phoenix tire is made"

The title is translated from the text on the sample case. In 1951 the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, hoping to penetrate the German market, acquired 25 percent of Phoenix to market tires for automobiles under the brand name "Firestone Phoenix" in Germany. 

 The agreement lasted twenty years, Firestone withdrew in 1971 when Deutsche Bank purchased the shares as they were trying to reorganize the German rubber processing industry. A merger with Continental didn't work out and Phoenix quit the tire business in 1973 to concentrate on other rubber products.

 The sample case pictured here dates to that twenty year period, the contents show the raw materials and processes for tire construction both bias and the newly-developed radial tires.

Phoenix business info here.

thanks, Rolf!

Monday Mystery. Fortecs Imperial

I did a post on these Fortecs wire wheels last year, we are still looking for a screw-in center badge. If anyone has any leads please contact me at gerald@vanwyngaarden.ca . 
It appears they are Japanese aftermarket, Ebay does show some round horn buttons but there is still not much information online.

Autodromo di Monza 1948

Unknown artist but another great poster advertising the motorcycle races held at Monza in 1948.

The main element- the arrow- points to the race circuit but who knows why the rider is leaving? 

Sidecar Sunday

Unlikely survivor, Toyota Corolla All-trac

 Mechanically there's no surprise a Toyota of this vintage is still running, but rust got them all, well, nearly all of them.  This one just looks dowdy and resigned, waiting for another winter.
The All-tracs were sold from 1988-92 and I always thought the styling looked awkward, like it was designed in a communist country or something. They got an enthusiastic following though, people loved them.

Early Cyclists

thanks, Jon!