Dickinson Morette

The Dickinson Morette was a light three-wheeled cyclecar built by B.E. Dickinson & Co. of Birmingham.

The original version was a very light single-seater, weighing only about 90 lbs (40.8 kg), powered by a 1.5 hp single-cylinder two-stroke Ixion engine mounted just behind the front wheel. Drive was transmitted through a rubber-tyred flywheel that pressed directly onto the front tyre, in a manner similar to the Velosolex bicycle attachment later used in the 1950s.

The starting arrangement was unusual: a lever mounted below the steering tiller was connected through clutches to the rear wheels, and pulling it jerked the vehicle forward. Since the front wheel was in direct contact with the flywheel, this motion was intended to start the engine. Raising the tiller disengaged the flywheel from the tyre, effectively acting as a clutch.

It was noted that the vehicle could, if desired, be enlarged and strengthened to carry two people, in which case a more powerful engine would be fitted. A later version of the Morette featured a 4 hp two-cylinder engine, with drive transmitted to the front wheel by chain rather than by the direct flywheel-and-tyre method.