Originally designed by the Stránský brothers of Czechoslovakia in 1942, the Oskar (“car on axle” in Czech) was inspired by what Morgan was creating over in England.
It’s been eight years since I last featured one of these, and a knowledge commenter named avecroues added the following:
“This model is known as the Oskar. The Czechoslovakian government offered a subsidy to disabled people who wanted to buy these cars, but they had a much wider market of buyers who could not afford a more conventional ride. Like the Messerschmitt in Germany, this was the next step up from an open scooter or motorcycle.
There is a delightful Czech movie, called in English “Run, Waiter, Run!” (Vrchní, prchni! in the original Czech). The hero drives an Oskar, and in one scene he plays on the image of the car as a vehicle for the disabled, getting enough sympathy from the police that he avoids a well-deserved speeding ticket.
The Oskar is much more capable than its hapless appearance suggests. A group of intrepid Czech enthusiasts brought their Oskars to the U.S. and drove the length of Route 66 – from Chicago to Los Angeles – in 2008.”
The tube frame was covered with a leather-like vinyl material and it surrounded a 350cc Jawa engine that produced 28 horsepower. The entire package was 683 pounds – cruising speed was about 37 mph and top speed was 53.
This example is going to need some work – it had a “total restoration performed about 15 years ago” but it wa slast running two years ago. The seller notes that the “starter works in either rotation so you have 4 speeds forward and reverse.” Impressively, the listing says that this has covered 64,760 miles but it’s unclear if that’s accurate.
Find this Velorex for sale in Valley City, North Dakota with an asking price of $8,500 here on Facebook Marketplace.
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rod M!