Post by admin on Jan 7, 2011 1:22:15 GMT
Launched in 1960, the Corvette became Hercules's parting shot as the TI Raleigh Group's decision to factor Motobécane products killed it off in 1961.
The simple T-form welded frame was made up from an unusual oval section tube and on it was mounted a petrol tank, carried over from the Her-cu-motor. Being part of the British Cycle Corporation, forks, heavily valanced mudguards, rack and stand seemed to have been borrowed from Phillips and were common to their Mk2 Panda, but the Hercules assemblage was then disgraced by large and unsympathetically styled side-panels in composite steel and aluminium. The light blue and white paint job with pinstriped dream topping suggested the rider could be an aspiring ice-cream vendor and the Corvette didn't look set to give the competition much cause for concern. Early models were supplied with half-width hubs at both ends, phased through a full width rear, and finally to full width at the front as well, which helps accurate dating. The cast aluminium belt flywheel and 6.1:1 compression × 1.8bhp engine were of AML Lavalette origin. Breathing through the D12 Gurtner carb, it claimed a reasonable maximum of 37mph. Motor layout was a conventional fore and aft porting in a cast iron barrel with a typically continental aluminium head finning pattern suited to accommodate a fan cool shroud location for scooter applications, for which variants of the motor were also used. Lavalette's own VM flywheel magneto generates sparks and the usual 18W electrical output to Miller front & rear lighting, while the two stage automatic clutch transmits power back from an outboard pulley. The exhaust system is quite quaint with the down-pipe appearing like an inflated banana and ending in a cylindrical silencer beneath the motor. Brake operation is orthodox cycle hand levers, so with all conventional controls there are no peculiar considerations to deter the novice rider. The Corvette finally ceased production mid 1963.
Extract from Roadtest by Mark Daniels
Full road test at
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0305.htm
The UK expert on this model is Mark Daniels register keeper for the Hercules marque.
mark.daniels975@btinternet.com
Mark owns three corvettes and has a very wide range of moped experience
The simple T-form welded frame was made up from an unusual oval section tube and on it was mounted a petrol tank, carried over from the Her-cu-motor. Being part of the British Cycle Corporation, forks, heavily valanced mudguards, rack and stand seemed to have been borrowed from Phillips and were common to their Mk2 Panda, but the Hercules assemblage was then disgraced by large and unsympathetically styled side-panels in composite steel and aluminium. The light blue and white paint job with pinstriped dream topping suggested the rider could be an aspiring ice-cream vendor and the Corvette didn't look set to give the competition much cause for concern. Early models were supplied with half-width hubs at both ends, phased through a full width rear, and finally to full width at the front as well, which helps accurate dating. The cast aluminium belt flywheel and 6.1:1 compression × 1.8bhp engine were of AML Lavalette origin. Breathing through the D12 Gurtner carb, it claimed a reasonable maximum of 37mph. Motor layout was a conventional fore and aft porting in a cast iron barrel with a typically continental aluminium head finning pattern suited to accommodate a fan cool shroud location for scooter applications, for which variants of the motor were also used. Lavalette's own VM flywheel magneto generates sparks and the usual 18W electrical output to Miller front & rear lighting, while the two stage automatic clutch transmits power back from an outboard pulley. The exhaust system is quite quaint with the down-pipe appearing like an inflated banana and ending in a cylindrical silencer beneath the motor. Brake operation is orthodox cycle hand levers, so with all conventional controls there are no peculiar considerations to deter the novice rider. The Corvette finally ceased production mid 1963.
Extract from Roadtest by Mark Daniels
Full road test at
www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0305.htm
The UK expert on this model is Mark Daniels register keeper for the Hercules marque.
mark.daniels975@btinternet.com
Mark owns three corvettes and has a very wide range of moped experience