Velorex 435-O

Producing of Velorex 3-wheelers was stopped in 1971, when the factory presented four-wheel microcar for disabled people called Velorex 435-O. It was fitted with Jawa 572-4 350 cc engine. The only available color from factory – grey. 4-wheeled Velorex was extremely uncomfortable, had brakes overheating problem and bad insulation from exhaust gases.

The dashboard includes a speedometer, light switch, wipers electric motor, ignition system and accelerator. Weight of 2.9 meter car is only 400 kg. This allows to reach top speed of 85 kph. Fuel consumption – 6.6 liters per 100 km. Several body parts (like rear wings) are still made of imitation leather.

Velorex grew out of a bicycle repair shop run by the brothers František and Mojmír Stránský, who built the first three-wheeled prototype, Oskar, in 1943. The name Velorex was adopted in 1956. About 12,000 of the Jawa-engined Model 16/350 three-wheelers were made, but the 435-0 four-wheeler sold only 1,380 cars. Design and manufacturing problems and cheaper rivals such as the Trabant made it a commercial failure, and production stopped in 1973.

The reliabilty was very poor, that’s why this cute microcar didn’t find success and couldn’t contend with Trabant. The last Velorex 435-O left factory gates in 1973. Only 1380 copies were made.

Velorex 435-O photos

Velorex 435-O videos