Norimono-ya Cydes Car

Electric kick scooters, which have recently become common in the city, are quickly becoming popular as a convenient means of short-distance urban transport because they do not require a licence. In fact, there was a similar movement in the 1980s. That was the popularity of “cyclecars”.

The oil crisis of 1973 triggered a greater awareness of “energy and space saving” in cars and mobility in general in Japan and around the world. From the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, “cyclecars” were born one after another. In Europe, especially in France, there were many manufacturers of four-wheeled mopeds, called quadricycles, including serious companies such as the F1 constructor Ligier.

There was the Cydes car in Japan. Norimono-ya was founded in Setagaya, Tokyo, about half a century ago. The factory was founded in 1973 by staff originally from the motorsport industry, and began by customising two-wheeled vehicles. They gained popularity with hits such as the Monkey Davidson, based on the Honda Monkey.

The unique design is said to have been created by Mooncraft (not listed on the company’s official website).

In 1981, Norimono-ya released the Cydes Car, billed as “Japan’s first all-weather motorcycle”. It was created by putting an FRP body over the components of the Honda Karen moped, sold from 1979 to 1981, and turning it into a three-wheeled vehicle. At the height of the moped boom, 750 were produced.