The Velorex was a Czechoslovakian car, but the body was made of vinyl (called "Igelit") stretched over steel tubing. Same construction as a tent. Made by its own company, founded from scratch by two brothers, the Velorex was made from the mid 1950s to 1971. Early models were called Oskar, but the Velorex name was introduced just a few years into production. Production was limited - only 15,300 were made. It was a cross between a motorcycle and a car, and was designed for the disabled. The price was attractive - for the price of a typical car, you could buy about four Velorexes.
Variants included the Oskar 54 (mid 1950s), Velorex Oskar (c. 1956-late 1950s), Velorex 16/250 (late 1950s to 1960s), Velorex 16/175 (1963-1971), and Velorex 16/350 (1963-1971). The 16/350, the most powerful variant, had a production of 12,000 units that made up 78 percent of Velorex production.
It had three wheels - two front, one rear. It featured motorcycle engines with 9 to 16 horsepower, depending on the variant.
The Velorex required only a motorcycle driver's license prior to 2000, making it an attractive option for those who wanted an enclosed car but lacked the wherewithal to get a full driver license. The cars were reliable; in 1996, 62.5% ever made were still on the road, at 25 to 40 years old.
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