Cyrano5 HP Twin-Cylinder

The fully period-documented Cyrano and the controlling model record. La Locomotion Automobile says Klaus finalized the design and Richard Popp acquired its construction and sales licence; Gillet-Popp et Cie built it at Bergerac under the topical Cyrano name. The illustrated car was a four-seat vis-à-vis, while later reference material also records a two-seat phaeton. Two 100 x 180 mm cylinders calculate to 2,827 cc. At 500 rpm the engine made 5 HP and the four ratios produced 8, 16, 24 and 32 km/h; it could turn from 200 to 800 rpm. A seat-operated ratchet lever started the engine. The needle carburettor had no float and was adjustable from the seat; ignition timing was also driver-adjustable. The article gives 450 kg for cars then being built and says series simplification might reduce this to 360 kg; later summaries' 380 kg is therefore not silently substituted. Front and rear wheel diameters were 700 and 800 mm. The modern claim that the twin appeared only in 1900 is directly contradicted by this February 1899 construction report.