Two wheeled vehicles

BUGGY
Introduced to England in about 1800, it was related to the CABRIOLET. The body contained a double seat with hood behind which was a rumble seat for the groom. It was drawn by a single horse or large pony and became more popular in the United States than in Britain.

CABRIOLET
A small two-wheeled , fashionable vehicle imported from France in the first quarter of the 19th century which ousted the CURRICLE. It was drawn by a single horse and equipped with a covered hood, "C" springs and a small padded platform, or dummy board, at the rear on which a small, liveried groom stood.
The vehicle was later developed to become the four-wheeled "MILORD".

CAR
A name associated with a cart of superior build for example, Governess Car, Ralli Car, Moray Car and Irish Jaunting Car.

CHAISE. (also CHAY).

The chaise was a popular vehicle in the USA. It had a folding top and a body suspended on unique springs extending from a point forward of the wheels to the upturned rear ends of the shafts.

CURRICLE
Introduced at the start of the 19th century and reputedly based on an early British war-chariot adopted by the Romans, the curricle was a light 2-seat, half hooded vehicle drawn by two horses in pole drive or three horses in Troika configuration. The driving harness was unique since all had the addition of a steel bar attached to pads on the horses backs as used in the Roman CURRICULUM.. On its return to popularity in Italy, France and England in the 19th. century it was greatly modified. It was suspended on "C" springs. To the rear there was a small rumble seat to accommodate a small liveried groom, or Tiger, from the groom's striped waistcoat.. It was superceded by the CABRIOLET.

DOG CART. A generic name for a two wheeled GIG (q.v.) used for carrying sporting dogs. The size and design of the body varied by making the box, or boot, larger.

It seated up to four people “dos-a-dos” (back to back), the driver and one passenger on the front seat and two to the rear. To the rear a compartment (“underboot"), was covered by a sliding seat, providing accommodation for dogs, picnics or luggage. The tailboard, with letting down chains, provided a footboard for the rear passengers. To allow ventilation for the animals, Venetian slats were set in the side panels. In some vehicles, in which dogs were not carried, these slats were simply painted

A slight inconvenience of the two-wheeled cart was the need to balance the vehicle for the sake of the horse. This was achieved in a variety of ways – usually by screw adjustments or, in less sophisticated vehicles, sliding seats with pins.

Wheels were at least 4ft 7ins in diameter although these became smaller with the introduction of lower and smaller vehicles for ponies.

The axle was mounted on two, or in some instances, three elliptical springs to absorb the road-shock. No brakes were provided.

Many vehicles were modified for use by doctors and other professional men as a means of every-day transport. There were many varieties, the names of which derived from the areas or towns in which they were made.

It was also the forerunner of the RALLI car (q.v.)

GIG
"Gig" is a contraction of "whirligig" a derisive term for any cheap owner-driven two-wheeled vehicle. Such a vehicle would normally be used in country districts. All gigs were enclosed but had ample space under the rear seat for luggage or stores. If the cost of the vehicle was below £12 it was subject to a low rate of tax (12 shillings (60p) a year) providing that 'Taxed Cart' was clearly painted on them. They were used extensively by commercial travellers in view of their cost.

Latterly, when they were adopted by town-dwellers, they became more respectable as their design and construction improved. They were then often linked with the name of their sponsor or town of origin – for example, the Lawton gig, Stanhope gig, Dennet gig, Tilbury gig and Liverpool gig . The average cost of this type of gig was in the region of £25.

GOVERNESS CAR

Originally the Governess car was probably a development of the Northern Tub Cart or “inside car”. It was popular in the late nineteenth century and was specifically designed for children in the care of a governess or nanny. Entrance was through a rear door by way of a step.

The vehicle could be drawn by a pony, small horse or donkey of about 14 hands and was normally restricted to use on country estates, by-roads and lanes.

It was low slung with longitudinal seating. The driving position was at the right (offside) rear necessitating a recess in the off-side seat to make the driving position less awkward by allowing the driver knee room.

Vehicles often had solid rubber tyred wheels of some 2 ft 9 in. diameter with an overall length, including the fixed shafts, of about 8 ft 6 in. The single axle was set on elliptical springs. The body was either made of wood or, for decorative purposes, of cane.

IRISH JAUNTING CAR. Also known as the "outside car" it catered for four passengers with two outer-facing seats. A forward-facing driving seat could be provided. There were two main uses for the car: for private use with a superor finish or as a Hansom cab.

IRISH STAGE COACH. An enlarged version of the junting car carried on four wheels introduced by one Bianconi.

JOGGING CART.

A very light sporting vehicle carrying two passengers used for exercising trotting horses and generally for light work in the country areas of the USA.

RALLI CAR.  Derived from the DOG CART. The shafts, however were placed inside the body which was improved by curved boards positioned to prevent mud and stones damaging the passengers or to prevent children becoming involved with the spokes when the vehicle was in motion.

It was particularly favoured by lady drivers.

SULKY
Introduced into England in about 1800, was a single seated sporting vehicle. It soon became fashionable for trotting races as it has remained to this day. It is now used more in the United States and European countries than in Britain. The name arises from the suggestion that the driver was anti-social.

TIGER
A term associated with small liveried grooms found with the CURRICLE and CABRIOLET. The name was derived from the bright horizontally striped waistcoats which they wore.

TRAP
A general term applied tomany types of light weight two-wheeled vehicles.

WHISKY or WHISKEY
A name derived from the fact that this light, two-wheeled sporting vehicle was driven quickly "whisking" the one, or two, passengers over the ground. It had a low centre of gravity with a shallow platform set on "C" springs.

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