1. A small, lightweight motorcar, typically with three or four wheels, popular in the early 20th century as an affordable alternative to larger automobiles.
Usage: historical; chiefly British

Examples

• The cyclecar was designed to be cheaper and easier to maintain than a full-sized automobile.
• In the 1910s, cyclecars became popular among middle-class drivers who could not afford conventional cars.
• Many cyclecars featured motorcycle engines and minimal bodywork to keep costs down.
• The cyclecar craze faded as mass production made regular cars more affordable.
• Collectors today restore vintage cyclecars as examples of early automotive innovation.