Designed by Carl Neracher in 1918, the Ner-A-Car was sold as a cheap automobile alternative. Approximately 10,000 were built and sold in the US, and another 6,500 were built and sold in England under license. I’ve featured one of the latter before – here’s one of the former.
The design was fascinating as it featured hub-center steering. (Note: I mistakenly said this was the first production motorcycle with hub-center steering. As shown in the comments below, Paul d’Orleans notes that the honor actually goes to “Tooley’s Patent Bi-Car of 1905, which was built under license by Zenith from 1906 onward”). The step-through design and bodywork kept riders clean, allowing them to wear ordinary clothes on their way to work or local shops. Production started in 1921, and the Model “A” had a 221cc 2-stroke engine that produced 2.5 horsepower. In the fall of 1922, Erwin “Cannonball” Baker rode a Ner-a-Car from New York City to Los Angeles – it took him just over 174 hours. Varying sources online suggest that of the 16,500 Ner-a-Car’s ever built, only about 100 remain. For more on the model, check out this site dedicated to the Ner-a-Car.
“Neracar Ad in Popular Mechanics in July 1922” by Advertizing agency for Ner-A-Car (I don’t know) – Popular Mechanics, July 1922, p. 173. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This example is claimed to be fully operational. It does not have any paint and the seller suggests the only non-original parts are the seat cover and the Coker tires. Find this Ner-a-Car for sale in Winter Haven, Florida for $20,000 here on Craigslist.
Bonus video of a different Ner-a-Car in motion:
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob B!