LICORNE MOTORS
Galloping on Hooves of Steel & Fire.
LICORNE was formed in 1970 from the bankrupted F.F.M and funded by an underground movement with a need to fund their deeds.
The aim of LICORNE is to produce unique sports vehicles for the Gasmean and Fruinian markets that will use inline 6 and V8 engines using 3 valve SOHC alloy cylinder heads and will aim to create high end gearboxes to suit along with creating high efficiency exhaust systems.
LICORNE specializes in Automation Beginners League And The Automation Pro league
Each Wapiti Model will come in up to four main trims and one limited edition trim
T - a mid level trim with 5 seats, an inline 6, standard interior, standard stereo and the base gearbox with advanced safety
R - a premium level trim with 4 seats using an inline 6, premium interior, premium stereo the Auto gearbox and advanced safety
RT- a sports level trim with 4 seats using a small block v8 with an advanced gearbox with a sports interior, standard stereos and advanced safety
RT Roar - a high performance level trim with 2 seats and a big block v8 along with high trim gearbox with a sports interior, basic stereo and standard safety
D5 - a special limited edition trim or model released every few years
Each Unicorn Model will have two trims
Turbo - A mid level trim with 4 seats and a turbocharged inline 6 engine with a advanced gearbox, sports interior, standard radio and advanced safety
GT - A high level trim with 2 seats and a small block v8 with advanced gearbox sports interior standard radio and advanced safety.
Each Elk Model Will Have The Following Trims
6 A rugged 4 door pick-up truck with four standard seats a turbocharged 80oct Inline 6 with Base 5sp gearbox standard radio and standard safety
8 A rugged 4 door pick-up truck with 4 standard seats a v8 80oct engine with a Automatic gearbox premium radio and standard safety.
Each Aubagne Will Have The Following Trims
LxiAn entry trim with 4 standard seats, a low output v6/inline 4 engine with automatic gearbox, standard radio and standard safety
GLXA mid level trim with a v6 engine Base 5sp gearbox, 4 sports seats a standard radio and standard safety
GLXeA Limited Edition trim with 2 sports seats, a standard radio and standard safety with a 3.8L v6 and a unique bodykit
QwattroA high performance trim with AWD a turbocharged inline 4 2 sports seats a standard radio and standard safety and traction control
Each RALLYE Will Have The Following Trims
Rallye A factory ready race car tuned for amateur rally
RG A road legal version of the race car which includes 2 sports seats a high spec gearbox premium radio and standard safety.
This is just a part time brand so that I can play around with older vehicles, nothing will be real serious its more about the looks and combined engineering packages
LICORNE current lineup:
LICORNE COLOURS:
LICORNE engines:
The first series of engines were known as the Mason series after their designer Mason. L. Odge. and were in production in various trims from 1970-2000
Tappet cover color designates whether the engine is a standard spec[White], a turbocharged engine [Black with red writing) a limited edition spec [yellow], a Big Block spec [Candy Red], Rallye spec [orange]
Inline 6 1970-2000
V1
V2
V3
V4
V6
V5
V6
V7
V8
Special Edition TA95
large bore v6 1985-1999
V1
V2
Small Block V8 1970-2000
V1
V2
V3
V4
V5
V6
V7
V8
Big Block V8 1970-2000
V1
V2
V3
V4
LICORNE gearboxes:
1970-1980
Base gearbox included a 4sp manual an open rear differential
Advanced gearbox included 5sp manual and locking differential
Automatic gearbox including 4sp automatic and open rear differential [Introduced in 1974]
1981-1990
Base gearbox included a 5sp manual with a open rear differential
Advanced gearbox included a 5sp manual with a geared LSD rear differential
Automatic gearbox included a 3sp auto with a locking rear differential
LICORNE past lineup:
The 1970’s
The first Licorne was the Wapiti. Available in 4 trims, the Licorne Wapiti was set to be introduced into the Gasmean and Fruinian markets.
With it’s unique body lines and high performance inline 6 and v8 engines you could easily make the mistake that this was an Gasmean made vehicle, However Licorne operates and build it’s vehicles out of Fruinia. Licorne also produced a race ready factory sponsored rally and touring car trim of the Wapiti and while it was not a very competitive vehicle it was a foot in the door of international Automation racing.
In 1974 the first D5 model was introduced into the Gasmean market. With a high performance Mason small block v8 and using a unique Utility body style the D5 sold out in the first few weeks, however poor quality control and pushing the 313ci engine to its limits along with using a new fuel injection technology resulted in low reliability vehicles and many of the 313ci engines were swapped out for the 1974 305ci HO engine. In these early years the Mason engines suffered from head gasket failures and Licorne’s reputation took a turn for the worse. In 1974 the Wapiti range was upgraded with a new front bumper and more powerful and reliable engines as well as a new Automatic gearbox as standard equipment in the R trim. A new model had also been developed ready for sale in 1975 for the Fruinian markets as a premium fun sports car, this vehicle was known as the Licorne Unicorn. The Unicorn was the first Licorne vehicle to offer a factory turbocharger and was used in international Automation racing starting in 1980. 1979 would also be the last year that the MASON engine range would run on leaded fuel and all cars would now be fitted with a wide-band O2 sensor and ecu to control A/F ratios and catalytic converter to control emissions.
##1970’s
Sales brochure 1970
page ONE
page TWO
page THREE
page FOUR
page FIVE
Sale Brochure 1974-1979
page ONE
page TWO
page Three
page FOUR
page FIVE
page SIX
page SEVEN
page EIGHT
The 1980’s
By the time the 80’s were here strict emission laws and the price of fuel hit the MASON engines hard. The introduction of catalytic converters and fuel injection choked the engine down severely, with the inline six not only down on capacity at 3.3L but also down on power with only 127hp. The v8’s were able to retain the power of the 74’s engines however torque was down across the board.
The Unicorn was not the success that had been hoped on the race track but it did sell well and it was the start of a small independent movement by enthusiasts to create race ready parts for Licorne vehicles and MASON engines. These enthusiasts created the independent company producing parts and tuning vehicles known as H.S.F or Hooves of Steel and Fire .
The mk3 Wapiti had not only grown in price but also in size. While the basic lines and chassis of the mk1/2 had been kept everything else was changed with a completely redesigned modern front and rear light assemblies and new front quarter panels, the cabin was stretched in size but the biggest change was to the rear of the car with a rear hatch as opposed to a separate boot.
Sales were extremely bad with only 1 out of 5 vehicles sold that were produced and of those only a total of 76 R models and 15 T were sold the rest were v8’s, most of the mk3 Wapitis ended up as cheap disposable movie prop vehicles resulting in a massive loss of profits and unfortunately jobs.
A new direction was decided to be taken and rather than trying to compete with the large mass producing Brands Licorne would specialize in tube frame chassis design and small production high quality affordable yet unique sports coupes. The RALLYE name would no longer designate a trim, it would be its own purpose build performance machine. A unique design along with a turbocharged v8 fiberglass body and handling that only a rear engined car can provide provided steady sales.
1985 saw the introduction of the first Licorne pick up truck with the Elk. Powered by a big block MASON v8 or a low octane inline6. Sales were impressive. But nothing like he interest and capital that the new FWD Aubagne hatch available with an all new v6 engine generated after being introduced in 1985
#1980’s
1981-1985 Sale Brochure
page ONE
page TWO
page THREE
page FOUR
page FIVE
page SIX
page SEVEN
page EIGHT
page NINE
page TEN
Appendix and FAQ:
First Wapiti Export 1970-1981 trims
darkshine5 - LICORNE WAPITI.zip (285.8 KB)
First Unicorn Export 1975-1982
darkshine5 - LICORNE 2 early unicorn.zip (96.2 KB)
First RALLYE Export
darkshine5 - RALLYE MK1.zip (49.8 KB)
First ELK Export
darkshine5 - LICORNE ELK.zip (42.3 KB)
<- the car up there
