Three Wheelers - Your opinions and expertise wanted!
Discussion
A very interesting costruction techinique and nice design :
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_110989/article.html
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_110990/article.html
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I have been looking at this and talking with a friend of about. They made a very interest comment. You can already build a very good monocoque from ply wood. Using technique very close to the ones used on this. Go back to the early Marcos and other designs by Frank Costin. Tube frames are seen as both easy to design and build. We could not decide if this was true or not.
Personal I believe it really depends on the type of veichle and it's use. We did both agree the ideas shown here do create a great finish and a very light car. A new Berkley T60 would be high on a list of car this would work very well for. All that is needed a new design for a full monocoque FWD bike powered sports car that reflects current styling (as did all the Berkleys, looking like Austin Healey only smaller). To work this the car should be under 800cc and have usable weather protection, if posible a boot.
Edited by KDIcarmad on Saturday 30th June 11:16
You asked for a convertible..... Here it is....
I think it works. The hood can be put back on for winter use (Summer use this year). In fact the hood has become an add on option.
Just noticed that the last three issue of Complete Kit Car have all contain an item on three wheeled cars. Are three wheeler coming into the mainstream of Kit Cars?
I think it works. The hood can be put back on for winter use (Summer use this year). In fact the hood has become an add on option.
Just noticed that the last three issue of Complete Kit Car have all contain an item on three wheeled cars. Are three wheeler coming into the mainstream of Kit Cars?
Edited by KDIcarmad on Saturday 30th June 11:23
I caughtt last few minuets of American Chopper and OCC had built this....
Ok it not a three wheeler, as it use tracks. Still it has something!
Made me think of this...
Someone I know commented that this should be called Brave Idiot. As you would need to be to ride it! A born again biker would like it, as it's very motorbike.
Ok it not a three wheeler, as it use tracks. Still it has something!
Made me think of this...
Someone I know commented that this should be called Brave Idiot. As you would need to be to ride it! A born again biker would like it, as it's very motorbike.
KDIcarmad said:
Someone I know commented that this should be called Brave Idiot. As you would need to be to ride it! A born again biker would like it, as it's very motorbike.
I have an out line plane for another trike, more a car/trike hybrid...
This is the BEO sidecar for about 1978-80 when it was band from racing. After winning a lot of races. I saw this at that time now I hope to build a new road trike a bit like this. Clear the driving position need to be on the other side. Below is the chassis from a road usable version...
You can see from this how it is not a motorbike and sidecar design and more a three wheeler. My design with reverse this design, making it RHD. I am get old and holding on to by other trike make me want one I can sit in and not no.
I expect this will take 1 to 3 years to design and a year to build. Baby my scooter trike took 4 years to design (get and find all the right bits) and 4 months to build. Any ideas of comments welcomed.
one eyed mick said:
Rework the front to have 2 wheels (close together) ,fab up a Delta wing type body and you could have some thing very tasty [ Ive seen the chopped Westy it looked very heavy at the front ]with the Delta spirit of light weightand a Busa,Ri etc in it would be stunning
I have also seen that and like it looks a lot. If I had a westfield I would like that front on it. As to this design clearly Dreams & Trikes wants a trike not a Delta wing. They and you may like this desing by Eurotrike I believe...
It was I understand built from the front of an F1 sidecar, to be used to break records. Richard Hammonds crash ended that idea certain rules were brought in that band this from the record attempts.
fuoriserie said:
Like this design! Still I see the range of 125 miles as a limit on use, as to that I bet you would have to drive very slowly and carefully to get this. If you only need to travel a 100 miles a day it would be a greet fun car! Sadly it is a sports car, these are meant for the open road and fast driving something the batteries limit (I will stay away from the life limits of batteries). If it rain you need the windscreen wipers, heater and I like to listen to the radio I wander what effect these have on range. You tow in out to the nice fun roads and enjoy it there, then tow it back. I do like the looks a lot.
KDIcarmad said:
Like this design! Still I see the range of 125 miles as a limit on use, as to that I bet you would have to drive very slowly and carefully to get this.
If you only need to travel a 100 miles a day it would be a greet fun car! Sadly it is a sports car, these are meant for the open road and fast driving something the batteries limit (I will stay away from the life limits of batteries). If it rain you need the windscreen wipers, heater and I like to listen to the radio I wander what effect these have on range. You tow in out to the nice fun roads and enjoy it there, then tow it back. I do like the looks a lot.
So you regularly drive more than one hundred miles? If you only need to travel a 100 miles a day it would be a greet fun car! Sadly it is a sports car, these are meant for the open road and fast driving something the batteries limit (I will stay away from the life limits of batteries). If it rain you need the windscreen wipers, heater and I like to listen to the radio I wander what effect these have on range. You tow in out to the nice fun roads and enjoy it there, then tow it back. I do like the looks a lot.
2/3rds of road journeys are 5 miles or less
Now as it happens I am regularly doing a journey of 120 miles one way on average twice a week, however for the rest of the week an electric vehicle would work fine and in fact I've just used one tonight to pop over to see my mother who's 4 miles away, and purely for the fun of it. it's been a long time since I've driven on public roads purely for the fun of it in a petrol driven car thanks to the price of petrol.
Out of interest how many cars are there on your drive right now? I'll bet most people have at least 2 outside their house that they can use. It makes a lot of sense that at least one of them could be electric.
qdos said:
So you regularly drive more than one hundred miles?
2/3rds of road journeys are 5 miles or less
Now as it happens I am regularly doing a journey of 120 miles one way on average twice a week, however for the rest of the week an electric vehicle would work fine and in fact I've just used one tonight to pop over to see my mother who's 4 miles away, and purely for the fun of it. it's been a long time since I've driven on public roads purely for the fun of it in a petrol driven car thanks to the price of petrol.
Out of interest how many cars are there on your drive right now? I'll bet most people have at least 2 outside their house that they can use. It makes a lot of sense that at least one of them could be electric.
I only own one car! I know that's odd. Across the road from has 4 (one of which never moves). It is sad you do not drive for fun any more. As I said if doing less than 100 miles a day this would work but is a sports car. To me these are meant for the fast A and B. You have to get 20-30 miles away from London in to Kent before you find these not full of GTI idiots. That would be a 40 miles off your usable fun. I'm lucky In that I live in southern Kent and can reach these road in just a few minutes. Yes I do visit London at least once a month, plus Maidstone, Brighton and Hasting more often. All over the range of this. More public charging points may help. What really puts me off electric is not range, but the fact the batteries only last 5-6 years (I have owned my current car for 4.5 years) and after about 18 months to 2 years these have lost about 25% of there use. 2/3rds of road journeys are 5 miles or less
Now as it happens I am regularly doing a journey of 120 miles one way on average twice a week, however for the rest of the week an electric vehicle would work fine and in fact I've just used one tonight to pop over to see my mother who's 4 miles away, and purely for the fun of it. it's been a long time since I've driven on public roads purely for the fun of it in a petrol driven car thanks to the price of petrol.
Out of interest how many cars are there on your drive right now? I'll bet most people have at least 2 outside their house that they can use. It makes a lot of sense that at least one of them could be electric.
My sister in law has seen this and wants one. As she only works three miles from home the range is not a problem.
Shock horror I am talking about building an electric car with a friend of mean. We are not using batteries, instead it will use a ICE (internal combustion engine) to generate electricity and electric motor to turn the wheels. Frazer-Nash showed a 800cc car that top 140mph a few years back! Our car is a bit slower more a modern Austin Healey Sprite. Cost mean this is currently unlike to get build, all that's need is a lottery win.
Edited by KDIcarmad on Saturday 21st July 10:30
KDIcarmad said:
It is sad you do not drive for fun any more.
Oh trust me I do have fun driving cars, A LOT OF FUN but it's generally on the track that I do that at very illegal speeds. On the public highways however you'll find me plodding along with the lorries and the coaches in the left hand lane saving my pennies and playing a totally different numbers game on miles per gallon. I won't just go out for a drive for the sake of a drive these days as there's as you rightly point out too many idiots on the roads besides all the cameras, pot holes and the shear cost of trying to keep inside the speed limits. I used to go and just have a drive for the shear enjoyment of it and frequently it would have been 100-200miles but not nowadays other than the afore mentioned exceptions..
Motoring these days has changed and it's not really going to come back to the ways it used to be. Three wheelers could be a good way to maybe get some of it back though with the likes of the Razor, Rayvoloution and MEVs for example
Edited by qdos on Saturday 21st July 22:14
I have note a lack of electric three wheelers on this topic. Yes I don't feel that these offer the range or long term use with current batteries but if we don't start building these soon other will.
Zap has already gone to the Chinese...
Taking this with it... and now it look like the
Aptera has been bought out by the Chinese. If we are to keep a car industry, a British company need to build cars like these two. That way when the technology is right they will be ready. Not buying from China.
Can we on Pistonheads.com save our car future and could it be three-wheeled and electric!
Zap has already gone to the Chinese...
Taking this with it... and now it look like the
Aptera has been bought out by the Chinese. If we are to keep a car industry, a British company need to build cars like these two. That way when the technology is right they will be ready. Not buying from China.
Can we on Pistonheads.com save our car future and could it be three-wheeled and electric!
Edited by KDIcarmad on Sunday 22 July 10:50
fuoriserie said:
Read the Setright_on_trikes.pdf if you visit this.
I was looking at this topic on a Carver One below...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?
h=0&f=23&t=1176672&mid=266334&i=40&nmt=Re%3A+You+Know+You+Want+
A lot of people seem to want one. Many point out the price was a little high and the performance a little lacking. Now here is an opening for a kit car that tilts. I would use a different titling system, that is cheaper and works better, a more powerful engine is a most. Something more like this BMW idea...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?
h=0&f=23&t=1176672&mid=266334&i=40&nmt=Re%3A+You+Know+You+Want+
A lot of people seem to want one. Many point out the price was a little high and the performance a little lacking. Now here is an opening for a kit car that tilts. I would use a different titling system, that is cheaper and works better, a more powerful engine is a most. Something more like this BMW idea...
Now I saw one of these a few years back, I like it. It is a three wheeler, yes that is 2 wheels at the back, but there only count as one. Does any know if it is sold in the UK?
By the way get this months Complete kit car reviews on both the Razor and Eco Exo R. Not certain about the Eco Exo R. Do not like the exo idea, seem a little impractical.
Edited by KDIcarmad on Saturday 28th July 16:56
Found this online. A bit like a side by side seating eco-exo. Also based on big scooter.
Now this I really like. It shows why you want body work. It is called Trayane II and use a 2CV donor. Which means the engine is about the same size size as a large scooters at 600cc. This can reach 100 MPH thanks to it Frank Costin inspired aerodynamics, that bullet air intake for the cabin is very Costin.
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