Three Wheelers - Your opinions and expertise wanted!

[KDIcarmad]

I like this trike. It is called "Rodent 2" and looks like an escapee from a Bat film. Just learnt this is front wheel drive!

Edited by KDIcarmad on Monday 17th September 18:56

[skwdenyer]

KDIcarmad said:

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.

Produced by a chap called Friend Wood. Aero not just inspired-by Costin; FC consulted on the project, and the aero dev work was done using FC's long-tried-and-tested wool-tuft techniques.

The body was made by laminating strips of ply around a former, rather like a wooden expression of filament-winding carbon fibre. Very light, very strong, but damned labour intensive.

Whacky, but wonderful.

[skwdenyer]

@TheLastPost: you may well be right about FC, I was detailing that from memory - the car made an indelible impression upon me all those years ago when first seen in public.

On a mobile right now, but I'll check out your link to refresh my grey cells later.

[ceebmoj]

TheLastPost said:

More on Tryane II, in Woods own words, here.

There are a some pictures of a streamlined recombinant bike and other things he has build else where on the web. he has some amassing skills.

[ceebmoj]

Friend woods streamlined recumbent, witch is a trike.
http://www.recumbentblog.com/2010/03/31/friend-woo...

[fuoriserie]

ceebmoj said:

Friend woods streamlined recumbent, witch is a trike.
http://www.recumbentblog.com/2010/03/31/friend-woo...

I like Velomobiles and this one looks really nice..., pictures here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/1050531365204716535...

[fuoriserie]

qdos said:

Another photo of the K3

Nice...

[fuoriserie]

After all these years working on Threewheeler design ideas, I still think that a basic Fwd concept like the VW Scooter from 1986 could make for an inexpensive and fun and thrifty little runabout...

Get an inexpensive Fiat 600 or Daewoo Matiz, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra, Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and use them as donors...
Check for images:
http://www.technologicvehicles.com/en/actualite-mo...
http://gas2.org/2011/10/15/awesome-80s-thing-40-mp...

[fuoriserie]

A Chinese Threewheeler..

http://www.autochunk.com/1789/2012/07/20/crazy-whe...

[ceebmoj]

fuoriserie said:

ceebmoj said:

Friend woods streamlined recumbent, witch is a trike.
http://www.recumbentblog.com/2010/03/31/friend-woo...

I like Velomobiles and this one looks really nice..., pictures here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/1050531365204716535...

The same one

[KDIcarmad]

fuoriserie said:

After all these years working on Threewheeler design ideas, I still think that a basic Fwd concept like the VW Scooter from 1986 could make for an inexpensive and fun and thrifty little runabout...

Get an inexpensive Fiat 600 or Daewoo Matiz, Suzuki Swift, Nissan Micra, Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and use them as donors...

I agree totally. As to your list of cars, I would look at Toyota Aygo (also sold as Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1), which use the same engine as the Yaris but there are a lot more around. Clearly a FWD threewheeler could be design to fit all of the cars listed. I see a gap for a new "low cost" kit car three wheeler, the VW is clearly good but it is dated a little, would it be better to start from a blank sheet? Personal I would look more to the Trayane II and use aerodynamics to gain free extra performance, but would like to use the idea of those butterfly doors, that can be removed. If it than had a build cost of between £2-3000 it would sell. Now all that is needed is the money and a design.

[fuoriserie]

KDIcarmad said:

I agree totally. As to your list of cars, I would look at Toyota Aygo (also sold as Peugeot 107 and Citroen C1), which use the same engine as the Yaris but there are a lot more around. Clearly a FWD threewheeler could be design to fit all of the cars listed. I see a gap for a new "low cost" kit car three wheeler, the VW is clearly good but it is dated a little, would it be better to start from a blank sheet? Personal I would look more to the Trayane II and use aerodynamics to gain free extra performance, but would like to use the idea of those butterfly doors, that can be removed. If it than had a build cost of between £2-3000 it would sell. Now all that is needed is the money and a design.

Yes I forgot about the Aygo, but you can find the same engine also in the Daihatsu line up, check here for some info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Vitz

With reference to the design, I do have a few that would fit and the gullwing doors look perfect for an open air Roadster/coupe.

Unfortunately it's the financing that is missing at the moment..., but who knows if things might change in the future.

[KDIcarmad]

fuoriserie said:

With reference to the design, I do have a few that would fit and the gullwing doors look perfect for an open air Roadster/coupe.

Unfortunately it's the financing that is missing at the moment..., but who knows if things might change in the future.

Would be interesting to see a few of your designs for a three wheeler. I saw the one you did for complete kit car based on the Triking I think. A bit to retro for this idea.

[fuoriserie]

KDIcarmad said:

Would be interesting to see a few of your designs for a three wheeler. I saw the one you did for complete kit car based on the Triking I think. A bit to retro for this idea.

Will open up a new thread soon( busy at the moment), and show a few rough ideas on this subject...,

[KDIcarmad]

This was build Trevor Duckworth and It does over 120 mph on just 400cc.



Don't know who build this, but looks good. I believe it is Trevor Duckworth looking at the engine. Both look very scary!

Make me wonder what could be done with a small engined single seat road going trike.

Edited by KDIcarmad on Thursday 4th October 15:17

[fuoriserie]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.higgs/renderin...

I found these interesting renderings of the original VW Scooter Concept

Specs:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/julian.higgs/specs.ht...

Edited by fuoriserie on Sunday 14th October 17:53

[skwdenyer]

ceebmoj said:

TheLastPost said:

More on Tryane II, in Woods own words, here.

There are a some pictures of a streamlined recombinant bike and other things he has build else where on the web. he has some amassing skills.

'TheLastPost' seems to have, err, posted his last. I've never before noticed a PH member vanish along with every post they've ever made, but it seems like that here. Strange!

[fuoriserie]

skwdenyer said:

'TheLastPost' seems to have, err, posted his last. I've never before noticed a PH member vanish along with every post they've ever made, but it seems like that here. Strange!

I did notice the same thing a few months ago with another member, but I'm sure he will be back with his old nick...

[skwdenyer]

Re the VW Scooter, see if you can find the contemporary LJK Setright piece about it. He was relatively friendly towards it, but he did point out the obvious 'heft' of the thing compared to his Morgan of yore.

Whilst we're on LJKS, also look up the mid-80s Car piece inviting suggestions for a new Frogeye Sprite / Midget. LJKS, as ever, applied a little iconoclasm to the whole thing, pointing out all of the ways in which the centre of gravity could be lowered. His 'recipe' would be a good starting-off point for this thread, despite the disparity of wheels I'll see if I can find it anywhere. If you'd like to buy it, look here: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/CAR-magazine-7-89-feat-911-...

[fuoriserie]

skwdenyer said:

Re the VW Scooter, see if you can find the contemporary LJK Setright piece about it. He was relatively friendly towards it, but he did point out the obvious 'heft' of the thing compared to his Morgan of yore.

Whilst we're on LJKS, also look up the mid-80s Car piece inviting suggestions for a new Frogeye Sprite / Midget. LJKS, as ever, applied a little iconoclasm to the whole thing, pointing out all of the ways in which the centre of gravity could be lowered. His 'recipe' would be a good starting-off point for this thread, despite the disparity of wheels I'll see if I can find it anywhere. If you'd like to buy it, look here: http://www.ebay.ie/itm/CAR-magazine-7-89-feat-911-...

Thanks for the info and link on LJK Setright articles..., I think I have the Frogeye Sprite /Midget design concept somewhere in my files.

He was right on the heft of the thing, but modern 3cylinder engines do look relatively compact, but maybe the classic motorcylcle engines still looks better on a threewheeler ? I really don't know, as I like both concepts, but maybe the classic motorcycle engine has more appeal to enthusiasts.