Three wheels on their wagons
Three-wheeled cars are not the norm.
There’s no functional justification in producing a car that is fundamentally less stable than a four-wheeler, so a three-wheel design is a novelty nowadays.
Whether these cars were constructed in response to the ’70s fuel crisis or just came from experimental engineering, three-wheelers struggled to stay in mainstream production for very long.
As a result, countless faded into obscurity, so we’ve decided to pull together a selection of forgotten three-wheelers, to give these less-well-known vehicles a chance to shine. Some, like the one pictured here, you might know, others maybe not.
Several never saw the success their creators had hoped for, but their stories survive as a testament to going against the grain.
They are presented in chronological order.
1. 1929-1936 BSA Three-Wheeler
Known for producing firearms, bicycles and ’bikes, BSA was once the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the UK.
The company also produced a series of three-wheeled cars in direct competition with the original Morgan Three-Wheeler. From 1936, BSA made four-wheeled cars, but this wasn’t the end of its three-wheeled designs.
In 1960 the company created two prototypes of the BSA Ladybird, which was a three-wheeled microcar.
Unfortunately, it was too late to the 1950s bubble-car craze and never made it to production.
BSA’s car manufacturing came full circle and ended on a three-wheeler just as it had begun. In 1960 it became part of Jaguar Cars and the BSA car brand closed.
2. 1933 Dymaxion
Designed by the American architect Buckminster Fuller, the Dymaxion is by far the largest three-wheeler in this gallery.
It was created to seat 11 passengers and could reportedly hit 90mph and deliver around 30mpg, although the original target was a top speed of 120mph. At 20ft (6m) long, it had rear-wheel steering and front-wheel drive, to give some semblance of control.
This vehicle was created to pair perfectly with Fuller’s Dymaxion homes which he was building around the same time period. Unfortunately, neither idea caught on and just three prototypes were made.
At the time of its public debut at the World's Fair in Chicago in October 1933, a Dymaxion car crashed, killing one of the three passengers on board. This incident caused safety concerns and the Dymaxion car never reached production.
3. 1933-1937 Goliath F400
Based on the passenger car Goliath Pionier, the F400 was a longer version that could be used as a panel van or a pick-up.
The air-cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke 396cc engine was mounted under the seat and produced a hair-raising top speed of 30mph.
A 198cc engine was fitted to the same vehicle and sold as the F200 which had a payload up to 500kg (1102lb). The larger engine was supposedly capable of carrying 750kg.
This model was very successful and more than 18,000 were produced in just four years. Later in production the F400 transitioned from a wooden body to metal panels.
After the Second World War, Goliath revived the three-wheeled pick-up truck as the GD750 and Goli, but the company ultimately folded in 1961.
4. 1947-1949 Davis Divan
The years after the Second World War saw a boom in appetite for new cars and used-car salesman Glen Gordon ‘Gary’ Davis wanted a piece of the pie.
His Davis Divan was based on a three-wheeled concept called the Californian, designed by Frank Kurtis and commissioned by Indy 500 racer Joel Thorne. Davis acquired the Californian and toured America promising dealers a version of this streamlined oddity.
His sales campaign was a roaring success and he reportedly raised over $1.2 million to build the Divan.
Production began on the basis that employees worked for free until the cars started to sell, but just 13 were made.
Unpaid workers and impatient dealerships meant Davis was soon convicted on several counts of fraud and the company shut down before ever realising the potential of the Divan.
5. 1948-1977 Invacar
In 1948, Bert Greeves adapted a ’bike into a single-seater, three-wheeled car to help injured ex-servicemen get around.
The UK government commissioned several manufacturers to produce Invacars and leased them as part of a driver’s disability benefits.
Although these vehicles allowed people a level of independence, no passengers were allowed and there were concerns around safety.
It’s estimated more than 20,000 Invacars were produced, but in 2003 the government recalled them all to be scrapped. As such there are few surviving examples and only 60 are thought to have been saved from the crusher.
6. 1951 Hoffmann
Several people fancied themselves as car makers after the Second World War and shop foreman Michael Hoffmann was no different.
Constructed from hardware-store components and scrapyard finds, the three-wheeled car was a two-year project.
On completion it was considered a motorbike, because of its tiny rear engine and low speed, so it was tax free and didn’t require a licence to drive.
Rear-wheel steering meant handling was less than predictable, plus the mechanics underneath to facilitate this took up a lot of room.
The only example ever made now resides in the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, in the USA. It was restored in 1996 by Gottfried Gerhäuser who described the driving experience as ‘a drunk leaving a hotel bar’.
7. 1951-1952 Daihatsu Bee
Daihatsu had been making motorised tricycles and a small car for military use from the ’30s.
The Bee was its first venture into passenger cars for the general public and although its production run was short-lived, it was generally used as a taxi in Japan. At the time, there was a lower charge per mile for three-wheeled cars due to licensing regulations.
The Bee was fitted with a 540cc two-cylinder engine and was the first car in Japan to have a horizontally opposed engine, before Subaru’s 1966 1000 boxer engine.
With a body crafted from glassfibre, this model was an adaptation from one of Daihatsu's three-wheeled delivery trucks.
Despite offering a minor competitive advantage as a taxi, the Bee was not sold in huge numbers, with only around 300 made.
8. 1953-1954 Allard Clipper
In a move away from Allard’s usual product line of sports cars and grand tourers equipped with American V8s, the Clipper was the polar opposite.
The idea was to create a small car that was big enough to fit five people, with three across the bench seat inside plus a dickey seat out back for two children.
It was fitted with a 346cc single-cylinder engine underneath the rear seats that could produce 8bhp but was prone to overheating.
Whilst its marketing campaign had a rather catchy strapline, ‘Take the nipper in a Clipper’, it never achieved the success Allard hoped for.
Just 20 were produced and there are only three known surviving examples.
9. 1953-1956 Inter 175A Berline Microcar
Revealed at the 1953 Paris motor show, the Inter 175A Berline was presented as an alternative to the Messerschmitt KR175.
Both microcars were designed and built by aeronautic companies and featured similar aircraft-like styling. The canopy opens to allow access to the seats where the passenger sits directly behind the driver, who directs the car using something that looks like a modern yoke-style steering wheel.
In total, 300 were made during production, but no two were exactly the same. Fewer than 30 are thought to still exist so collectors are keen to get their hands on good examples – the one pictured was sold at auction by RM Sotheby’s in 2017 for €78,400.
10. 1955-1964 Messerschmitt KR200
Best known for WW2 fighter planes, Messerschmitt pivoted after the war and started making cars. The KR stands for ‘Kabinenroller’ which translates as ‘cabin scooter’, an apt description for this tiny three-wheeler.
As well as selling in its domestic German market, the KR200 was exported to America where it gained a larger 191cc engine and a reverse gear.
Inside, the KR200 had an ‘n’ shaped steering handle bar and room for the driver and two small, well-acquainted passengers on the rear bench seat.
Its plastic bubble canopy lifted up so passengers could clamber in and the mechanicals were largely motorcycle-derived.
Amazingly, around 30,000 examples were made in its nine-year production run.
In 1957, there was a limited run of 300 roadster versions, called the KR201. These wind-in-your-hair models are the rarest.
11. 1958-1963 Bond Mk F
Bond’s Mk F was the natural progression of the underpowered Mk E three-wheeler.
The new model was treated to a Villiers Mk 31A engine with a four-speed gearbox, which unlocked a top speed of 55mph.
It was offered in three body styles: as a tourer, a saloon coupé and a four-seat family saloon. In 1960, a Mk F Ranger van was introduced that did away with the rear seats and windows – it could be driven by a 16-year-old with a motorcycle licence, but out of the 7000 Mk Fs made, just 40 were vans.
To prove a car like this could be a good alternative to a four-wheeler, Sharps, the Bond Minicar maker, travelled from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 23 hours and 40 minutes, over which time the Mk F averaged 60mpg.
12. 1959-1960 Berkeley T60
Bond Minicar designer Lawrence Bond joined forces with Berkeley Coachwork owner Charles Panter to create a small sports car.
Berkeley specialised in caravans, but due to the seasonal nature of the business, Panter wanted something with more consistent sales. Originally, Berkeley’s first cars were the four-wheeled Sports SA322 and Sports SE328.
These models weren’t particularly successful and the introduction of the Austin-Healey Sprite meant competition was too stiff to continue production.
Instead, the T60 was born, rather late in the post-war three-wheeler boom. Ultimately, the T60 was short-lived because the caravan market collapsed and Berkeley was liquidated in 1960.
13. 1960-1962 Reliant Regal Mk VI
The first Reliant Regal was unveiled at Earls Court in 1952 and the Mk VI was the last iteration of this model range.
The Regal name continued, but the design became more boxy and moved away from the original curved glassfibre body style built around an ash frame.
The Mk VI was the first Regal to feature an overhanging roof at the back, similar to the Ford Anglia.
Inside, the dashboard dials were redesigned into one speedometer in the centre, which freed up room for large storage spaces either side of the dash.
The Mk VI was the last Regal to feature a 747cc sidevalve engine which started on the ignition key rather than a starter button.
In 1973, the Regal line-up was succeeded by the Reliant Robin, which is commonly associated with the van from the British TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses, but this was a Reliant Regal Supervan III.
14. 1965-1966 Peel Trident
Following the Peel P50, the Trident was marginally larger which earned it the advertising tagline: “saloon car comfort with scooter cost.”
Its ambitious marketing campaign also labelled it as a futuristic mode of transport that was nearly cheaper than walking, thanks to claimed fuel economy of 100mpg with a 49cc engine.
In theory, the Trident was big enough for two occupants, but in reality it was likely only ever used for one person. Just 86 were made during a short production run.
In 2010, a group formed to remake the Trident with a steel frame, hydraulic disc brakes and 49cc Benelli scooter engine with an automatic transmission.
15. 1974 Dale
Geraldine Elizabeth Carmichael had grand plans to take on big car manufacturers like General Motors with her newly founded company, the Twentieth Century Motor Car Corporation.
Its flagship model was a three-wheeled sports car called the Dale. The mastermind behind the car was Dale Clift who designed and built two prototypes, one of which was a running example.
Behind the scenes, Carmichael was wanted by police for more than a decade in relation to a counterfeiting operation.
In the mid ’70s, accusations of fraud began to circulate and Carmichael fled with investor money, ultimately abandoning the Dale project.
In 2021, HBO released a docuseries called The Lady and the Dale based on Carmichael’s life.
16. 1979-1982 HMV Freeway
In this context, HMV is not an abbreviation for His Master's Voice, it stands for High-Mileage Vehicles.
Born of America’s energy crisis from the OPEC oil embargo of 1973 and later the Iranian Revolution, the Freeway was a low-cost, fuel-efficient alternative to larger, thirstier cars – the petrol-powered models were capable of 60 to 100mpg.
Although these vehicles were registered in the same class as motorcycles, they were most closely related to snowmobiles.
Electric and diesel powertrains were offered, too, but a short range and high cost meant neither of these sold particularly well.
Around 700 examples were made before fuel prices became more reasonable again and sales rapidly declined.
17. 1981 Ford Ghia Cockpit
Slightly too late to help a customer base struggling with fuel prices, the Cockpit never reached production and remained as a concept.
Designed to deliver 75mpg in urban conditions, it was fitted with a 200cc 12bhp motorcycle engine and its small footprint made it ideal to park and potter around town in.
Its name comes from the aeroplane-like cockpit design which seats two people one behind the other and is one of the smallest and, arguably, quirkiest cars designed by Ghia.
The canopy lifted hydraulically and undoubtedly contributed a fair amount of extra weight to the 350kg (772lb) car.
18. 1982 General Motors Lean Machine
As the name suggests, the Lean Machine is operated using pedals to control rotation: it leans into turns in the same way as motorcycles.
Again, this was designed with frugal fuel consumption in mind and could deliver 200mpg and accelerate from 0-60mph in under 7 secs. The 30bhp engine had more than enough power to shift the 159kg (351lb) car.
The Lean Machine featured in 1993’s Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. The futuristic film showcased 17 concept cars from General Motors which were insured to a value of $69 million.
Three prototypes were made, one of which was on display at Epcot's World of Motion until its closure.
19. 1995-present Campagna T-Rex
Coming from a background in Formula Ford racing, Campagna’s founder Daniel Campagna took inspiration from the racing series and spent several years creating the first T-Rex prototype.
The Quebec-based company initially only sold the three-wheelers in the local area, but moved its operations to Montreal and got a licence to sell the car further afield around North America.
The T-Rex originally used an engine from the Suzuki GSX-R1100 ’bike, but buying a whole motorcycle for the engine was too costly to be sustainable.
Next, Campagna moved onto Kawasaki ZX14 engines which provided around 200bhp. In 2013, the company entered a partnership with BMW and now uses its engine which gives a sub-4-sec 0-60mph time.
20. 1997 Mercedes-Benz F300 Life Jet
The Life Jet was a completely out-of-character concept for Mercedes-Benz, but it proved the versatility of motorbike inspiration.
Similar to GM’s Lean Machine, the body could tilt into corners, allowing the driver to operate the vehicle using the car’s centre of gravity.
Taking the 1.6-litre engine and transmission from the A-Class, the Life Jet was actually bigger than the car it shared components with. This did make it heavy, though, weighing 800kg (1764lb).
Despite this, its top speed was said to be 130mph and 0-62mph happened in less than 8 secs. It was designed to be open-topped most of the time, but it did have a hardtop roof for wet-weather driving.
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