10k: Raw Class: Morgan 3-Wheeler replica
For awhile, it seemed that Morgan’s position on the modernity spectrum could only go one way: the wrong way. Then they unveiled the brazenly steampunk 3-Wheeler. Lauded for its stalwart mechanical charm, it unfortunately cost about as much as a Caterham with options. But at 1/4 of the price, this well-built replica is ready for a new dapper gent stuck on a forgotten vehicular formula. And it’s here to replace your penny-farthing for your weekly haberdashery visit. Find this Morgan 3-Wheeler replica for sale in Newbury Park, CA for $10,000 via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.
Starting with a 2″ square tube-frame chassis, the seller pieced together the front suspension using Mustang II components, Wilwood brakes and hubs, and hand-welded A-arms (no wood here!). Since the flat-four 1100cc Honda Goldwing engine is a shaft-driven unit, connecting it to its rear wheel tucked under the beetle shell just required a custom-length driveshaft. The rest is aluminum, fiberglass, and pure machismo. The car weighs less than 1,000 pounds.
The carbureted Honda unit is good for 81 horsepower and 64 ft-lb of torque, and is shifted through the stock five-speed transmission via traditional stick shift. Its steering wheel is a wheel. The seats are seats. Really, for only slightly resembling a car, it’s said to drive very much like one. Except the speedometer doesn’t work, you can’t go in reverse, and the turning radius will make big-rig drivers pity you.
In addition to the descriptive posting, the seller included a link to his build page (on a Datsun 510 board, no less), which included a link to a build summary on Build-Threads.com. You could easily lose an afternoon scrolling through engineering solutions involved in hand-building a road-legal vintage motorcycle/car mashup. Or you could watch these videos from the builder’s YouTube channel and start counting your sixpences.
See another raw yet dignified means of commuting? Send us a telegram email at tips@dailyturismo.com.
PhiLOL actually likes the tuna here, but abhors structural rust. Save the manuals.
Scary and fun, two thing that go together really well.
Can you imagine driving this in the 909 amongst the Bros in their monster energy drink prerunners?
With the flatbills pulled down as far as possible, their field of vision is about 10% of a normal human, so this trike wouldn't even register on their bro-dar. You'd have to get about 200 feet away from the aforementioned prerunners to be even slightly visible.
Yo, keep dat dirt bike in the back at all time Bro. You never know when you will need to do some mad whips out there.
(I hope I am not offending any of the flatbiller society out there)
Rehabilitated flatbrimmer here, I'm deeply offended and am taking my ball and going home. Yo.
Seeing all of those fiberglass-fendered 4×2 "prerunners" dragging ass around the IE is not a sight I miss from the driver's seat of my Z. Driving [a friend's] Tundra 'prerunner' reminded me of taxiing in a taildragger.
Week count, RyanM? What are we up to or are you finally now a dad?
Thought Monday was the day, but false alarm. 40-41 transition this week… Doc says they're going to induce the 4th if he's still holed up in there. Stubborn kid, already. To say the wife is ready would be an understatement.
Also, nice to have you back, K2MC.
My wife keeps asking me so I had to ask. Glad to be back!
I love the fact that the seller has to explicitly mention that it has "full car controls — steering wheel, three pedals, and a shifter"…because you might otherwise think it uses a rope to steer or Flintstone's brakes.
Hey, hey, you know my affinity for Flinstone mobiles! We need to feature more of those for our east coast readers!
I just assumed that you twisted the steering wheel to accelerate. It's half bike, right?
I'd say it is 150% bike
East Coasters know all about Flintstone Mobiles! What do you think salt does to floorboards? 🙂
A steering rope and Flintstone brakes aren't too far removed from an early Moggie.
A steering rope and Flintstone brakes aren't too far removed from an early Moggie.
I really like the concept, but would ditch the Gold Wing motor for a 2.2 Subaru mill in FWD mode. Can't weight much more, but you'd gain power, traction, a rear gear, and more cockpit room since there'd be no need for a transmission tunnel. Hmmm. I'm having bad thoughts. Do I build one of those or do the Lemons team for next year? Decisions, decisions….