Elio Motors and the Three Wheeled Car - A Moonshot Project ($6800, 84 mpg)

Engineering ^ | February 5, 2014 | Tom Spendlove

[2ndDivisionVet]

[Blood of Tyrants]

With three wheels it would qualify as a motorcycle requiring it to be licensed as such and requiring the driver and passenger to wear helmets in many states.

I have toyed withe the idea of making a similar vehicle out of the rear half of a wrecked Harley or Goldwing or other large motorcycle and the front half of a VW bug.

[FReepaholic]

I can see these selling well in Europe. Gas much more expensive and streets much narrower.

[2ndDivisionVet]

That was HILARIOUS, especially the people at that conference near the end...

[Little Pig]

He needs to team up with this guy: Then they'd have a much more comprehensive lineup. They could even add in the Can-Am Spyder for the hat-trick.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

They have obtained waivers in all states except 4 or 5 so that helmets will not be required. They are still working on the last couple states and will likely succeed in all 50 states prior to production in 2015.

[Clay Moore]

Thanks for the laugh!

[sten]

this part:

how's that airbag working for you?

you'd have to be a special kind of stupid to get into one of those anywhere near traffic

[12th_Monkey]

It’s convenient and a time saver. Your dead in any major accident, no medical bills and just be buried in whats left of the car saving on funeral cost...

[CharlesWayneCT]

In Virginia, they will call that a “motorcycle”, and will require a motorcycle license to drive it.

I wrote my representative about this, but for some reason nobody wants to fix the law.

[CharlesWayneCT]

The key to a 3-wheel car is to put the single wheel in the back, and don’t drive fast backwards.

[zeugma]

Brazil? It's been a long time since I've seen that.

I agree with the poster upthread that said it seems a lot like an enclosed CamAm. I wouldn't mind something like this as a commuter. I doubt it will end up getting the claimed mileage, but the idea isn't that different.

[Captainpaintball]

That was good.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

You’ve always been on the vanguard of style.

[mylife]

Yup that was from Brazil.
A Messerschmidt 3 wheeler from the 40’s.

[zeugma]

Peel P50

Hilarious.

[MHGinTN]

I was thinking the same thing, except a 4wd pick-up like the Nissan or Colorado.

[PGR88]

Not so fast buddy - NTSA is going to have a long, hard look at this thing.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I would imagine that they’re past that stage if they’ve already leased a factory and hired people. If not, they’re fools.

[sjmjax]

I thought of that first thing!

You beat me to it! Was going to post the same video. Been there - done that.

Although it is fair to say, putting the two wheels in front rather than in back does make a difference.