So, following my starting to post retro stuff which should make a come back, or not,
DMDad posted a comment about the old Messerschmitt. A 3 wheeled contraption, German made. Herewith some pics from Google (and no, as usual, I have not asked fro permission to post these. If I can download them from Google, they are in the public domain, and I make no reference to their ownership anyway!).
Nice example of one. Looks like it could be a Taxi?
Original Sales poster? Looks like it was a 3 seater too. Driver upfront, and two passengers behind him....
Same company also were responsible for the WWII fighter planes!!!
I remember another 3 wheeler from my childhood days, an Isetta (Italian make), which friends of ours owned.
Similar thing:-
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| Isetta - eish this is small |
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| With a caravan - yea right! For the dogs maybe - only thing is they would have to run behind you to get where you going! |
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| Full front opening door. Two seats in front one in the back - or at least it looks that way! |
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Ok, so I went looking for what's going on in the 3 wheeled department in the world right now, and found quite a lot of stuff. Most, I think, comes out of the East (what does not today) and is probably aimed at the poorer markets, and mostly as cheap transport (taxi) or work horses (crappy bakkies!)
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| Work Horses. Piaggio was an Italian company. Didn't check, but I suspect it might belong to some Eastern company today. |
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| Taxi.... a la Eastern style. Tuk Tuk? |
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| So what's he so smug about? I want to see him get anyone of those things out of one of our potholes! |
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| Probably Korean, but this is starting to look smart - maybe a nice option for in city taxi stuff, like down in Cape Town, etc. |
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| A hybrid 3 wheeled car / bike, but with front wheels that allow you to lean into corners. This is not so "futuristic" as there is something like this in one of the latest Bike SA magazines. |
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| Looks like a 3 wheeled Smart. Can't see number of seat - but does not matter - don't want one anyway! |
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| Tuk Tuk Limo? |
So, there are things available today. Admittedly none of them nearly resemble the Messerschmitt of old, or the Isetta. So, would they make a comeback, and would they be successful?
Personally, I don't think so. They are really not practical (don't look it anyway). Small is not good either, considering the size of the average car today. I feel intimidated driving my medium size sedan, these things are smaller then the old Mini Minor. If you made them bigger?
Well, I still don't know. From opening doors tells me that this is possible a weak point for any impact! In your face accident!!!
I think the small car design, as experianced in Europe, to accomodate mostly in city type driving, have surpassed whatever this type of transport would ever be able to offer - other than stare value.
What you all think?
Oh, and what do you all think about these posts? Waste of time, fun to read, or should I stick to my emotional outbursts!
Salagatle!
4 comments:
I dig these posts...keep them going, but how about doing a bit on bikes, like the BMW/Ural replication thing?
I think these Tuk Tuks have a place in any city, especially those that are planning on, or have, implemented a carbon tax for cars driving in the cities. Also, like Cape Town, where city streets are really narrow, these things would be a great transport option. I think we should have one of our cities (Durban or Cape Town) volunteer to become "no traffic" city centres and these things should be used, sort of like a Park'n'Drive. It will be job creation on a large scale and inner city transport will be viable and cheap once again.
Crap! Where is the emotional outbursts! They made me feel better....
DMDad - thanx. Will look at the bike scene in the near future. I agree with your comments around the tuk tuks. If i recall, a few years ago they imported some to Durban - but they were never really successful.
Fishman - Emotions are dangerous, and I have been doing my best to keep mine contained. However, what that means is that the next time I pop, and post about it, it should be good!!!!
Salagatle!
I'll second what DMDad says I reckon, altho' cleaner engines are needed if the tuk-tuk kinda vehicle were to be come popular here. (Still have vivid memories of gasping for breath in Bangkok)
More on bikes would be great, with perhaps a post on the 'old' British bikes (like I grew up with!) - eg Beezers, Triumphs, Indians, Nortons etc.
I do enjoy your emotional outbursts - my attempted 'rant' is still in the drafts folder......when the time is right, I'll let loose!
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