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:-
 |
| Isetta - eish this is small |
 |
| With a caravan - yea right! For the dogs maybe - only thing is they would have to run behind you to get where you going! |
 |
| Full front opening door. Two seats in front one in the back - or at least it looks that way! |
|
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!)
 |
| Work Horses. Piaggio was an Italian company. Didn't check, but I suspect it might belong to some Eastern company today. |
 |
| Taxi.... a la Eastern style. Tuk Tuk? |
 |
| So what's he so smug about? I want to see him get anyone of those things out of one of our potholes! |
 |
| Probably Korean, but this is starting to look smart - maybe a nice option for in city taxi stuff, like down in Cape Town, etc. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
| Looks like a 3 wheeled Smart. Can't see number of seat - but does not matter - don't want one anyway! |
 |
| 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!
