60 MPG - Trad Rod Style?

I've often thought about doing something similar... The good news is that they can usually be licensed as motorcycles (less stringent laws in most states for homebuilt licensing...) A LONG time ago I had seen a couple that used old VW torsion front ends as a nice compact and self-contained front (plus brackets to mount are available from the sand rail folks) then used a motorcylcle engine/swingarm in the back - just fab up the middle...

There's a company making performance ones for sale here - it's the T-Rex - uses a 1000cc sport bike engine -supposed to scream for a "car" (obviously not as fast as the same engine on a 2-wheeler)

 

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]SPECIFICATIONS[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chassis: Multi-tubular steel chassis frame.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Engine: 1164cc Inline 4 cyl., DOHC, with Ram-Air.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Transmission: Sequential 6-Speed close ratio gear box, purpose designed reverse gear, rear wheel torque damper.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Front suspension: Unequal opposed triangular arms, adjustable dampers with coil overs, sway bar.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Rear suspension: Swinging arm, dual adjustable dampers with coil overs.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Steering: Rack and pinion (2.75 turns lock-to-lock), leather steering wheel.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brakes: Front discs:[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cross-drilled discs, 11in.(280mm) diameter, 4-piston aluminum calipers.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Rear discs: Cross-drilled disc, 10in.(254mm) diameter, 2-piston aluminum caliper.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Wheels and Tires : Aluminum 16"x7" front, 17"x10" rear, 205/45/ZR16 front tires, 285/40/ZR17 rear tire.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Body: Reinforced fiberglass plastic-sandwich construction, carbon fiber windscreens and headrests.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Cockpit: Side-by-side 2-person seating, adjustable backs, adjustable foot-pedal box, 3-point retractable safety belts.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Dimensions:[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Wheelbase: 90in(2286mm);
Width: 78in.(1981mm);
Length: 138in.(3500mm);
Height: 42in.(1067mm);
Dry Weight: 900lbs (410kg).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Fuel Capacity: 7.5 US gal. (28L).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Performance: 0-60 mph: 4.1 sec.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Top speed: 140 mph.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Lateral acceleration: over 1 g.[/FONT]

Price wasn't listed but I seem to recall it was as much as a car

 

around 36 mpg been there done that. kinda floored me that it didnt do better.
but maan was she a hoot to drive

 

What about using the front clip from a FWD car and a motocycle rear?

Move steering wheel to center, etc. and have fun with body ideas.

OR what about one of those "legends" cars?



It's only 46 inches tall

more info/models

http://http://www.legendscars.com/

 

Some guy named Craig Breedlove built a three wheeler for the salt.
Set a motorcycle land speed record I think... but it didn't get very good mileage with that jet engine, and the brakes were wanting.., ended up in a ditch once.

Ya might check out Riley for some design ideas the steal... http://www.rqriley.com/

And while i was just searching I came across this site: http://bikerodnkustom3.homestead.com/cover7__03.html

 

Oh, HELL YEAH!
That's what I'll build out of the Honda 750A I'm getting.
What is that front suspension built from?
You got any other build pix?

 

http://www.automotivehistoryonline.com/briggs&stratton.htm

80 MPG!

 

The Carver looks like it might be fun...
http://www.carver-worldwide.com/

check out the movie...
http://www.carver-worldwide.com/Movies/LoadMovie.asp?S_ID=64&nc=1

 

Two wheels?!

That's silly.

And it'll never catch on.

 

I am somewhat surprised that the TriMagnum has not been mentioned. The rear engine/transmission to the rear enter wheel is all motorcycle so no engineering required. It was quite attractive in the late 70's or early 80's when it was written up in Popular Mechanics I think. The basic design could still be used but the body should probably be updated.

 

I am somewhat surprised that the TriMagnum has not been mentioned. The rear engine/transmission to the rear enter wheel is all motorcycle so no engineering required. It was quite attractive in the late 70's or early 80's when it was written up in Popular Mechanics I think. The basic design could still be used but the body should probably be updated.

 

"Oh, the humanity!"

 

That idea was presented to the world 22 years ago at GM's transportation exhibit in the then new Epcot Center.
That display even showed versions with a ski in front and tracks for winter use. That exhibit area also included some cool ideas for large, streamlined trucks...like the one from the forties/fifties on here last year.
I myself am a fan of the tadpole design with one in back and two up front.
Inherent stability is where it's at.
It will oversteer before it will roll over.

That wood boat-tail with the tractor grill gave me a huge grin.
I've toyed with that idea for a while and am happy to see someone actually doing it.
That thing should kick but on a reliabilty/mileage run.

 

#1, that little three wheeler is AWESOME! I LOVE IT!

There is always the Locost like the one I'm building. 1100 lbs, fast as hell. With a little bike motor (imagine a Harley engine in this) it could be a 60 mpg car.

 

Kevin -

that's really close to what I had in mind, except the pilot would sit in the nose and the engine would be out back.

Guys -

You gotta keep in mind that at the birth of the industry, there were no 'set' configurations - no rules. the imagination which drives hot rodding can create solutions which reduce fuel consumption without being 'penalty boxes'.

re: the boatail three-wheeler:

That's not only cool, it's fucking cool. a wood bodied, tractor grilled, three wheeler. It looks good, and will be a hoot to drive!

 

these were built in my home town back in the 80's good idea but didn't take off. 2 seater, kawasaki cycle base, I think they were even licensed as a bike. Called the pulse, I think. I'd sure like to get a hold of one today. Not too traditional but it has been done on a small production scale.

 

BINGO!

 

Warm weather guys ofter overlook the fact there are places where ridin' two wheels year-round ain't all that easy. I've tried it (both with two wheels and three wheels) and some sort of enclosure extends the season.

single digits and an M/C are not pleasant - even if you have heated grips, vest, etc.

 

Two weeks ago at Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake (Burbank), a guy rolled in with a really clean Track T with a Harley motor mounted sideways in the front, it was super clean, lots of neat engineering. I bet it would do pretty well on fuel.

 

THere's a company right here in BC that is developing a 3-wheeled commuter hotrod. Their original intention was to produce the ultimate commuter car and they just sort of ended up with a car that can do 0-60 in around 4 seconds and that corners at 2 G's. Apparently Chip Foose is very interested in the car.

www.fuelvaporcar.com

 

Great, I need to be on the same roads as someone pulling 2 Gs while applying make-up and yaking on a cell phone.

I like Chuck's idea. I've been toying with ideas like this for some time now but with a two seat tandem arrangement. Sort of like an extended belly tanker with lights and a canopy that'll keep the rain off my delicate skin.

 

This guy has done it for years,I own a 1979 thats a ball,you can seat 3 and its licenced as a car in Ohio
www.warriortrikes.con
Russ

 

Is this the place? http://www.warriortrikes.com/

I don't think these trikes are what were getting at, but some of the concepts could be adapted easily enough.

 

Built by a guy in sweden, turbocharged Suzuki GSX-1000, frame bolted to a homemade chassi. 280hp, 460kg, topspeed 300km/h all in all not half bad....

 

Ya know I'm usually pretty down on the whole econo-rod thing. But this has got my attention real good. I used to get a ride in a 3 wheel morgon once in awhile it was cool to the bone, a little twitchy but cool.

Anyway I haven't looked the whole thread over but if I could land a trumpet ( or a beezer) mill and the snout for this dude I'd be all over it. Another thought would be to shaft it with a Beemer mill, kinda like a hot rod Isetta.

 

Pork -

Do a web search on Dneprs; there's a guy in the Cleveland, OH area who has a boatload of parts for 'em. They have a nice shafty trans with reverse which will handle 40-50 HP without any difficulty. A /5 motor pretty much bolts up, and you've got 57 HP on tap with the 750.

 

That's kinda what I was thinkin'. The beemer doesn't have the sound of the limey for sure but it would keep your weight down low and and it would be a smooth runnin little buggar.

 

I love 3 wheelers!

go here...

http://www.vortexplans.com/

and here...

http://www.rqriley.com/tri-mag.html

and here..

http://www.3wheelers.com/enter.html


AB

 

As I was reading this thread I was thinking that some snowmobiles are available with continously variable transmissions, and most have reverse these days. And there are plenty of high-performance sleds with gobs of power in a lightweight package.

That thing is pretty homely though.