Are three wheeled cars still legal?

[protokatie]

They have never been in the US, but after seeing this:


I worry....

[patrickl]

Lol, like that little car that always gets rolled by Mr Bean.

For a more contemporary version:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6vx98DjcVc[/youtube]

or to the company site

[danny_galaga]

They have never been in the US

ever?

http://www.morgancars-usa.com/threewheelracer.html

[danny_galaga]

i enjoyed the clip though (",)

has me intrigued, since it says 1973. but looking at the fashion and the cars, it looks more like 1983...

clue could be that it was done later on british tellie (the band was dutch and the clip is obviously not in holland)

[protokatie]

"Crazy and sexy like the dutch...."


...
...


...

Crazy.. OK...


Never have I ever heard of the dutch refered to as sexy tho...

(No offense patrick et al)




BTW, the Dutch AREN'T sexy!



Edit: To keep the peace I give you this:



anyone who doesnt like this is either Dutch or Youki....

[patrickl]

"Crazy and sexy like the dutch...."


...
...


...

Crazy.. OK...


Never have I ever heard of the dutch refered to as sexy tho...

(No offense patrick et al)




BTW, the Dutch AREN'T sexy!

Maybe it's what you compare it too, Dutch women are pretty sexy. I guess Clarkson is comparing to the British, but it's also a lot more pleasing to the eye to walk through a Dutch mall than it is through a US mall. I know a lot of Americans who moved here (my wife worked for a US company). The three things they notice first is: our language sounds like a throat disease, the pretty women and the high speeds on the roads.

On the other hand, if your definition of sexy is "5kg silicone per boob and long bleeched hair" then indeed Dutch women are not sexy. Especially in the under 30 age bracket, virtually all are still natural here. Quite a high number of natural blonds here too though.

[patrickl]

i enjoyed the clip though (",)

has me intrigued, since it says 1973. but looking at the fashion and the cars, it looks more like 1983...

clue could be that it was done later on british tellie (the band was dutch and the clip is obviously not in holland)

Yeah 1973 is the original date of the song. I think the Reliant is from that era too though.

[danny_galaga]

the jaguar and the cop car and the clothes arent though

oh, and i think dutch girls are sexy. you need to live there in summertime to understand. its the beautifully defined calves that do it for me (everyone really does ride a bike there)  (",)

[TOK]

I think the thing with 3 wheeled cars is that you have to make the decision to compromise stability (single front wheel) or traction (single rear wheel). The single rear wheel is the far better setup, and there are 3 wheeled cars in North America, though none made by large manufacturers.


http://puregreencars.com/Green-Cars/Upcoming/High-Performance-High-Mileage-3Wheel-Sport-Car.html

T-Rex


There are also a bunch of motorcycle based 3 wheelers with the same layout, but no roof. There are a few companies making Morgan reproductions using Harley Davidson engines, too.

[patrickl]

the jaguar and the cop car and the clothes arent though

Yeah sorry, didn't mean to claim the clip wasn't from the eighties.

oh, and i think dutch girls are sexy. you need to live there in summertime to understand. its the beautifully defined calves that do it for me (everyone really does ride a bike there)  (",)

Lol.

BTW talking about three wheelers. I always thought the Messerschmidt was cool (Looks a bit like the Jetsons' retro sci-fi).


and the BMW Isetta

[patrickl]

I think the thing with 3 wheeled cars is that you have to make the decision to compromise stability (single front wheel) or traction (single rear wheel). The single rear wheel is the far better setup, and there are 3 wheeled cars in North America, though none made by large manufacturers.

No kidding. The Reliant rolls everytime it appears in a Mr Bean clip 

The Carver fixes the stability issue of the single front wheel my making the body tilt.

[patrickl]

Lol, someone thought the Smart was a bit too big, so they trimmed it down 

Cree


How about an electric one?:



What's the point of having a three wheeler actually? I can sort of understand it with the carver (it's basically a more stable version of a motorbike), but for the rigid body versions I don't get the advantage of losing a wheel.
:edit:  nevermind, I see they are classified as motorcycles.

[patrickl]

I think the thing with 3 wheeled cars is that you have to make the decision to compromise stability (single front wheel) or traction (single rear wheel). The single rear wheel is the far better setup, and there are 3 wheeled cars in North America, though none made by large manufacturers.

Those are from Canada though. Would they have sold any of those in the US?

Seems like the producers of the Carver licensed their technology to the US based (LA of course) company Venture Vehicles. They are working on the VentureOne

[patrickl]

Oh, the Cirbin is cool too:

[patrickl]

OK, last one I promise. Amazing how many of these three wheelers are being developed actually. There are a lot more than I posted here. I guess Californian emisson legislation is bringing out the creativity in people.

The Aptera looks more like an airplane without whings.

[danny_galaga]

BTW talking about three wheelers. I always thought the Messerschmidt was cool (Looks a bit like the Jetsons' retro sci-fi).

i always think of the movie 'brazil' when i see the messerschmidt (",)

nothing trumps the old morgan 3 wheeler in my mind though. with the big (for the time) JAP (or matchless) V twin hanging out the front.




other than the morgan or a good replica, there is no point in a 3 wheeler in my opinion


brm! brm!

[TOK]

Those are from Canada though. Would they have sold any of those in the US?

I'm sure they can be titled kit/reconstruction. They're all based on off the shelf parts.
I have a motorcycle that was originally designated off road use only that has a reconstructed title and is street legal. It has less business on the street than any of those three wheelers. 

[protokatie]

and the BMW Isetta

Was that the urkle-mobile from that TV show in the early 90's? (Fo the life of me, I cant remember the name of the show  )

As per the dutch and sexy, I was just ruffling your feathers, Patrick. The dutch are almost as sexy as the swedes that I have met 

[Spaz Monkey]

http://spyder.brp.com/

[patrickl]

Was that the urkle-mobile from that TV show in the early 90's? (Fo the life of me, I cant remember the name of the show   )

Yep.

As per the dutch and sexy, I was just ruffling your feathers, Patrick. The dutch are almost as sexy as the swedes that I have met 

Lol, well I found myself a Bulgarian girlfriend so I guess the weren't sexy enough for me either