3-wheeler Facts


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	3-Wheeler Trivia Facts

Every Interest and Hobby has them and the 3-wheelers World is no exception. So here are a collection of 3-wheeler Trivia Facts from the biggest to the smallest and the fastest to the slowest.

You just never know when one of these may pop up in quiz one day!?


	The Largest Production 3-Wheeler

	The largest Production 3-wheeler was the 1947 Davis manufactured in the United States. It was powered by a 2,600cc engine and could carry seven adults in its 14 feet long body.

	The smallest Production 3-Wheeler


	The smallest Production 3-wheeler was the 1964 Peel P50. It was manufactured in the Isle on Man and had a 49cc engine. It was 4 foot 5 inches (1.34m) long, 3 foot 3 inches (99cm) wide and 53 inches (1.34m) high. The vehicle weighed 132lb (59kg) and carried just one adult.


	The fastest road-legal 3-Wheeler.


	The Vigillante produced from 1999 has a top speed in excess of 200mph and can sprint from 0 - 60 mph in 3 seconds. When cornering and braking it faces forces of up to 1g. It is said to out corner a McClaren F1.


	The fastest jet powered 3-Wheeler

	The Spirit Of America broke the Land Speed Record in 1964 when it reached a speed of 526.27 mph. The vehicle was driven by Craig Breedlove at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

	Longest production run of a 3-Wheeler manufacturer.

Whilst AC established in 1908 is one of Britain’s oldest 3-Wheeler manufacturers still in business, Reliant (established 1935 UK) are the longest 3-Wheeler manufacturers to constantly produce 3-Wheelers. AC only produced 3-Wheelers in 1908-1914 and 1953 - 1977. (AC Petite until 1958 and AC Invacar until 1977) Reliant produced 3-Wheelers for 65 years from 1935 to 2001. From 2001 the Reliant 3-wheeler continued to be made under licence to Reliant by B&N Plastics until 2002. Reliant are still in business though no longer manufacture 3-wheelers.


	The first “self-propelled” 3-Wheeler


	The first “self-propelled” 3-Wheeler was made by Nicholas Joseph Cugnot in 1769 in France, His vehicle (fardier a’vapeur) was a huge vehicle carrying a front mounted boiler and a two cylinder engine located over the front wheel. It had a top speed of 2mph (So also the slowest 3-wheeler) and had to stop every 9 - 12 minutes to rebuild pressure.


	Plans for the earliest 3-wheeler..

	In 1478 in Italy, Leonardo da Vinci drew plans for a self powered automobile that used a modified clockwork mechanism.

	Worlds first 3-Wheeler advertisement.


	An advertisement for the 3-wheeled Benz in Germany first appeared in 1888.


	World’s first 3-Wheeler accident


	This was caused by Cugnot’s steam vehcle when it ran out of control and demolished a garden wall in 1769. This was also the Worlds first motor accident.


	Lowest fuel consumption of a 3-Wheeler

	In 1996 a road legal vehicle set the record for the lowest petrol consumption at the Shell Mileage Marathon, Northants. (UK). The diesel-powered Combidrive “mouse” set a record of 568 mpg. (201.1km/litre)

	Most expensive 3-Wheeler


	According to the Guinness Book of Records the F300 Life-jet created by Mercedes Benz in 1998 will be the most expensive 3-wheeler if it makes it into production.


	Did you know!

	Did you know!!

	In the original Star Wars film, the “Land Speeder” that was driven by Luke Skywalker was actually built around the chassis of a Bond Bug to form a 3-wheeled vehicle. The wheels were later masked out on the film to produce the hover-car that we see in the film. Mirrors were also used on the underside to create the effect of it hovering above the ground. Three vehicles were built in total by Elstree Film Sudios in the UK, one was built on a gimbal and two driveable ones based on the Bond Bug chassis.

	Did you know!!


	Up until 1963 in the UK only people with a full car licence could have a reverse gear on a 3-wheeler. Motor-cyclist licence holders with no car licence had to have the reverse gear disabled if it was fitted. The change of law in 1963 meant that anyone could have a reverse gear on a 3-wheeler.


	Did you know!!


	The fibreglass used in the bodies of Reliant 3-wheelers, although having diameters of only 0.0003 inches, possesses great tensile strength of up to 400,000 pounds per square inch. A very high strength to weight ratio indeed.


	Did you know!!

The 750cc and 850cc used in a majorty of Reliant 3-wheelers has also been used to power everything from the Quasar ( a covered motorbike ) to light weight racing cars, generators, fire pumps and custom vehicles.