The vendor of immediately’s Good Worth or No Cube Tri-Hawk claims that it’s “In all probability extra enjoyable than is authorized in most states.” and warns “Individuals will both stare or wave whilst you’re driving.” Let’s see if all this illicit enjoyable comes at a good worth.

The thriller mileage on final Friday’s 1988 Volkswagen Cabriolet—which was owed to an odometer that stopped working at 103K—proved to be the fly within the automotive’s ointment for a lot of of you. That unknown made the $13,200 asking worth lower than tenable because of this, incomes the Vee-Dub a 72 p.c no Cube loss. The automotive apparently offered whereas we have been ruminating its destiny, and it could be a pleasant near the story to see what it really offered for.

It’s been averred that ‘birds of a feather flock collectively,’ nonetheless relating to driving immediately’s 1984 Tri-Hawk 304, there’s little or no likelihood of seeing one other one on the highway, a lot much less any kind of flock.

First off, although, let’s reply the query just about all of you who’re no less than one cup of espresso into the morning are asking: “Simply what the hell is a Tri-Hawk?” Let’s perform a little historical past.

That is considered one of about 100 FWD trikes constructed by the now defunct Design Lab Inc. firm out of Illinois, based by an entrepreneurial engineer named Lou Richards. Richards needed to create a light-weight sports activities automotive akin to the unique Lotus 7 however was stymied by the large volumes of rules required to get even so easy a automotive on the highway. Richards then found that three-wheelers have been exempt from most rules as they have been thought-about bikes (or shut sufficient) beneath the Federal and State tips and so his two-seat tribute to the 7 was designed round a tricycle structure.

The ensuing Tri-Hawk 304 (3 wheels, 4 cylinders) obtained loads of good press upon its debut, together with a Prime 10 award from Automotive and Driver for its skidpad efficiency. That didn’t assist a lot with gross sales, nonetheless, as the marketplace for vehicles so primary they lack a fourth wheel is fairly tiny. Inside a 12 months of launch, Design Lab, Inc. was renamed Hawk Autos, Inc. and operations have been moved to Dana Level, California.

The corporate’s poor funds coupled with Richards’ personal well being points compelled the sale of the enterprise in 1985, with Harley Davidson taking possession. The motorbike maker’s personal monetary struggles prevented it from doing something with the Tri-Hawk and it shuttered manufacturing shortly thereafter.

Now, you would possibly suppose that the Harley connection would imply there’s a V-twin thumper beneath this Tri-Hawk’s hood, however that’s not the case. Not needing to fulfill automotive emission requirements opened the door for any variety of becoming powertrain choices and the one which Richards settled on was an air-cooled 1.3-liter flat-four from the Citroën GSA. That produces 67 horsepower and drives the entrance wheels by way of a four-speed guide. Varied Citroën and Renault components make up the steering, brakes, and suspension surrounding that. With its mild weight and broad stance, this setup give the Tri-Hawk wonderful dealing with.

That’s to not say that taking this trike to its limits wouldn’t be a terrifying expertise. In spite of everything, one of many main causes the Tri-Hawk solely has three wheels was to sidestep most automotive security necessities. In a nod to among the fundamentals, although, the trike does have a fairly tall roll-over bar. Three-point belts are hooked up to that.

This one comes with a clear title, a reported 37,000 miles on the clock, and the vendor’s intimation that it’s a automobile that requires consideration to drive, warning towards acknowledging the gawkers and thumbs-uppers it can invariably encounter.

This bizarre little bit of automotive historical past comes at an asking worth of $10,000. You now have to determine whether or not that’s a good deal or a sham. What do you say, might this extraordinarily uncommon and succesful sports activities trike be value 5 figures? Or, does that worth clip this Tri-Hawk’s wings?

You determine!

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