Electric Conversion – 1985 Trihawk

In 3 Wheels, America by AbhiLeave a Comment

Designed by Lou Richards, the Trihawk 304 (3 wheels, 4 cylinders) was an interesting trike that was capable of cornering forces similar to a Lamborghini Countach (.91G) thanks to the wide front wheelbase and the low center of gravity. Introduced in 1982, the company was able to produce 96 units before Harley-Davidson bought them out in 1985 and stopped production. This example stands out as it’s claimed to be the only one that’s been converted to an electric drivetrain.

Like a current Vanderhall, the Trihawk is front wheel drive. In this case, the front wheels were powered by a 67 horsepower, 1,299cc boxer four from the Citroen GSA – not a lot of power but the wet weight is 1,370 pounds. According to 3 Wheelers, the suspension came from the Renault R5 and dashboard instrumentation came from Honda. It looks rather ridiculous but this must have been quite an autocross competitor. Price of His Toys has a scan of a Trihawk brochure, if you’re interested.

Or, here’s a period PM Magazine video:

This example was restored while the electric conversion was implemented. The new drivetrain produced 71 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. The range is approximately 60 miles. Find this electric Trihawk for sale here on Craigslist for $27,950 in Carlsbad, California.

This bike-uriousity brought to you by Kendall Y!