Car conversion to 3 wheels

[MTrenk]

One thing you might really want to consider is fabricating a hinge to make the door open up suicide style. The car/motorcycle will probably be low to the ground (should be due to how weight transfers side to side) so I bet it would be way easier to get out with a suicide door. Wouldn't have to twist around in what could be a tight fit in the cabin.

[skippo]

Hope someone still on this. I been think about the same thing using a VW dti beetle for a good mpg start and easy body mod. Just shave the 2 rear wheel well fender connect a R.QRiley xr3 rear wheel system. Minimum modification. What you think. Also will I be able to registry it as a bike? Since it was register as a car b4 , buy I live in California.

[freebeard]

What's a "VW dti beetle"?

[skippo]

I mean the Volkswagen beetle TDI turbo diesel. Its a fwd with x3 rear end it be a hybrid 3 wheel drive. And the beetle rear end make simple fish tail for aero.

[freebeard]

I had a high level of confidence that was your meaning.

A 'through-the-road' parallel hybrid is a not bad plan. It simplifies things. Fishtailing a New Beetle? I'm not so sure.



I think you'd do better to start with a Golf and pie-cut the body behind the cowl. Just a little so the door hinges can accommodate the change, or just ahead of the hinge line.

[skippo]

Hi Freebeard
I am very new here, yes thats the car,. You see the tail end is already tappered. Since its a 3 wheel I won't need the rear wheel fender, will the shave and replace with a panel be simpler than the pie cut?

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by freebeard

That's kinda odd, but interesting. BTW if I were looking to convert a car into a reverse-trike, possibly would make it RWD using the transmission setup of a BMW R-series motorcycle.

[Xist]

Freebeard! Where can I find out more about that car?! That is awesome!

Yes, why did they keep the rear fenders? What in the world is occupying the back seat?

[freebeard]

skippo -- My point was that the New Beetle is squarer than the old. Thinner rear fenders, wider rear valance, etc.

Xist -- I think this is the same car:



Found here with cRiPpLe_rOoStEr's Beemer power in the Grinnall Scorpion III



A simpler approach from thesamba.com:



Found via Google Images for vw reverse trike

[Xist]

Image search! Of course! I guess that welding your own frame and removing the center half makes sense, but the finished product does not have the seam.

I do not think there is any taper, as beautiful as that car is, I imagine that it would be obvious. I imagine that you would start the taper behind the doors, which would create a noticeable corner, unless you want to create a whole new body panel!