This pair of unusual three-wheelers can both be found on Facebook Marketplace in Black Creek, Wisconsin: the 1978 Pacesetter III here and the 1979 Manco Quester 310 here, listed by the same seller, who is asking $875 for the 1978 Pacesetter III and $950 for the 1979 Manco Quester 310. Here are the original listings: the 1978 Pacesetter III here and the 1979 Manco Quester 310 here, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for sending in these tips!
Let’s check out the Pacesetter III first, shall we? (sound of 39,830 people snoring) We’ve seen a couple of unusual “Commuter Industries” three-wheelers here in the past, and I’ve mentioned my Commuter Industries TE-380 too many times. T = transaxle, E = electric start, 3 = three wheels, 8 = 8HP, and 0 =… er… actually, I’m not sure what the 0 stands for. I just rode my TE-380 about an hour ago; it’s much more agricultural than recreational, but it’s so unusual that it’s fun.
The Pacesetter III was the first model of the company’s three-wheelers, and from what I can tell, they all came with a Wisconsin Robin single-cylinder engine, either a 7.5-hp or 9-hp. This one has the 7.5-horsepower version. A torque-converter-type clutch/transmission provided power to the rear wheels, and the seller has uploaded a video of this one in action. This example appears to be pull-start-only, whereas my TE-380 is electric-start-only, weird. Here are a few brochures for anyone interested: here, here, and here.
The one-year-newer (1979) Manco Quester 310 is an even more unusual little rig, as you can see in the photos showing the front wheel. That suspension! Manco Products was more famous for its go-karts, like this fiberglass-body example we saw here on Barn Finds last year, but you can do much work on a farm or ranch with a go-kart. This tough little three-wheeler is much better for working, but you can still have fun just plain ol’ riding it.
Any guesses as to what 310 means? Yes! 3 = three wheels, and 10 = a 10-hp engine. Well done – class dismissed! Wait, don’t go yet. Manco made the Agway, Cenex, Motorcraft, and Manco “Rustler or Quester” 305/308/310, so there were a lot of varieties of basically the same machine. Sort of like MTD lawnmowers and snowblowers made for other companies. Here’s a brochure showing the Quester, although this one appears to have either a different seat and gas tank or something is going on there.
This one is much nicer than my primative Commuter Industries TE-380, with the nicely finished rear and front cargo racks that are downright elegant compared to the heavy iron with clumpy welded seams on mine. The nice taillight and other nice features make me think that Commuter Industries and Pacesetter were really much more working vehicles than the nice three-wheelers that Manco manufactured, a company that was used to making fine machines.
This is a 10-hp Kawasaki four-stroke single, and it has electric start and reverse. The seller says it runs “excellent,” which is what they also say about the Pacesetter III. Are any of you into obscure three-wheelers like these two oddballs?
More old Hot Rod trucks especially Fords and how about old Buicks and Olds powered Hot Rods Too many used cars lots
Morley,
Use the link below to submit tips to Barn Finds of things that you find interesting and maybe they will write an article about it.
It’s well worth the effort!
https://barnfinds.com/tips/
These are both pretty unique. Both the Kawasaki and Robin engines were not cheap back then. Both, good names. I don’t ever even remember seeing a Manco 3 wheeler before. Just to see anything like this from the 70’s in usable solid condition is a plus. The brochures are a huge plus too. I know it takes time to research and find these things and get all the specs, etc, and we do appreciate your time and effort Scotty. I know if I was a kid and getting something like this, I’d be staring at the brochure every night before going to bed. Thanks Scotty.
You got it pegged, Dave.
BF has a huge serving every day of different machines from every road in the mechanical world-a tremendous difference from the “here’s my car, ain’t it cool,I’ll sell it to you for more than it’s worth”(ad naseum) forums we see scattered throughout the internet.
I’d rather have a truckload of choices to pick and choose from then read about than the same unchanging drivel over and over we see elsewhere.
Good find as always, Lothar and great sleuthing on your part once more Scotty G.
I assume to Kawi engine is a replacement. The brochure lists and talks about it being a 10hp Briggs.
Thanks, guys! I know these aren’t super interesting to a lot of people.
Rbig18, what an eye! Thanks for catching that. I know that on the Commuter Industries models, the TE-390 has a 9-hp Kawasaki compared to the 8-hp Kohler that my TE-380 has.
I have to confess…… I was too busy looking at the pictures in the old brochures and didn’t read them. That being said, that Kawasaki engine sure looks like its been sitting in that frame since day one. That’s one impressive choice for an upgrade!!!
Who knows, maybe they did late model run with Kawi and it never made the brochures.
Update: I just found this owner’s manual that lists a 7.5 hp Kawasaki for the 308 and an 8.5 hp Kawasaki for the 310 on page 2!
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/668d9908bb4044372898b3ba/t/66b3b528852f347d7a23b0a3/1723053357749/Manco+Quester+305+308+310+Owner%27s+Manual.pdf
The Pacesetter was made in the town of Cascade, Iowa in the eastern part of the state. I owned one for a while back in the 1990s. Nothing awe inspiring about it and felt lucky to have found a buyer for it after advertising for over a year.