Hot Dogs for 20 cents and cold drinks for 10! That’s what the vintage sign writing on this great little 1959 IsoCarro 150C says. It’s for sale for an asking price of $2,250 here on craigslist and is located in Oceanport, New Jersey. Thank you to Barn Finds reader Roger for sending in this unusual find!
After researching these little tri-wheeled scooters I found that approximately 10 were brought into the US to test the market. Apparently things didn’t go well! I also found a source that claimed that the Isocarro’s were built in Spain as well as Italy, which didn’t surprise me as Iso tended to license it’s products at will (witness the BMW Isetta). The seller tells us that it’s powered by a 2-stroke twin piston 150 cc proprietary engine with a Dellorto carburettor. Although there’s no claim that it runs, the seller tells us the engine has compression and that the Dellorto is in “good condition,” although there’s a gasket kit for the carburetor included in the sale (along with a new battery).
This is a slightly older model, but it does give you an idea of what it could look like refurbished. There was also a “box van” version. The seller tells us that the transmission is a 4-speed with a reverse gear, and that the forward gears are shifted through a “heel-toe” mechanism while reverse is engaged via a lever. They also tell us that while the front brake is mechanical, the rear brakes are hydraulic and will need to be rebuilt. That might be a challenge as I didn’t find any parts available after a quick search.
I adore the Iso logo with the two pistons highlighted! I hope someone purchases this find and subsequently gets it back on the road — but if you use it to sell hot dogs and cold drinks, I recommend upping the pricing if you want to stay in business!
Already gone. Neat little truck though.
I would’ve liked to have seen more pics
of the trucklet to make a better decision
before even thinking about buying it.
Since finding parts would’ve been an issue, you’d have to think seriously about
using parts from a Honda motorcycle to
rebuild the running gear in order to make
this a reliable driver. Or, you could make
an EV/LSV out of it and have some real
fun. Either way, a great find.
Looks like a cousin to the mailster used by the USPS in the sixties. I wouldn’t go around a corner too fast. Those vehicles had a reputation of tipping over at slow speeds.
interested in the 3 wheeler
That was a very good buy. Chances are that it will end up back in Europe.