Here’s one you may have never seen before. That’s because only a few dozen were supposedly ever exported from Japan to the U.S. – even with right-hand drive. This 1959 Daihatsu Trimobile is a tiny three-wheel pickup along the lines of the Piaggio APE (aka Vespa). We’re told this one only needs fresh gasoline and a new battery after sitting a few years. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this tiny truck is available here on eBay where $3,800 OBO gets to take this jewel home. A new tip from “Driven By Faith Restorations”.
On its home turf, the Trimobile was known as the Midget (not to be confused with the little sports car from England). One source indicates that no more than 50 of these units ever made it to the United States, making any of these runabouts a rare find today. These machines were powered by a 300cc single-cylinder engine (2-stroke, air-cooled just like a Vespa). Output would not have exceeded 12 hp, so pulling much of a load may have been tedious. Winding one of these up to its top speed of 40 mph probably took a while with a 3-speed manual transmission,
The seller thinks the engine in this truck has been swapped as it has more oomph. He/she has replaced its electrical system and gas tank which had to be custom-made to match the one that came out of it. This little workhorse even has a sunroof with a cover. To help with further or future repairs, the seller has found an owner’s manual for this thing (where you’d find parts is another matter).
We’re told the Trimobile ran about three years ago, but no attempts have been made since. It comes with what eBay classifies as a “Rebuilt, Rebuildable & Reconstructed” title. The last pic is of another similar truck from BringATrailer. Looks like fun!
This is pretty cool, got Scotty Gs name all over it. It’s kind of interesting how different countries move the goods. We have 290 inch wheelbase Peterbilts, and Asia has , what now? Daihatsu “Midget”( they were called) Trimobiles. Daihatsu never made it very big with cars here, but I used to haul new Daihatsu forklifts, and were very popular. For the record, there is supposed to be an engine cover, and of course, application. Short city rides are becoming far more preferred and something like this could really work for me. Who knows? We may just see more of this stuff, probably will be EVs.
And……………………………Gone.
Nearly 50 years ago I went to a Presbyterian Church in Burbank, California – one of the prominent members, an engineer at Lockheed no less, was known for gallivanting around town in one of these! I always suspected, but never confirmed, that it had been owned and used at Lockheed for getting around their huge facility at faster than walking pace!
What a interesting toy. Quads and those side by side things are legal on the street in my area so I imagine I could get this licensed as well.
That engine placement gives “cab over” a whole new meaning.