“Look! Up in the Sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a Motorcycle! It’s a 1985 Pulse Litestar Autocycle!” This supercycle can be found here on eBay in Portage, Michigan, just south of Kalamazoo. The seller has a $6,500 buy-it-now price listed or you can make an offer. Thanks to Matt W. for sending in this super tip!
I’m not sure if Superman would have had any need for a Pulse Litestar Autocycle since he basically just needed a phone booth to change into his tights and cape (ok, that sounded weird), but this thing would have added some zip to Clark Kent’s persona for sure. Not that his Nash-Healey wasn’t zippy, but a car that’s really a motorcycle that looks like an airplane? Clark would have had it made. This GCRV (Ground Cruising Recreational Vehicle) appears to be in great condition in some of the photos, but in others, it looks like it needs a lot of work. Sort of like Superman at, ohhhh, let’s say age 57…
Now that is one interesting view, isn’t it? We have seen a few of these vehicles over the past few years here at Barn Finds, and they’re always interesting to see. If a person were looking for a nice, small project that had a fairly high value once completed, this could be a contender. Restored examples have sold in excess of $40,000 in recent years so there is a lot of room here as far as putting a few thousand into this restoration and still being fine, value-wise.
The seller doesn’t include any engine photos, mainly because there isn’t one. They mention having a Yamaha 400 engine which early versions would have had, or a Honda 450, but this one could have had a much bigger Honda Goldwing engine, too. The interior is in rough shape as you can see. I’m not sure how a person would go about restoring this vehicle but I’m sure it’s very possible to bring it back and you’d have the craziest grocery-getter of all time. Superman would be proud.
(crickets)…
“Pulse Litestar Autocycle” – that’s got “Scotty” written all over it – are you adding this to your Island of Misfit Toys? I love how you can check your brake fluid while waiting for the light to turn green. Handy! I wouldn’t want to be driving this and tangle with an Escalade-Texting-Super-Mom (or Man), but I guess it’s no more dangerous than my motorcycle. Let us know if you snag this bad boy!
I spotted a nice-looking Kawi KZ550 engine for sale at $499. If the asking price on this Autocycle roller could be knocked down to something like 3-4 grand, maybe a really skilled DIY guy would be interested in making it that grocery getter that was mentioned. But 40 large for a fully restored version seems to be about $20,000 wide of the mark!!
My company built a number of the bodies for the Pulse before they closed shop. Fun project for a unique concept.
LS swap, just kidding. A Suzuki Hayabusa engine would make it scream though
Someone Bought It Now.
Always thought that one of the shaft-drive V4 engines would do well in one of these. 700, 750, or 1100 cc options.
Make wings on it.