Advertisers sometimes still take liberties with the truth (have you seen the fake overacting on infomercials lately?) despite there being at least some modicum of laws now to ward against false advertising. This 1958 Coronet three-wheeler, once advertised as “The World’s Best Three-Wheeler,” is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Cary, Illinois, and they’re asking $20,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
A lot of us have seen three-wheeled vehicles, and I know that a lot of Barn Finds readers, and even some writers, have owned them, and currently do own them. The two-in-front configuration is arguably the best and most stable layout for a three-wheeled vehicle. That is, unless you’re going to set up a purposely fake, weighted three-wheeler to tip over as an unmentioned British car show did a few years ago. Not that Reliant has sold a lot of Robin three-wheelers in the last 24 years anyway. This l’il tri-wheel treat weighs about 800 pounds and is just under 12 feet long, so it’s bigger than it looks in the photos.
This car is sleek, isn’t it? For 1958, it looks much more modern to me than a late 1950s car should. They were only made for a couple of years, unfortunately, and are very rare to see today, hence the asking price. A gent named David Gottlieb designed the Coronet after having tried his hand at another three-wheeler called the Powerdrive. Instead of aluminum bodywork, the new Coronet was fiberglass, somewhat similar to Mr. Gottlieb’s first effort, the Allard Clipper. Just three Clippers are known to survive, out of only around 22 made. Their slogan? “Take the nipper in a Clipper,” relating to a small seat outside on the rear deck, wow.
There were reportedly fewer than 500 Coronets made, and this example looks like it would be an easy restoration project. By 1960, the Coronet had run its course, and they were never sold for the U.S. market, of course, so no need to comment as to whether they would hold up against a Chevy Suburban or how they’d be merging on the freeway. I mean, unless you want to mention those things, then by all means! Not to mention, the gas tank was located in the nose, and with a fiberglass body shell, yeah, boom. The seller has provided more photos than a lot of listings, so kudos to them for that. They even included a couple of underside photos.
The engine is in the back, but in front of the single rear wheel, as seen in this photo. It’s a 328-cc two-cylinder two-stroke Excelsior engine with around 17 horsepower and 27 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through a three-speed manual to the rear wheel, and the seller says this one runs but hasn’t been driven due to needing brakes. Brakes schmakes, I want to drive this thing! At $20k, I’m not a buyer, but have any of you owned or even heard of a Coronet three-wheeler?
I’ve never seen one of these (and I can understand why.)
I’ve never heard of these before. I have to admit, if you’re driving a 3 wheeler, I’d think you’d want two wheels up front for sure. I think the Reliant Robin is the other way around if memory serves me correctly ( there’s about a 58.375% chance of that today). I noticed the unique shifter, kind of reminds me of a Hand Shift Indian or Harley. It would be very unique and nice to see restored for sure. Scotty, they beat you to it. You don’t have to draw up a drop top version of this little car lol.
Very cool find…deserves a spot at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. The Robin Reliant, if you’ve watched Top Gear, takes body roll to the next level
The slogan should read, “TAKE a nipper, before driving a Clipper”, like all these, were for such a different application, and I’d never own a 3 wheeler. That single tire runs in the grease strip, where all the blasting caps, bullets and driveshafts lay that 4 wheelers miss. I’d be nervous taking this to Walmart and a “family car”? It’s novel, mate, but tis’ no family car.
Oh, another thing, it looks like a Herald that didn’t come out of the chute just right,,the “RNT” plate ( runt?) looks correct.
Gotcha on the rear wheel in “uncharted,” or should I say “unswept” territory, Howard. A buddy’s folks had a ’49 Hudson Commodore “8” that he got sideways in the rain on a long sweeper THREE LANE (remember those? This was NJ 17 near Ramsey ’bout where the now-long-gone Ford plant was built) ’cause the rear track was narrower as the rear wheels were INSIDE the semi-monocoque body frame members. The lighter rear end was running in standing water not cleared by the front tires.
Yikes! I get “puckers” every time I recall that incident.
Rarity doesn’t make it valuable….. I can only think of Mr Bean enticing the hidden driver of the 3 wheeler in his comedy sketches……. This car is for someone who has $20K burning a hole in his pocket and just simply wants it! I don’t know of that market but I guess there may be a few!! It is fun reading but that is as far as I would go………
20 k for a turnkey restomod with a modern motorcycle engine in it. We live in a gated community and it would be kind of cool to drive around within its bounds. However it’s in a very hilly area I would be concerned about uphill driving. I’d feel more confident with a 500-750cc engine to tackle the hills. I looked up the Allard Clipper ad on your link, and it looks like a Bruce McCall parody. Allard should be ashamed of themselves. There is a microcar museum somewhere in Wisconsin. Maybe they would be interested.
I have been involved with OLD cars since my father bought an old 1938/9 (My birth year) Austin 7 Ruby in about 1950. I joined the Veteran Car Club in South Africa in 1976 and have since owned between 200-300 classic cars and bikes but up until today I have never read in any of my many, many old car books, or even heard of a Coronet! Being a Brit, and now living back in England, I would love to own it!
What’s the big deal about a gas tank in front? Didn’t seem to deter 19 million VW Bug owners or how many million early Ford owners. In the back didn’t work out too well for Pintos so quit your whining. As Pam Bondi says “we’re all going to die anyway. Have a nice day.
The rear looks real stylish and low, but the front end doesn’t match, it looks like a goofy cartoon face. I’ve never seen one before, or don’t remember, I’ve read a lot of british car mags, and they love to feature oddballs like this.
I do have a 3 wheeler, these are sometimes called a reverse trike, the front wheel of a tricycle being reversed to the back. My Morgan replica is pretty squirrelly, wanders back and forth, mostly noticeable at 55 mph plus. It can be yours for less than this one, and much better looking, IMO. It’s real fun to drive, and you have to pay attention.
Thye only 3-wheel vehicle I would be interested in owning would be an early Morgan with the v-twin motorcycle engine mounted in front of the radiator. I would drive it (Cautiously!) once then park and polish it only.
I have seen (as I recall) two of the Morgans racing at Lime Rock, CT. One was the early one with the V-Twin engine. The other, I believe had a 4 cylinder engine mounted behind both the radiator and front wheels.
Listing update: the seller has lowered their asking price to $16,500.