This Lot has arrived in the UK from overseas under Temporary Admission. Shippio Ltd must complete all post-sale customs clearance administration, for import or export, on behalf of the purchaser. A compulsory fee of £195 + VAT will be added to the buyer's invoice for this service. This Lot may not be collected from the auction venue by the purchaser or any third-party transporter until Shippio Ltd has confirmed that this Lot has cleared customs.

If this Lot is to remain in the UK, or is not exported within 90 days of the sale, Import VAT at 5% of the hammer price will be payable.

"Cops blanch, kids cheer, ladies look - the Trihawk cruises boulevards or twisty roads to the sound of bystander applause and icons smashing." - Cycle magazine.

The Trihawk three-wheeler was designed by engineer Lou Richards. Having started his career in the food processing industry, Richards turned his attention to motor manufacturing. He wanted to create a lightweight high-performance sports car in the spirit of the Lotus 7, but found the associated bureaucracy daunting. Three-wheelers, though, were classed as motorcycles in the USA and subject to fewer regulations, and thus the idea of the Trihawk was born.

Richards assembled a team of specialists that included legendary race-car designer Rob McKee and David Stollery, award-winning designer of the 1978 Toyota Celica. Trading as Hawk Vehicles, the fledgling company was located at Dana Point in California. McKee drew up the bulkhead and perimeter frame, while Stollery styled the glassfibre body. A low nose was part of the design brief and so the search was on for a suitably compact power train. Mazda had a rotary and Subaru a flat-four, but neither company would supply engines. Step forward Citroën, whose 1.3-litre 64bhp flat-four engine from the GSA hatchback fitted the bill perfectly. As well as supplying drivetrains, Citroën provided engineering assistance and wind tunnel testing.

The Trihawk was enthusiastically received by the motoring press, garnering two of Car & Driver magazine's '10 Best' awards in 1984, most notably that for best roadholding (in the skid-pan test); it was also rated as the most fun driving experience on three or four wheels. Reviewing the Trihawk for Car & Driver, motoring journalist Michael Jordan wrote: "You just stab the throttle and steer the wheel; it's kind of like a Formula Ford only better."

With his health deteriorating, Richards sold his company to Harley-Davidson in June 1984, by which time an estimated fewer than 100 Trihawks had been built. H-D intended to relocate production to Wisconsin but never followed through with the project and so the Trihawk was consigned to the history books. Nothing is known of the history of this example, which was completed in May 1984, just before the company's sale to Harley-Davidson. The odometer reading is 2,358 miles. Glovebox key not present.

Following a period of inactivity, this motorcycle will require recommissioning and/or restoration to a greater or lesser extent before returning to the road and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves with regard to this motorcycle's completeness, history, authenticity, originality and mechanical condition prior to bidding.
Offered with key