
Take this one as a hoot -- or a scary indicator of what CAFE will do to America's beloved pickup truck. It's a 1967 Daihatsu Tri-Mobile, a three-wheeler that's outfitted with 12 horsepower and a cute factor that eclipses any Corbin Sparrow.

While we're not ready to give up our Prius just yet, the charms of the Tri-Mobile shine right through its peeling paint, applied over the original yellow color it was delivered in, as a vehicle used by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. On its third owner, the current title holder still has the original "pink slip." It sports two seats, a one-cylinder two-stroke engine, and a three-speed manual gearbox. Considered a three-wheel motorcycle truck by the California DMV, the Tri-Mobile only requires a regular old car license to operate on roads--but the wisdom of stepping into anything other than stop-and-go traffic is to be questioned.
The pickup bed on this one is in sturdy shape. There might be a dozen left in the U.S. and the owner says he doesn't doubt its clocked mileage of 23,161. So if you can get over the passing resemblance to the tuk-tuks that hammer around Bangkok, emitting more smoke than the trannie bar mamas, post your bid and maybe in three days, it'll be yours. Take that with your 35-mpg rules, Congress!
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