When most people think of a collection of vehicles from the mid 1950’s, they think of T-Birds, or Tri-Chevies or at least something with fins. Barring that, at least most people think of something with four wheels! However, I am not most people. For me, while they’re visually interesting and neat in real life, cars of the Fifties have never really “done it” for me as modelling subjects.
No, I like the weirder stuff, so when I got a collection of vehicles from the mid-‘50s, it was a bunch of Japanese three-wheeled commercial vehicles! Thanks to LS (and Arii thereafter), my lust for oddball automotive subjects can be at least somewhat appeased! Check out my collection of 5 three-wheelers from the fun and simple 1/32 “Owner’s Club” model series. You’ll never see a Big Wheel the same way again!
https://adamrehorn.wordpress.com/model-kits/out-of-box-reviews/arii-1-32-owners-club-three-wheelers/
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Three wheels... too fun!
Mechworker
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2019 - 01:34 PM UTC
Szmann
Netherlands Antilles
Joined: September 02, 2014
KitMaker: 1,977 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,371 posts
Joined: September 02, 2014
KitMaker: 1,977 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,371 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2019 - 02:02 PM UTC
Haha!
I remember those vehicles (very similar with Midget) made by a Czech manufacturer supplying the small stores in my home country. They have disappeared at the beginning of the '90s, but in '80s they were pretty much a daily sight!
Sweet memories literally! The one I was seeing most often - the green one - was the one supplying the gelateria in my block
Thanks, Adam, for bringing me back happy memories
Cheers!
Gabriel
I remember those vehicles (very similar with Midget) made by a Czech manufacturer supplying the small stores in my home country. They have disappeared at the beginning of the '90s, but in '80s they were pretty much a daily sight!
Sweet memories literally! The one I was seeing most often - the green one - was the one supplying the gelateria in my block
Thanks, Adam, for bringing me back happy memories
Cheers!
Gabriel
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2019 - 03:04 PM UTC
Cargo trikes with lids !!!
Awesome little collection Adam, thanks for sharing.
Cheers, D
Awesome little collection Adam, thanks for sharing.
Cheers, D
Mechworker
Ontario, Canada
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Joined: September 20, 2013
KitMaker: 352 posts
Auto Modeler: 135 posts
Posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 - 11:53 AM UTC
That's cool, Gabriel, that you got to see these guys in action!
I will do my best to do them justice! They are really off-the-wall subjects, and I can hardly wait to see how judges at North American shows react to them!
Glad I could remind you of some good times, too!
I will do my best to do them justice! They are really off-the-wall subjects, and I can hardly wait to see how judges at North American shows react to them!
Glad I could remind you of some good times, too!
Szmann
Netherlands Antilles
Joined: September 02, 2014
KitMaker: 1,977 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,371 posts
Joined: September 02, 2014
KitMaker: 1,977 posts
Auto Modeler: 1,371 posts
Posted: Friday, January 11, 2019 - 03:44 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I will do my best to do them justice! They are really off-the-wall subjects, and I can hardly wait to see how judges at North American shows react to them!
If there is any category for them (other than "of the wall"). I wish I'll see their faces
I can remember they were plain semi-gloss painted, smoky and super-slow. I don't know if was poor maintenance, but they were always leaning to one side!
Gabriel
GaryKato
California, United States
Joined: December 06, 2004
KitMaker: 3,694 posts
Auto Modeler: 79 posts
Joined: December 06, 2004
KitMaker: 3,694 posts
Auto Modeler: 79 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 10:55 AM UTC
I remember seeing these when I was 5 and taken on a visit to relatives in Japan. And later they were used in the US in my hometown for mail delivery!
Dixon66
New Hampshire, United States
Joined: December 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,500 posts
Auto Modeler: 645 posts
Joined: December 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,500 posts
Auto Modeler: 645 posts
Posted: Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 03:27 PM UTC
Quoted Text
I remember seeing these when I was 5 and taken on a visit to relatives in Japan. And later they were used in the US in my hometown for mail delivery!
The US ones were made by Cushman and not imports. I remember postal and even police (parking enforcement) ones.
Joel_W
Associate Editor
New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,974 posts
Joined: December 04, 2010
KitMaker: 11,666 posts
Auto Modeler: 2,974 posts
Posted: Sunday, January 13, 2019 - 07:11 AM UTC
Adam,
What a really unique collection. I somewhat do remember seeing 3 wheelers being used by the NYC postal service back in the late 50s and early 60s.
Thanks so much for sharing those kits with us, as I've been around a long time, and just don't remember seeing them.
Joel
What a really unique collection. I somewhat do remember seeing 3 wheelers being used by the NYC postal service back in the late 50s and early 60s.
Thanks so much for sharing those kits with us, as I've been around a long time, and just don't remember seeing them.
Joel
VintageRPM
Texas, United States
Joined: November 28, 2010
KitMaker: 300 posts
Auto Modeler: 13 posts
Joined: November 28, 2010
KitMaker: 300 posts
Auto Modeler: 13 posts
Posted: Monday, January 14, 2019 - 11:17 AM UTC
Those are actually really nice, simple kits. I've built three of the Owners' Club Kits - the '68 Daihatsu Midget along with 2 regular 4-wheeled cars. A couple of pics of the Daihatsu here:
https://www.vintagerpm.com/132-1957-daihatsu-midget/
https://www.vintagerpm.com/132-1957-daihatsu-midget/