[MCGARRETT]

If GM offered something like this for sale to the public, would you buy it?



http://www.rqriley.com/images/gm-lm2.jpg




This was as hell of an interesting little vehicle when I first saw it in the 1980's, It combined the fun of a motorcycle with the all weather protection of a car.

I was trying to find some stats on the car, from what I could find, the car had a 38hp engine, but when from 0-60 in 6.8 seconds and it delivered 168 MPG! It had pedals on the floor to control how the "pod" lean, similar to the rudder controls on an airplane.

What if this could be updated, with some assistance from Suzuki perhaps? It could be sold at GM or Suzuki dealerships, with some fuel injection and advances in computer control, lighter structure, this thing could be both a killer high milliage comuter car and a 1 person sports car.

What do you think?

 

[Ming]

The seating would have to be comfortable, as well and it would need good ease of entry / exit.

Danger would be people in massive SUV's wouldn't see you (looks lower/smaller than even a motorcycle) and I wouldn't want to be caught in a crash in one.

 

[paul8488]

Originally posted by Ming@May 21 2004, 06:13 PM
Danger would be people in massive SUV's wouldn't see you (looks lower/smaller than even a motorcycle) and I wouldn't want to be caught in a crash in one.

surely with something this small and rounded they could build a sturdy safety-cage. something like 'deomolition man'... the things fills with expanding foam on impact. but it still wouldn't be easily seen. it'll need a big flag sticking up th back (like a kids bike)!

 

[jro4566]

This looks like something you'd find out of a futuristic movie!

 

[Rex Raider]

With today's McDonald's based SUPER-SIZE atkins addicts, there might not be room for the average car buyer.

 

[PontiacJ8]

Maybe I would buy it to get the mail, or ride it in my backyard

 

[pupp1]

if i had money to throw away i would consider it

 

[MCGARRETT]

All these posts and not one single "EPCOT" reference.

This was a GM concept car from the 1980's...anyone remember the name?


I do agree though that it would have to be affordable....sub $10,000...about the price of a decent spot bike.

 

[actionjack]

Would I buy it? Hell No!

 

[monger]

Hell no, there is no damn way.

 

[bobo]

I like odd 3-wheeled minicars like this and the deceased Corbin Sparrow. One of their benefits is that they are classified as motorcycles, and you can therefore drive in HOV (carpool) lanes on the freeway, at least in California, and that would be enough for me to consider getting one if I lived in a congested urban area.

 

[Smilingoat]

no. it reminds me a lot of the one liter concept from VW from i think 2002, it was a single cylinder diesel.

 

[yoblues]

NO WAY. It might work in Europe but here it would turn out to be be exactly what it looks like. A coffin.

 

[powervette]

Originally posted by actionjack@May 21 2004, 11:15 PM
Would I buy it?  Hell No!

IF IT WAS A TOYOTA NOT A CRAPPY GM CAR I WOULD BUY IT!!!!!!!


:woot2:

 

[marinerbc]

Anyone remember Peter Sellers' car from the movie "The Party"? Looks very similar, except that he had a ragtop.

I'm afraid I wouldn't buy that from any manufacturer.

 

[2000_V6]

Originally posted by MCGARRETT@May 21 2004, 10:52 PM
All these posts and not one single "EPCOT" reference.

This was a GM concept car from the 1980's...anyone remember the name?


I do agree though that it would have to be affordable....sub $10,000...about the price of a decent spot bike.

I remember seeing it there in the innovations building or whatever it was called. I was like 8 years old, and thought it would be cool. If I recall correctly, didn't they say that the throttle and braking controls were on the steering wheel?

 

[posaune]

A company called Tampa Trike made something similar, I wanted to buy one of those. It was fully enclosed like this one but, the back of the bike was intact (single wheel), The front had the double wheels. What was cool was the body would lean in the direction of the turn to prevent rollover. I would post a picture but I cant find one. I would consider something like this to drive to and from work, but that's only because I don't go on any major roads.

 

[gmwsag]

Uhh..............
this thing would have to be $100 for me to buy it...

 

[GroundedZ]

The 1982 GM Lean Machine Concept.

General Motors Corp. described this one as "What may be the first new road vehicle invented durring this centry".

Automatic transmission

30HP

Liquid cooled

0-60 in 7 seconds.

up to 200 miles on a gallon of gas.

---------------------------------------
page 140 of:

"Cars Detroit never built" (1995)
Author: Edward Janicki
Sterling Publishing Co.,Inc. Ney York
ISBN# 0-8069-4254-1