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2011 Shannons Melbourne Spring Classic Auction
Lot
28

1961 Tippen Delta MkIV 3-Wheeler Roadster

$10,000

Sold

Specifications

Engine 197cc
Gearbox 4 Speed Manual
Body Work Roadster
Colour 2 Tone Green
Interior Black
Trim Vinyl
Wheels Steel Discs

Description

This lot is no longer available

For those feeling the after-effects of War, the ability to get around with some form of normalcy was essential. Demand for relatively simple, small carriages was increasing, and several companies created what were known as 'Invalid Carriages'. One such company was Frank Tippen & Sons of Coventry in the United Kingdom, who introduced the motorised, three-wheeled Delta range in 1955. One of the first such vehicles that could be fully enclosed, the Delta was refined with several 'Mark' upgrades in its 13-year production run. They used fibreglass bodies with a sliding door to enable easy entry and exit, and utilised hand controls for throttle and steering. Towards the end of the Sixties, a Delta could be had with electric power.
A change in the UK's road laws saw vehicles such as the Delta be deemed illegal for road use- consequently few survive today.