2021 Carver Electric

There have been a number of three-wheelers in the no-man’s land between car and motorbike, with a list extending from Edwardian three-wheeled Morgans through Bond Bugs and Reliant Robins, all the way back to the Morgan Super Three.

Two wheels at the front and one at the rear or the other way around, it still equates to having three points of contact on the road to which the relevant laws of physics still apply offering certain limitations.

Not the Carver. Produced by a Dutch company called Vandenbrink and built in South Korea after an 11-year development process that reportedly included assistance from Prodrive, the Carver added the ability to tilt the main bodywork motorcycle-style, paradoxically offering the stability of four wheels.

It has conventional electric car-like controls, with a steering wheel, and two pedals in the footwell. You get indicators, a windscreen wiper, a front windscreen demister and two side air vents, which can blow hot air, so there’s even a form of heating and you can take off the roof (and the side windows) to make it into a convertible. There’s a USB port, an amplifier which you can Bluetooth your phone to so you can play music, and there’s a phone holder so you can use Google Maps for SatNav. Steering is done through the 17" front motorbike wheel, but it also has a hydraulic ram at the back which leans the whole cockpit over in response to how quickly the steering wheel gets moved, tilting into a turn like a bike would. While the party is going on up front - with the passenger compartment leaning at up to 45 degrees - the rear-mounted electric motor and battery remain upright between the dual rear wheels.

Power is provided by an electric motor (5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery) with a single-speed automatic gearbox, so there’s none of the gear changing that’s needed with a motorbike. With a 30mph top speed, performance is perfectly adequate for London traffic, you can squeeze through ridiculously narrow gaps in traffic due to the 98cm width and, we understand, it can be used in Bus Lanes!

First registered on 1st August 2021, this Carver Electric has been enjoyed by one previous keeper with 48 miles recorded on the odometer and is a reluctant sale from the Bunbury Collection due to ill health. Its rarity, coupled with negligible mileage, makes it an especially compelling proposition for collectors, enthusiasts of innovative engineering, or those seeking a distinctive addition to a curated collection. Excitingly offered without reserve, this is a rare opportunity to acquire of one of the most intriguing electric vehicles of recent years, with the market left to decide its value.