This is the unholy marriage of a Honda Goldwing motorcycle with a VW Beetle. Given the combo, we’ll call it GoldBug, which was, of course, the elusive character in Richard Scarry’s children’s books back in the day.
The pictures speak volumes here, so we won’t ad any more than we already have. Interestingly, this is in the same small, eastern TN town as the Festiva Two-Fer we posted the other day, but is not offered by the same seller. They must know each other…
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Athens, TN
$560.65 with three bids
Update: SOLD for $3,950 with 29 bids
From this angle, it almost looks normal.
Then there’s this…
And, more to the point, this…
The skeleton is impressively strange.
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Known around here as “The Japanese Beetle”. I was told that another person had built this with the idea of marketing them as “Wee-W’s. Obviously, this wasn’t to be.
When I bought this it was covered in dust, had no battery and the gas was stale. The previous owner said that the dash with just 36,790 miles also came off the bike that this reverse trike was built around. It is titled as the 1997 Honda Goldwing that is the rear half of this machine. I have the clean, clear title.
The frame has a VW bug independent torsion front suspension. With the right hand sequential shifter it goes through the gears well and stops decently with the VW front drums and Goldwing rear disc. The left hand reverse lever operates the stock GL1500 electric reverse. In the videos you can hear a noise as I shift it in and out of reverse. I guarantee that the noise is the long reverse shift linkage only and not the transmission.
The engine runs very strong and is not modified from stock in any way other than the mufflers being replaced by the short chrome pipes. The flat six sounds like a Ferrari more than anything else. There are no leaks or funny sounds coming from any of the driveline. All three tires are near new. The seat is comfortable, does slide back and forth, and there is plenty of room for a six + foot tall driver. The dash lights, horn, low beams, taillight, brake light and wipers work. The speedometer, odometer, high beams and turn signals do not. Please take a good look at the pictures. The fiberglass work looks to be of a high quality. It is not flimsy. The body unbolts with little effort and with the help of a few friends, it can be removed in short order.
If you are looking for something different for your local cruise in or collection, it’s time to bid. I’m starting this auction at the value of a low mileage GL1500 engine alone and without a reserve. If you are looking for a quiet, near new VW to take to church, please look elsewhere. This is someone else’s custom creation. By bidding you are also agreeing to release me from any liability. I have done my best to describe it, provide many pictures.