The unique Tri-Van came and it went in a flash.
It looked like a motorcycle trike turned backward; two wheels up front, one in the rear.
It was stubborn, tricky to steer, somewhat unstable, and a bit loud.
But it seemed to make sense at the time.
It was the early 1960s and local coal miners were out of work.
So entrepreneurs came up with the idea of creating a special vehicle with potential to buoy the economy.
The Tri-Van’s production was made possible through government grants. It was intended to be a utility vehicle to aid industry.
But sales languished. Production lasted just one year, 1962.
There is still one model stored away in Tamaqua, one of the last production vehicles ever made in Schuylkill County.
Interestingly, it’ll be up for grabs due to semiretirement of the owner.
George Geissinger, 72, proprietor of US Towing and Demolition, is liquidating many of his assets and a major portion of his business.
“My buildings are in the process of being sold, although I still intend to do some towing.”
Last week, he dug the Tri-Van out of storage, dragging it into open air and reminiscing about its place in automotive history.
“I got it about 25 years ago. I used to take it to shows.”
It always drew attention.
Made in Frackville by the Roustabout Co., the Tri-Van was seen as a newfangled mini-truck to possibly replace the popular Cushman vehicles.
“The manufacturer was hoping to sell it through government contracts,” he says.
To manufacture the two-cylinder invention, some basic elements, including parts, were borrowed from Ford Motor Co. For that reason, Geissinger sees similarities between the Tri-Van and the 1960 or 62 Falcon or Mustang.
Some parts are even interchangeable.
Another aspect of the Tri-Van is that its suspension doesn’t use springs. Instead, it rides on air.
“They used air bags and fittings behind the cab that are independently adjustable.”
The Tri-Van can travel about 55 mph, although it’s a little scary at that speed, he says.
It’s also economical, achieving roughly 35 or 40 miles per gallon.
The first Tri-Van rolled off the assembly line on March 14, 1963 to big fanfare.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. William Scranton drove the first one off the line. He said the vehicle would revitalize the Schuylkill area, nicknamed “Little Detroit.” In fact, the goal was to produce 1000 Tri-Vans a month at the $2M plant.
But somehow, things went south.
Orders expected from the US military, postal service, and International Harvester were unexpectedly pulled after production began. That development left a factory with a product nobody wanted.
Promotional literature described it as “versatility unlimited.”
However, that promise did not seem to encourage sales.
Like the Edsel, the Tri-Van never met with public acceptance.
As for Geissinger’s vehicle, it was owned by the late Jim Santore, a close friend.
“It had been purchased originally by PPL. They used it like a maintenance vehicle,” Geissinger says.
The Tri-Van’s retail price, brand-new, was $1,600.
The Roustabout Co. produced only 150 vans. Today there might be 15 or 20 remaining, possibly fewer. A few are stored away. A few others are in museums.
It’s difficult to say what a Tri-Van would sell for because there is nothing comparable.
Still, Geissinger hopes he can find a suitable home for it.
“It could be developed into something neat. It needs a timing gear. Plus, I have an extra motor for it, brand-new.”
Despite its rocky history, a Tri-Van seen driving today would be guaranteed to turn heads.
One thing is certain; it’d be the only one on the road.
No comments:
Post a Comment