le trike"gnat"

Gnat


Introduced in the late 1960's the Gnat was manufactured by Aimers McLean & Co Ltd in Scotland. The vehicle was a 2-seater, 3-wheeled cross-country vehicle that was designed for golf courses, forestry grounds, estates and parks - I even had an e-mail about one being used in the sub-antartic. Controlled by tiller steering, the Gnat was powered by a 400cc (10hp) Briggs & Stratton four stroke engine. This drove the rear wheels independently through an 3-speed Albion gearbox and chains. In addition to 8" disc brakes, each wheel has a 14" wide tyre to improve traction in muddy areas, and with a 12" ground clearance, the Gnat could climb a 1 in 1 gradient with a stability of sideways tilt in excess of 30 degrees. The vehicle proved to be a true workhorse being able to carry 650lbs and pull up to 950lbs on its tow bar.

The Gnat could reach 25mph though a Gnat 2 model was also introduced that was governed to just 15mph. Production ceased in the late 1970's.




The Gnat.(My thanks to Joe Parsons for sending me this picture of his vehicle.)