[Autoweek]
World War II interrupted C.D. Gill's plan to put his Thrif-T prototype into production, and when work resumed in 1947, even the postwar sellers' market couldn't save it. Being a three-wheeler didn't help, nor did advertising that "anyone who can drive an automobile can drive a Thrif-T."When Gill began to build the updated version in Oxford, North Carolina, in December 1947, he predicted that monthly production would reach 500 units in a year. Stock was sold, a former buggy factory was leased, and local enthusiasm was high. Production was to begin in May with a price around $700.
When May arrived, stockholders inspected a pilot Thrif-T, but a coal strike had delayed delivery of chassis steel by at least 30 days. In July, the Tri-Wheel Motor Co. had suspended operations while awaiting parts and was working on refinancing. Gill expected production to resume at 25 vehicles per month; although some were built, the end was approaching. That November, the company planned a $200,000 stock offering. In February 1949, receivership was considered. By April, equipment was to be sold to satisfy a mortgage. In May 1950, sheriff's deputies seized 92 packages that were about to be shipped out of state to the company's last stand in Springfield, Massachusetts.Mark Zalutko's 1951 Thrif-T came from Springfield. He'd bought it in Ohio in 2005 and restored it over the next year."You definitely have to have a sense of humor to drive one of these," he said. It's a fair observation. The Thrif-T could be a cross between an amusement-park ride and a Davis-another American-built three-wheeler of the same era. Promoted as "ideal for drug stores, florists, groceries, garage and service station . . . perfect for the family," the Thrif-T "is not a convertible, yet looks like one," according to a brochure, while an ad boasted that the "convertible top gives you all weather protection." It would "carry three people comfortably and still have room for luggage."Unlike the cars in the ads, Zalutko's has doors and side curtains. With those in place, it feels tight. Three would fit, but not comfortably, and adding their luggage in the cavernous trunk would tax the 7.2-hp Onan two-cylinder and the two-wheel brakes. With just driver and passenger, though, the Thrif-T was surprising. The center driving position is fine on a deserted road and is actually the only oddity among the controls. We chose not to verify the claimed 40-mph top speed, but the Thrif-T felt as if it might get there, and the fear of a three-wheeler in turns was worse than the reality.The Thrif-T might have survived in Europe, where the recovering economy made tiny cars practical, but few drivers here wanted anything like it. Tri-Wheel's Springfield operation was gone by 1955. Production surely didn't reach 500 a month.
DOLLARS & SENSEORIGINAL LIST PRICE: $700
CURRENT MARKET VALUE*: $40,000 (est)
