When you think of New Zealand, what comes to mind? Unparalleled natural beauty? Lord of the Rings? Flight of the Conchords? Burt Munro? John Britten? Well, you just might want to add Paton Machines to your list.
Taking a motorbike engine and using it to power a three-wheeler? You've probably seen it before. But have you ever seen an Ibishu Pigeon?
Based on the Reliant Rialto (close trucklet cousin of the much more infamous Reliant Robin), you'll find it in a vehicle simulator game called BeamNG.drive. And now, thanks to Paton, a handbuilt version powered by a 50cc Honda Gyro tilting trike's innards is out in the world.
What's the bodywork made out of, you might ask? If it bears more than a passing resemblance to an oil drum, there's an excellent reason: That's exactly what it is.
