The DRK is a three-wheeled kit car produced by DRK Kits of Ellesmere Port, England, between 1987 and 1998.  

The car has two front wheels, one rear wheel configuration, with front-wheel drive. Its wooden body is encased in 20 swg aluminium, secured to a steel chassis. The mechanical components needed to complete the DRK could come from a Renault 4, 5 or 6, which gave a choice of engines from 845 cc (51.6 cu in) to 1300 cc (79 cu in) turbo. Kits were available from about £2400, but most customers had the mechanical components fitted by the factory. 

In 1990 DRK Kits was sold to a firm of body repairers, Callister & Roscoe; until then building the cars had been a part-time hobby for its designers. Derek and Robert Callister became full-time partners in the new venture, building customised DRKs to order. The Callister brothers decided to retire in 1998 and production ended, by which time 59 cars had been built making them very rare.

The current owner purchased the vehicle three and a half years ago as something fun to enjoy summer drives out with his wife.

He had always fancied a DRK and spent some considerable effort tracking down this particular one, it is number 49 of only 59 ever made.

Unfortunately due to his wife's height , she doesn’t find it the most comfortable and so it has been decided that the DRK will make way for something with a better fit.

In the folder are a number of old MOTs for the vehicle, along with a V5C and history of servicing that has been carried out. There are also a number of invoices for parts and services. 

There is also a wealth of literature from the owners club and sourced from the internet on this rare vehicle.

Importantly all of the vehicle inspection report paperwork is present from when it was converted to a tricycle and a Renault 5 donor was used.

The vehicle is MOT’d until 31st August 22 (no advisories)

Inside the vehicle the maroon and cream theme is carried over with the seats being Maroon and the interior panels cream.

There is a long narrow glovebox and cubby hole behind the passenger’s seat for storage which currently holds the jack/wheel brace etc. The seats are snug and the footwells are fairly narrow. Of course, there are no doors so you step over the sides of the body to get in. 

Unfortunately the mechanical speedo/odometer failed at 32k miles and so a manual record has been kept of the mileage since then , it now sits at 35k. There is however a GPS powered speedo so you can still track how fast you are travelling.

A lovely Moto-Lita wooden rimmed steering wheel is fitted and it really sets it off against the maroon and cream.

The exterior paintwork is in fine condition and the chromework is excellent. The car sits on painted steel wheels and has a really quirky look about it which turns heads everywhere it goes.

There is a tonneau cover which covers the front seats and can be unzipped for the drivers seat only allowing you to keep the passenger seat dry if travelling alone.

There is also a full “hood” which is a framework affair and clear plastic roof essentially, if going out in really poor weather is your ambition.

There is a small luggage rack on the rear and one on the passenger side to carry small bags. Led day running lights have been fitted in the front grill but they are very subtle so as not to ruin the look of the vehicle.

Well the mechanics on any custom car/trike such as this can be a bit daunting as they are normally patched together from a number of vehicles.

In this case the DRK uses pretty much all of a Renault 5 as a donor apart from the shell (and one of the wheels). The vehicle in this case was a 1982 model but it was used as a donor in 1996 when this DRK was built and was registered in 1997.

The mileage on the vehicle started again in 1997 with its registration and it got to just under 8k and unfortunately the original engine gave up.

A brand new unit was sourced from Renault and fitted. An electronic ignition system was added which ensures the peppy 1108cc engine fires up first time every time.

It drives well and being so open to the elements it's quite exhilarating, it feels a lot faster than it is.

It also has a stainless exhaust system fitted.

The DRK Tricycle is a small, lightweight (circa 750KGs) custom vehicle designed and built by three friends.

It's fun, cheap to maintain and use, and parts are still widely available due to it being based (mechanically at least) on one of Renaults most loved 80s hatchbacks.

It's not for the shy and retiring this one, it will turn heads as most won’t know what it is so if you want to be inconspicuous this isn’t for you. The performance due to the low weight and lack of driver aids might also surprise you.

It’s some good old fashioned 3 wheeled fun, and this particular example is in fine fettle, so if you have your heart set on something that is a little bit different and want to stand out from the crowd, this could be right up your alley!