Hand-Built Trike Rides Like A Cadillac

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #1, Page #22

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Gregg Zillge’s motorcycle trike looks like it came out of a custom shop showroom, with sleek red paint and wood trim. The 13 1/2-ft. long two-seater with a Cadillac hood ornament was built by his nephew Matt Englund “one piece at a time,” Zillges says.
    Though he told Englund he wanted it “long and gaudy,” he got a classic instead.
“My 87-year-old mother wanted to go to church on it so she climbed up on it and away we went,” Zillges says. He managed to put 1,500 miles on the bike in 2017 after it was finished in late July.
    In a detailed letter to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to begin the licensing process, Englund describes how he built the trike starting with a 350 V-8 motor, TH350 turbo transmission, and the drive shaft and rear axle assembly from a 1985 Chevrolet truck. He fabricated a 1952 Dodge Desoto hood into a rear deck lid and made rear fenders that look like a 1978 Ford step side pickup, adding custom made finned tail light assemblies.
    “All tubing was bent using an air over hydraulic mandrel tube bender with properly sized dies in order to retain 100 percent of the DOM tubing’s structural strength characteristics,” says Englund. “Frame and front fork components were welded together using .030-in. copper-coated carbon steel ER70S-6 MIG wire and a 75 percent argon/25 percent carbon dioxide shielding gas mixture.
    “The biggest challenge was getting everything straight and lined up from front to back,” Englund says. The extra length to accommodate a passenger seat makes the trike longer than normal.
    Zillges purchased many parts on eBay and Craig’s List and watched the bike take shape over five years with Englund building it in his spare time during winter months. After it was assembled, and it passed inspection for licensing, Englund took it apart to be painted.
    It’s been catching people’s attention ever since.
    “The first question people ask is ‘where is the radiator,’” Zillges says. “It’s in the back, and water runs through the frame. My nephew has an eye for art and how to keep a clean look.”
    The maple running boards, dash and engine cover made by Otacilio Berbert add to the trike’s classy style, matched only by how it rides.
“It rides like a Cadillac, just floating down the road,” Zillges says.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gregg Zillges, 165 South Oakwood Rd., Oshkosh, Wis. 54904 (ph 920 420-2353; Gregg.zillges@gmail.com).

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Hand-Built Trike Rides Like A Cadillac AG WORLD Gregg Zillge’s motorcycle trike looks like it came out of a custom shop showroom with sleek red paint and wood trim The 13 1/2-ft long two-seater with a Cadillac hood ornament was built by his nephew Matt Englund “one piece at a time ” Zillges says Though he told Englund he wanted it “long and gaudy ” he got a classic instead “My 87-year-old mother wanted to go to church on it so she climbed up on it and away we went ” Zillges says He managed to put 1 500 miles on the bike in 2017 after it was finished in late July In a detailed letter to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to begin the licensing process Englund describes how he built the trike starting with a 350 V-8 motor TH350 turbo transmission and the drive shaft and rear axle assembly from a 1985 Chevrolet truck He fabricated a 1952 Dodge Desoto hood into a rear deck lid and made rear fenders that look like a 1978 Ford step side pickup adding custom made finned tail light assemblies “All tubing was bent using an air over hydraulic mandrel tube bender with properly sized dies in order to retain 100 percent of the DOM tubing’s structural strength characteristics ” says Englund “Frame and front fork components were welded together using 030-in copper-coated carbon steel ER70S-6 MIG wire and a 75 percent argon/25 percent carbon dioxide shielding gas mixture “The biggest challenge was getting everything straight and lined up from front to back ” Englund says The extra length to accommodate a passenger seat makes the trike longer than normal Zillges purchased many parts on eBay and Craig’s List and watched the bike take shape over five years with Englund building it in his spare time during winter months After it was assembled and it passed inspection for licensing Englund took it apart to be painted It’s been catching people’s attention ever since “The first question people ask is ‘where is the radiator ’” Zillges says “It’s in the back and water runs through the frame My nephew has an eye for art and how to keep a clean look ” The maple running boards dash and engine cover made by Otacilio Berbert add to the trike’s classy style matched only by how it rides “It rides like a Cadillac just floating down the road ” Zillges says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gregg Zillges 165 South Oakwood Rd Oshkosh Wis 54904 ph 920 420-2353; Gregg zillges@gmail com

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