Ford Cockpit by Ghia

Can’t lie: I love this form factor, the ’80s-2000s hyper-commuter car. Statistically, however, it has to be the least successful route to take for a startup car company, of which there are many.

Enter traditional automakers to save the day…with countless concept cars and prototypes touting “future” products we’re still waiting for,

Like the end of that sentence, automakers show us these commuting heroes and leave us hanging. Bastards.

What’s more, when I first got into cars, I hadn't imagined there would be so many similar designs for vehicles like this: the Cockpit is most similar in layout and intent to the Volkswagen Scooter, with the Owosso Motor Car Company Pulse and GM XP-511 as variations on the 3-wheel theme.

To my eyes, this car is a kissing cousin to the Volkswagen Scooter. 

Or, if you prefer, I suppose that its opening canopy makes it a modern version of the legendary Messerschmitt KR200.

Like the KR200, the Cockpit relies on just a 200-cc engine, derived from a motorbike or scooter. Sadly, little information on the Cockpit is around, and I can't say where its single-cylinder engine came from.

It's a secret, apparently. Ask Ford.

I’ve seen sources that claim it had an in-wheel rear motor, which seems like a lot of work when YouTube tells us that any old scooter engine, transmission, and rear wheel would have worked — but this is from 1981. Any speculation as to what provided the motive force for this pill?

Now, Ghia. After being bought and turned into Ford of Europe's in-house-but-at-arms-length design studio, Ghia was responsible for the Blue Oval's forward-looking concepts. 

In this era, I find its output to be somewhat neutered from what I'd expect to see from an independent design house. The official statement from Filippo Sapino, Ghia's Managing Director was:

"With its advanced aerodynamic design, Cockpit offers the dual advantages of excellent fuel economy linked to a high maximum speed which would provide regular inter-city highway transportation in a period of severe energy crisis. With the three-wheel configuration and single seat driving position, it is possible to not only reduce weight to improve economy but also to build in some of the precision and sporting flair often associated with motor cycles."

Of course, beyond its dramatic canopy (complete with sunroof!) and 3-wheel design, the Cockpit is notable for its quoted fuel economy of as little as 3.1 L/100 km (75 mpg). Horsepowers? 12 of them. 

Inside, a driver-focused interior had enough room in the back for shopping or a second passenger, who would need to place her legs on either side of the driver's seat, inside the roll bar. For just two people, the car is capable of returning MPG that would put a smart fortwo or Toyota Prius to shame.

For someone like me, who is often in his car alone, downsizing into a three-wheeler would be a possibility for my next car—if only there were models like the Cockpit on the market! But not terrible ones!

In other words, don’t make me pine for an ElectraMeccanica.