Meet the 25mph human-electric mini-Morgan

If you’re a fan of auto racing, retro design or even old postcards, there’s a good chance you squealed like a child when the Morgan Motor Company unveiled a modern take on its century-old 3 Wheeler. Three years after its introduction, this diminutive roadster remains the world’s most desirable 82-horsepower car; the factory is only now catching up with a waiting list that once stretched beyond two years. And Morgan’s baby doesn’t come cheap, either; an optioned-out example can top £45,000 (about $70,000).

What’s a cyclecar devotee of modest means to do? Thanks to a company in Belarus, it is now possible to buy a 3 Wheeler of your own, shipped to your door, for a fraction of the price of a Pickersleigh Road original.

There’s a catch, however: It’s going to take a little legwork.

The Ekomobil company of Minsk has created a pedal-powered replica of Morgan’s trike. Based on drawings of the very first racing models, the cunning Picar lives up to the classic’s riveted retro glory, with a wood veneer dash, leather trim and polished faux exhaust pipes emerging from cylinders of a faux engine.

Powered by your breakfast, the Picar’s chain drivetrain runs through a three-speed Shimano Nexus hub on the rear wheel. An optional battery pack powers an audio player, turn indicators and headlights. There’s even a human-electric hybrid version available, with a 1000-watt motor capable of pushing the car to a brisk 25mph. And rest assured, although a youthful outlook is required to drive the Picar, actual youth is not; the car’s single-seat cockpit easily accommodates drivers as tall as six feet.

And Ekomobil isn’t stopping with its Morgan-inspired velomobile. The company will design and build a soapbox version of most any classic car, on three or four wheels. The price for all that customization isn’t small, with finished products running up to €3,000 (about $3,300); shipping from Belarus is extra.

Now, it bears mention that €3,000 can buy a rather exceptional road bicycle, a very clever e-bike, or even a nice used Mazda MX-5 with an actual engine and non-optional turn indicators.