Campagna Motors has been building its T-Rex line of vehicles for almost 20 years. Yes, this is the three-wheeled thing seen in Fantasy Factory, but look past the shenanigans of Rob Dyrdek and you’ll see an incredibly engineered ride.
The original concept was conceived by a Formula 1 engineer who took Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s concept of “simplify and add lightness” to its ultimate extreme. Yes, that fourth wheel was “removed” to save weight, and the exclusion of comforts like doors and windows is deliberate. I had the opportunity to sample two different versions of the T-Rex: the hardcore 14RR and the newest, more refined version, the 16S.
I started with the 14RR. This is the stripped-down, race-prepped version of the T-Rex, and everything about it screams “hardcore.” The 14RR’s 197-horsepower inline four is sourced from a Kawasaki sports bike, as is its six-speed sequential transmission. A fully adjustable coil-over suspension is equipped as standard, as are the massive Wilwood brakes, Volk CE28 wheels and BFGoodrich KDW tires.
This makes for a very responsive machine. The Kawasaki sport bike motor pulls hard off the line and hits its sweet spot at 6,000 rpm; upshifts are rewarded with a satisfying “bang” from the transmission that just continues to rocket the T-Rex forward with a ferocious scream.
Let off the accelerator and the engine burbles and pops in a way that can only be described as satisfying. Handling is sharp, with steering so responsive the T-Rex changes direction before you even think of turning the wheel. It’s an intense experience, but it’s not a perfect one.
As with all vehicles, there are some downsides to the T-Rex. That responsiveness requires one to be “on” at all times, as driving down uneven surfaces can cause the T-Rex to dart side-to-side. No sitting back, turning off your brain and cruising here — it’s the price one must pay for that quick-ratio steering and full-race suspension.
The reverse gear is a mechanical add-on that takes some getting used to (it’s a lever placed next to the left knee), as do the motorcycle-sourced controls. It’s also really quite loud and, if I’m honest, can be an absolutely terrifying to drive. When the trailer of a semi truck I was following suddenly had its rear doors swing open on the freeway, I realized just how vulnerable I was. The trailer, thankfully, was empty. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about my shorts.
With pants still uncomfortably soiled, I began my go ‘round with the 16S – Campagna’s newest iteration of the T-Rex, and the most “civilized.” This version has a radio, Bluetooth, a real dashboard, a turn-signal stalk and a proper reverse gear. Power comes from a touring bike motor, this one a BMW-sourced, 1.6-liter, six-cylinder. The steering ratio is a bit slower, the exhaust note less loud, and the suspension tuned a bit more for comfort.
But this 16S is still one hell of a machine. Though down on power compared to the 14RR, it does have more torque and a broader power band, meaning that this “touring” version is just as scary-fast. The steering is still more responsive than anything with four wheels, and the open-cockpit concept provides the same, exhilarating “naked” driving experience.
Campagna Motors’ T-Rex is both the most terrifying and most thrilling thing I’ve ever driven. Being so low to the ground and so exposed to the elements brings a sensation of speed felt only in dedicated, top-level race cars.
The fact that this is street-legal boggles my mind — it is classified as a motorcycle here in California, but the cage and seat belts negate the need for a helmet. Campagna Motors claims its T-Rex bring the formula-car experience for the street, and it delivers on that claim, and does oh-so-much more.
Now only if it came standard with a change of pants…
