Though most of these microcars were made in the UK, Germany and France one country from the communist bloc were masters in making them - Hungary. At one time there were over 10 different brands of Hungarian microcars.
It is also said that nearly 500 different types of microcars were produced since the beginning of automobile history with most of them being produced in Europe with few in distant Argentina and Japan.
And yet so less is known about these wonderful cars, especially in India (though it currently produces one - Tata Nano and earlier the electric Reva). We provide a glimpse of some of them,
Peel P50 – UK
This model has been listed by Guinness Book of Records as the smallest microcar in the world. With a body length of just 54 inch, this car would fit one person and a shopping bag. It had a single headlamp and a single wiper. It was made by a firm called Peel Engineering between 1962 and 1965.
Chiqui - Spain
Made by Automóviles y Autoscooter Kapi in Barcelona, this car with a 125 cc single cylinder engine of Montessa (motorcycle manufacturer) had 3 wheels and 2 doors and were made for five years starting from 1950.
Forshaga Shopper - Sweden
A microcar built in Sweden, this 3 wheel car first rolled out in 1961. After several changes in design, the model was released as Shopper in 1964. The 1 HP engine was from Husqvarna (Swedish motorcycle manufacturer) and had a manual gearbox and a foot operated clutch. Later, the Shopper even had disc brakes on all the three wheels. But what was unique about this microcar was its steering handle that was fixed to the fibreglass roof and when lifted would also move. They were produced until as late as 1994.
Bamby – UK
A single seater microcar with a 50 cc Italian made Minarelli engine, the Bamby was a 3 wheeled vehicle and was made in small numbers in 1984.
Kersting – Germany
Kersting-Modellbauwerstätten a German motor manufacturer came up with a car that had a plywood body with removable hardtop. It was powered by a DKW made 2-stroke engine and was designed on the basis of the founder’s first sketch in 1920.
André Siames – France
An electrician called André Siames made this small electric microcar in his backyard. With a 1 HP electric powered engine, this microcar with two passengers could travel upto 80 km/hr.
Uttoro - Hungary
Powered by a Hungarian made 2-stroke Csepel 250 cc engine the Uttoro (Pioneer, in English) had a kick-starter that was placed on the rear axle. It could do about 80 km/hr.
Cingolani – Italy
This was a 3-wheeled car that weighed just 119 kg. and was powered by a 125cc Vespa scooter engine. Built by Ezio Cingolani it took him three years to build.
Felber Autoroller - Austria
Manufacturer of motorcycle sidecarriers, Felber company launched their 3-wheeled microcar with a 400 cc 2-stroke engine in 1952. These microcars could seat 4 people with two small sized seats at the rear. About 400 of these were built.
Alta A200 - Greece
Production of the A200 began in Greece in 1962. Essentially a German made Fuldamobil, the A200's design had more better features and could go up to 90 km/hr. These were produced for nearly 15 years.
Hoffman - Germany
Considered to be one of the strangest designed microcars, Michael Hoffman designed this in 1951. Everything inside the car was weird,
- windows that could be raised or lowered with the help of a strap
- Fuel pipe that went from inside the cabin
- Front wheels that were placed far apart than the length of the wheelbase.
- An engine that was placed in such a manner at the rear, that the engine used to move along with the wheels.
Larmar - UK
One of the most narrow microcars ever built, the British made Larmar was created for a woman to go shopping. And for the same reason a small trunk was provided to store goods. Produced for nearly 5 years since 1946, the Larmar used a BSA made single cylinder, 4-stroke 250 cc engine and ran at a top speed of 60 km/hr.
Joseso – Argentina
With a 520 cc British made Villiers engine, the Joseso microcar was made by the firm IAMA in 1959. Designed to seat 4 passengers, its body was welded to a flat steel platform that was mounted on a chassis of long stringers which was reinforced additionally through crossbars. It had electric start and a 4-speed gearbox along with reverse gear. The firm produced over 200 cars.
Coronet- 1958 - UK
When it first appeared in 1957, it was advertised as the world’s best 3-wheeler.
Designer David Gottlieb attempted to give the public the look of a full size car with 3-wheels. With a fibreglass body, under the hood was a 330 cc Excelsior twin cylinder engine that could go to maximum speed of 100 km/hr. Produced for nearly 3 years over 250 were produced.
Daihatsu Bee - Japan
A 3-wheeled microcar with a 2-door fibreglass body, this car from Daihatsu was very popular among Japanese taxi drivers and were produced for just 12 months starting 1951. Its power came from a 540 cc rear mounted air-cooled 2-cylinder, 4-stroke engine.
Scootacar - UK
Powered by a 200 cc Villiers single cylinder, 2-stroke engine, this 3 wheeled microcar was made by a locomotive firm called Hunslet Engine Co. It was called a Scootacar as it was very similar to a scooter but only had a fibreglass body shell that enclosed it.
One sat inside holding the handlebar which was fixed on top of the box that contained the motor. A small folding bench seat allowed 2 more passengers to sit behind one another (like in a scooter). A door on the left hand side allowed the passengers for entry/exit. The large front curved windscreen was glass while the sliding windows and rear window was made of plexiglas.
Nearly 1500 were produced in the late fifties.
There are several more miniature models that were made by other makers. Get a chance to read some of them in the 'Microcar' section (go to THEME) of website www.scalemodelcart.com.
Now you know why these microcars are completely different and can be called as moving large sized miniature models!
Genie