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It's like the shot of the Vette towing the mini-Vette, but more quirky. More »
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Fourteen people just got out of that car. It's an Indian-built Maruti-Suzuki 800 and it's just under 11 feet long at 131.5 inches. That's just under a foot longer than an original Mini. More »
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In June 2010, we published a feature by the Hungarian auto historian Pál Négyesi on Hungary’s ruefully creative postwar microcars. The post has had quite the afterlife! In December, the story of the Balaton and the Alba Regia was published in the print edition of The Economist, and an expanded version of the microcar story is now available as a Kindle book. Go get a copy and enjoy the fantasy ride in a gullwing Fesztivál—without the smell of pig’s blood and chicken feathers. More »
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Although Messerschmitt remains best known for their World War II fighter aircraft, facing a ban on airplane production after the war the company expanded into other sectors. The three wheeled Messerschmitt KR175 seen here is the strange result of the company's entrance to the auto industry. Currently for sale on Ebay, this particular example could be your entry to the weird world of German bubble cars. More »
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It's one thing to customize your mass-produced ride for which there are thousands of parts available. It's quite another to breathe life into someone else's insanity, like mating two rare post-war German microcars. Here's the story of the Frankenschmitt. More »
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"The license plate is almost as large as her automobile, but Miss Mary Bay likes her car because it is easy to park." A microcar in Washington, D.C. circa 1924. Photo Credit: National Photo Co. Collection. [via Shorpy] More »
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Microcars may be the smallest cars on the road, but their Napoleonic complex often leads to great feats of engineering and design. Here are ten tiny cars that you think cram a lot of awesome into a small package. More »
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Denied the right to make cars by the Soviet Union, enthusiasts and engineers in Hungary made several ingenious attempts to produce their own microcar. Auto historian Pál Négyesi tells us the story of these little wonders. More »
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We recently discovered this video of a British microcar going by the name "Peardrop," it seems like a proto-Peel, but we've never heard of or seen this particular deathtrap-on-wheels. Anyone know more? (Sorry about the hipsterish video editing) More »
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A British builder has transformed a 39-inch-high by 26-inch-wide childrens coin-operated ride into a road-legal automobile, wresting the title of "Worlds Smallest Car" from the still-microscopic Peel Trident. More »
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This is the first time we've seen the T25 city car from Gordon Murray Design in three dimensions, though we still can't really tell what it will look like, since it's been neatly wrapped up in a shiny package. It's no secret that Murray, the man behind the legendary McLaren F1, has been obsessed with creating a revolutionary micro car. Planned as a 2012 model, the T25 is clearly a return to a car that's truly small as it's comparable in size to a classic Mini or Fiat 500. By comparison, the modern BMW Mini and new Fiat 500 look absolutely massive. We'd be interested to see it parked next to a Smart ForTwo. More from the mastermind himself after the jump. More »
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Automotive News is reporting that Hyundai is watching the Smart Fourtwo US launch very carefully to see if an adaption of its Indian-built Hyundai i10 would be right for these shores. In its current form, the i10 is little more than an 1,800-pound coffin, but if it were to see US introduction it would get about 400 pounds of extra anti-occupant-smooshing reinforcements. In India, the car gets a whopping 56 MPG, and even with all that extra heft it would still be a high-mileage darling in the four-door micro-car market. [AutoNews via NextAutos] More »
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Sounding as much like a purveyor of alcohol as an automobile, Captain Martin, that's Captain James Vernon Martin to you buddy, was something of a fanatic about micro-cars and did his share of them in the early part of last century. His obsession saw the development of as many as six different tiny cars and the precursor of the Michelin Tweel. Captain Martin's story is told in this interesting four page article from Special Interest Auto and we're wondering if any of these tiny little beasties are still floating around. More »
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Here's an idea. Instead of taking minivans, chopping them up and adding lifts and leaning mechanisms and custom controllers, why not just build a car for the wheelchair? This is the concept Hungarian company Rehab LTD. is pitching with this vehicle dubbed the Kenguru. The driver simply rolls into place, locks down the wheelchair, and drives off using a joystick like controller. More »
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We have no idea what this is, but after the Peel Trident, this is probably the smallest street legal vehicle we've ever seen. And despite our best deciphering and sleuthing efforts, it remains unidentified. F-gobble-de-gook Tech was the best we could get out of it. How can someone get into this thing and feel fine about it? We'd rather take our chances on a regular scoot, at least there you can jump away from a wreck. But hey, this is a convertible and has those fancy, new fangled canvas doors. More »
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Microcars are like aged cheese - some people find them absolutely confounding and a little disgusting, and the loonier of us can't get enough. The problem with microcars is they don't really make em like they used to. Oh sure, you've got your Smart FourTwo and your Toyota iQ and your Tata Nano, but those are monstrosities compared to a Peel Trident or a Messerschmitt KR200. Would you believe reproductions are available of all your favorite tiny wheeled wonders? More »
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I am calling for a twelve-hour cease fire in the DAF vs. FAF Holy War. Why? Davey has a super-solid point — English Russia might very well be the best site on teh internets. Also, I am not the expert on microcars I pretend to be - what is that cute little thing? – Jonny Lieberman More »
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Before the hate mail starts flowing, Neckarsulmer Strickmaschinenfabrik produced the infamous Kettenkrad tank-bike thingy. Moving on. In 1955 NSU was the world's largest motorcycle producer. But, like Dutch truck maker DAF, they knew the real action was in 600cc microcars, and released an ugly, miserable ride with a non-synchronous "crash" gearbox in 1957. Not many cared. But, in 1961, NSU released the Corvair-inspired Prinz 4 and oh baby, did Volk start to take notice. The new car featured a highly precise air-cooled, two-cylinder mill loaded with motorcycle technology and mounted behind the rear axle. Make the jump to see a Prinz 4 attacking the 'Ring and learn a little more. More »
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Picture it: Holland, 1959. You are a successful truck company and you want to break into the passenger car market. The vehicle needs to be inexpensive and able to carry four people and their luggage around in comfort. No worries. But what about the mechanicals? Buick Dynaflow fan Huub van Doorne proposed the following. Two cylinder air-cooled boxer engine? Check. Pressurized Lubrication System? Check. Rear-wheel drive? Check. Independent rear suspension? Check. Continuously variable transmission? Check. Each rear wheel driven by a rubber belt? What in the fuck?!? Welcome to the wonderfully whacked out world of DAF. Mind blowing mechanical coolness after the jump. More »
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