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novelties

The FabulousTiny Cars of Captain Martin

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.

[Hemmings Auto Blogs]

4:45 PM on Tue Apr 22 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
922 views, 15 comments

Latest by aduthie: @teargas: The Lane Motor Museum built that Stationette, finishing it in time for Amelia Island this year, for the "Cars You Never Knew Existed" category. I'm not sure if they started totally from scratch or not, but to see it in the shop, it sure looked like they started from more »

novelties

Rehab Kenguru, The Roll In and Drive Away Wheelchair Car

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 »

5:00 PM on Thu Mar 13 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
1,431 views, 23 comments

Latest by TR3-A: @jarque: ... or a Rascal? more »

down on the street bonus edition

DOTS Geneva: A Tiny Something Or Other

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 »

4:45 PM on Thu Mar 6 2008
By Ben Wojdyla
2,414 views, 30 comments

Latest by mikewebb1514: I read that in France they license these vehicles as motorcycles. That seem ok to me. With the roll bar, they might be safer than a motorcycle. But, as a motorcycle, people riding would be required to wear a helmet, at least in much of the US. more »

spy photos

Another 500: New Ford Ka Spied

With the Fiat 500 getting all the media attention, accolades and kisses from Italian supermodels, we almost feel bad for the new Ford Ka. After all, the mini sister ship to the 500 will be a far less-fashionable progeny of the Ford-Fiat small-car alliance. The UK's Car says the Ka will arrive at the Paris Auto Show in 2008, so there's still time for a big ad campaign, parties sponsored by global vodka brands and a mess of branded accessories. But it'll never have the 500s history, and thus likely become just another minicar parked on a European street designed for quarter horses. C'est la vie. [Car]

Spy Photos

7:40 AM on Tue Nov 20 2007
By Mike Spinelli
2,712 views, 18 comments

Latest by Jimal: I wonder what the difference is between NHTSA crash standards and the NCAP standards used in Europe? Is one really that much more safer? I know emissions standards are often cited by the Big 2.8 for not bringing over most cars, but the inabilty to meet NHTSA crash test standards more »

concept cars

Report: New Toyota Minicar to Get Yamaha Motorcycle Engine

Make way for the anonymous sources bearing gifts. Automotive News reports Toyota will power its IQ microcar with an engine from Yamaha. That from unnamed company executives. Toyota's not volunteering any information on the powertrain selected for a production version of the minicar concept, which showed up in Frankfurt sans engine. The sources say Yamaha Motor, may build the engine for Toyota. Though we'd imagine they could just slap in the 1.2-liter four from the V-Max and start a minicar horsepower war. If only.

7:13 AM on Tue Oct 16 2007
By Mike Spinelli
3,350 views, 24 comments

Latest by POLAЯ: @lascauxcaveman: Hey that's cool man, call me whatever makes you feel good! What do ya say we call a truce, grab a case of beer and throw it in the back of one of these things if they make them, and see if we can make it fit all the more »

concept cars

New York Auto Show: Chevrolet's Minicars -- Which One Should They Build?

We took a look at the three minicars Chevrolet unwrapped at the New York show: The Beat, Groove and Trax. All three are smaller than a jar of cornishons, but each one follows a distinctive style path. The Beat is a sporty hatch, not far from Chevy's WTCC concept; the Trax sports "active lifestyle" pretensions; and the Groove is the European urbo-hipster finished in a trendy matte coat and wearing the new face of Chevy. Chevrolet is taking its own poll on which of the three US car buyers like the most, at www.vote4chevrolet.com. But since our own polling indicates Jalopniks are not so into corporate polling, we're doing a poll of our own. Which one would you buy if you were considering a minicar. Comment in the comments, natch. – Mike Spinelli More »

Feature

11:24 AM on Fri Apr 6 2007
By Mike Spinelli
2,957 views, 36 comments

Latest by Greg A.: If GM or anyone else expects me to by something this next-gen future-fugly, it better be powered by electricity or couscous or some perpetual motion doohickey. If I have to drop more »

retro

Get Shorty: The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum

If the The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia doesn't house the most extensive collection of microcars from around the world, we'll sell our regular-sized car and drive around town in a 1958 Brutsch Rollera; or a 1955 Grataloup; or a 1957 Vespa 400; or a 1990 Honda Caren. The list goes on and on. More »

3:07 PM on Fri Oct 28 2005
By Mike Spinelli
741 views, 2 comments

Latest by Silberpfeil: I wanted to mention for posterity that Bruce Weiner, the owner of the museum is also the owner of Dubble Bubble gum. And I also wanted to make sure that I could post...thanks, Mike! -Silberpfeil more »

news

Fiat Unveils Punto Grande Compact, Hopes for a Win

First, Fiat Group's fortunes were turned around by the liquidity brought by GM's $1.5 billion contract buyout. Now it's hoping for a big seller to pull the Fiat brand back from the brink. The Giugiaro-designed Punto Grande, which will go on sale in Italy this fall and in the UK early in 2006, is a "supermini," a jumbo-shrimp grade incongruity that's practically unknown in the US market — but could be a serious value player for Europeans who are both cost- and style-conscious. In fact it's a larger version of the Punto II mini, from which it gets its first name. But if it's a relative by birth, it gets its looks from the other side of the family. More »

5:02 PM on Fri Jul 29 2005
By Mike Spinelli
4,781 views

news

Subaru's Tiny R1, Now With an "I"

Japan is getting a tricked-out version of the Subaru keicar, the R1. By tricked out, we mean The R1i, as it'll be known, will actually be less trick than the base model. Yes, kids, it's another "value package," which substitutes a single overhead cam (SOHC) version for the R1's DOHC 0.66 liter motor. That would be like, say, using a rubber band from mom's 10,000-count "bag o' multicolored rubberbands" to power your balsa- plane, rather than the holding dad's shoebox of "old postcards" closed. Ok, not exactly — actually SOHCs are lighter and often get better torque at low engine speeds. Anyway, it comes with a set of 14" alloys. What? You got a problem with alloys? More »

3:58 PM on Fri Jul 15 2005
By Mike Spinelli
200 views