Microcars for Collectors
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 08.23.06
Small fuel-sipping cars like the Yaris and Honda Fit are new to the States, but like the Smart Car, they have been running around the rest of the world for a while before coming to America, where people have tended toward larger cars. In fact, there is a long history of micro-cars that were popular elsewhere but bombed in the States. After World War II Messerschmitt was at loose ends, and built the KR200, which got up to 80 miles per gallon. You got in by popping up the canopy, just like in their planes.
The Isetta was built by BMW under licence from an Italian refridgerator company, and got 13 horsepower out of a 247cc engine- more than 100,000 were built. Collectors now pay up to $ 20,000 for them, more than a new Smart Car costs. ::New York Times. See also: ::Japanoid – Importing K-Cars in Canada
Famously in film, there's a Messerschmitt driven by Jonathan Pryce's character in Terry Gilliam's "Brazil."
and of course "Erkel" drove an Isetta in Family Matters, which had absolutely no correlation with me wanting one as a wee lad.
For a mindboggling array of tiny vehicles from pedal cars (for adults as well as kids) to modern decedents like the Mini Cooper you might want to check out the amazing variety of MicroCars at the Microcar Museum website:
http://www.microcarmuseum.com/tour/messerschmittkr201.html
To see an even more compact vehicle, check out these videos of a prototype electric car by Wicycle, a manufacturer of bike trailers:
http://www.wicycle.com/oracle.MPG
And
http://www.wicycle.com/wierd%20stream.wmv
1 hp, 20mph and less than 200lbs.
I've looked at the Micro Car Museum site, very cool. The truth about the micro car is that they came into being for 2 main reasons" People in post war Europe wanted cars but couldn't afford big cars. The other reason at least in the post war UK a 3 wheeled car didn't require a person to take what was then a new driving license test. They are also taxed lower. Note the Messerschmitt has 3 wheels and they also made 3 wheel versions of the Isetta. The most famious 3 wheeled car has to be the Reliant Robin which Mr. Bean always seemed to manage to tip over. See http://www.3wheelers.com/ for more
There are some new 3-wheeled cars on the road!
I believe those cars are from the Lane Motor Museum here in Nashville. It's an amazing place with a great collection of micro and mini cars!
http://www.lanemotormuseum.org
I remember the Messershmitt being displayed at The Hartford Armory in Connecticut. Nice.Cute. But illegal on Ct.roads. also, the name was still remeniscent to Hitler's war machine.
My uncle had an Isetta and a Bond Bug.
One more thought, probably not very clean due to the use of a 2 stroke engine in some of these cars and no emmissions controls.
I drive a Fiat 500 everyday now here in Atlanta. I get about 50mpg. Best $3500.00 I ever spent. It is possible to also install a exhaust system raising it to Euro 2 emissions standards. Reusing is far better than buying new so it beats the hell out of a new Hybrid.
The Microcars Group has the world's largest collection of small-car photos. Click the link to see.