Marvelous Micro Cars
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
Before the Smart ForTwo, and even before the Mini Cooper, there were micro cars. A car labeled a micro car is smaller than a standard road car. Sometimes these cars were so small they were barely even considered a car by legal standards. Some had only three wheels, most fit only one or two people, and some didn't even have a reverse gear. For this reason, some micro cars could be driven without a license in certain countries. In this video, http://www.WatchMojo.com profiles some of the most remarkable micro cars from the twentieth century.
A micro car is just that – an unusually small car. Many older models of these tiny treasures had only three wheels. They originally gained popularity after the World Wars, when it was obvious to automakers that small cars were the way to go.
The Peel P50 holds the distinction of being the smallest car ever to be mass produced. The car features three wheels, one door, one headlight and seats only one person. With a top speed of about 38 miles or 61 kilometers-per-hour, the transmission on the P50 features no reverse. The car only weighs about 130 pounds, or 59 kilos, which is great as the only way to maneuver in a tight space without reversing is to physically push or pull the car. In some countries, it is legally considered a moped and not a car.
The Peel Trident is Peel’s second three-wheeler. Basically an improvement on the P50, the Trident was slightly larger. In contrast to the P50, the Trident features a clear bubble top giving the car a futuristic look. The car would seat either two or one driver and a detachable shopping basket. Only roughly 45 were ever made.
The Isetta was one of the most successful micro cars. The term “bubble car†was coined to describe this model, and has since described similar cars. Manufactured by a number of different companies in a number of different countries, the Isetta went through various incarnations in terms of design, though they all stayed true to the idea of the bubble car. Seen here is the VELAM version, which features the unique single-front-door design.
After World War II, Fiat realized the future was in the small car market. Building on their already popular 600 model, Fiat released the Multipla in 1956. Seating 6 in a car only slightly bigger than a MINI Cooper; the car was perfect for families or use as a taxi cab. It featured a respectable top speed of 60 miles or 96 kilometers per hour.
The Mini Comtesse was built at a time when the auto market was filling with cars that could be driven without licenses. Oddly, this one-seater car featured two side doors, one butterfly and one regular door. Another three-wheeler, the car was dangerously unbalanced. This was helped eventually by two training wheels placed astride the front wheel. Despite the risks, and decidedly strange styling of the car, it did relatively well and was popular on France’s roads.
Classic sportscars have a distinctive look, and the Rolux is no exception – except that it’s tiny and tops out at less than forty miles or sixty kilometers per hour. The Rolux is comparable in length to the Smart ForTwo, only about 300 were made over its two-year lifespan.
Produced by French motorcycle company SICRAF, the Chantecler was another car that could be driven without a license, so long as the car’s speed stayed below forty miles or sixty kilometers per hour. The car is remarkable because of its unique egg shape. It seats two adults comfortably and was perfect for the limited purposes for which it was designed. Only roughly 200 of the cars were produced
Popular for its cool styling and quick speeds, the Friskysport can seat two adults and a child. Amazingly, the car featured a 12 horsepower engine and managed to reach almost 65 miles or 104 kilometers per hour. However this made production of the car prohibitively expensive and therefore only a few were made.
Peel P50 – 1962-66
The Peel P50 holds the distinction of being the smallest car ever to be mass produced. The car features three wheels, one door, one headlight and seats only one person. With a top speed of about 38 miles or 61 kilometers-per-hour, the transmission on the P50 features no reverse. The car only weighs about 130 pounds, or 59 kilos, which is great as the only way to maneuver in a tight space without reversing is to physically push or pull the car. In some countries, it is legally considered a moped and not a car.
Peel Trident – 1965-66
The Peel Trident is Peel’s second three-wheeler. Basically an improvement on the P50, the Trident was slightly larger. In contrast to the P50, the Trident features a clear bubble top giving the car a futuristic look. The car would seat either two or one driver and a detachable shopping basket. Only roughly 45 were ever made.
VELAM Isetta – 1955-58
The Isetta was one of the most successful micro cars. The term “bubble car†was coined to describe this model, and has since described similar cars. Manufactured by a number of different companies in a number of different countries, the Isetta went through various incarnations in terms of design, though they all stayed true to the idea of the bubble car. Seen here is the VELAM version, which features the unique single-front-door design.
Fiat 600 Multipla – 1956-65
After World War II, Fiat realized the future was in the small car market. Building on their already popular 600 model, Fiat released the Multipla in 1956. Seating 6 in a car only slightly bigger than a MINI Cooper; the car was perfect for families or use as a taxi cab. It featured a respectable top speed of 60 miles or 96 kilometers per hour.
Mini Comtesse – 1972-84
The Mini Comtesse was built at a time when the auto market was filling with cars that could be driven without licenses. Oddly, this one-seater car featured two side doors, one butterfly and one regular door. Another three-wheeler, the car was dangerously unbalanced. This was helped eventually by two training wheels placed astride the front wheel. Despite the risks, and decidedly strange styling of the car, it did relatively well and was popular on France’s roads.
Rolux Baby VB-60 – 1947-49
Classic sportscars have a distinctive look, and the Rolux is no exception – except that it’s tiny and tops out at less than forty miles or sixty kilometers per hour. The Rolux is comparable in length to the Smart ForTwo, only about 300 were made over its two-year lifespan.
P. Vallée Chantecler – 1956-58
Produced by French motorcycle company SICRAF, the Chantecler was another car that could be driven without a license, so long as the car’s speed stayed below forty miles or sixty kilometers per hour. The car is remarkable because of its unique egg shape. It seats two adults comfortably and was perfect for the limited purposes for which it was designed. Only roughly 200 of the cars were produced
Frisky Convertible – 1958-64
Popular for its cool styling and quick speeds, the Friskysport can seat two adults and a child. Amazingly, the car featured a 12 horsepower engine and managed to reach almost 65 miles or 104 kilometers per hour. However this made production of the car prohibitively expensive and therefore only a few were made.
