Microcar Photos
September 7, 2006 2:44 PM Subscribe
It is a well-known fact that microcars can defeat ninjas.
posted by jake at 2:55 PM on September 7, 2006 [2 favorites]
posted by jake at 2:55 PM on September 7, 2006 [2 favorites]
I think the Isetta is what Urkel drove on Family Matters...
posted by TunnelArmr at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by TunnelArmr at 3:13 PM on September 7, 2006
Imagine if everyone drove these. It would be like a nation of circus clowns.
posted by Parannoyed at 3:16 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Parannoyed at 3:16 PM on September 7, 2006
So what exactly defines a microcar? Is it a length or weight thing? Does it have to run on three wheels? Does this qualify? Because while the little 1970's microcars are indeed cool, I want something with a bit more, you know, ability to scare the hell out of a passenger.
posted by quin at 3:19 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by quin at 3:19 PM on September 7, 2006
I know it is safer than it looks, but the Tango screams "Tip me" louder than any sleeping cow. Or waitron.
posted by owhydididoit at 3:25 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by owhydididoit at 3:25 PM on September 7, 2006
Imagine if everyone drove these. It would be like a nation of circus clowns.
posted by Parannoyed at 3:16 PM PST on September 7
Yeah, but then we would only need one car per 30 or 40 of us.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 3:27 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Parannoyed at 3:16 PM PST on September 7
Yeah, but then we would only need one car per 30 or 40 of us.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 3:27 PM on September 7, 2006
we could honk our noses! sorry...
posted by owhydididoit at 3:41 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by owhydididoit at 3:41 PM on September 7, 2006
The Isetta was built under license by BMW, but was originally designed by Italian refrigerator maker Iso. Makes sense...
quin, although historic microcars like the Isetta and the rather fast Messerschmidt don't usually conform to it, according to EU Directive 2002/204/CE, "light quadricycles" should have an empty weight not exceeding 350 kg, max. speed of 45 km/h and 5.6 hp. They are considered equivalent to light scooters and, for this reason (and quite controversally) can be driven without a driver's license in most European countries (making them the vehicles of choice for old geezers who can't pass the medical examination anymore and pampered under-18s with a need for speed...who usually soup up the engine well beyond those 5.6 hp).
posted by Skeptic at 3:54 PM on September 7, 2006
quin, although historic microcars like the Isetta and the rather fast Messerschmidt don't usually conform to it, according to EU Directive 2002/204/CE, "light quadricycles" should have an empty weight not exceeding 350 kg, max. speed of 45 km/h and 5.6 hp. They are considered equivalent to light scooters and, for this reason (and quite controversally) can be driven without a driver's license in most European countries (making them the vehicles of choice for old geezers who can't pass the medical examination anymore and pampered under-18s with a need for speed...who usually soup up the engine well beyond those 5.6 hp).
posted by Skeptic at 3:54 PM on September 7, 2006
saladin: Me too. And a Messerschmidt for good measure. Unfortunately, good examples are rather pricey these days...
posted by Skeptic at 3:58 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Skeptic at 3:58 PM on September 7, 2006
who usually soup up the engine well beyond those 5.6 hp)...
Would this qualify as souped up? It's a pic of Art Arfons' "Alsetta", an isetta powered by a 2000 hp V12 Allison aircraft engine.
posted by 445supermag at 4:03 PM on September 7, 2006
Would this qualify as souped up? It's a pic of Art Arfons' "Alsetta", an isetta powered by a 2000 hp V12 Allison aircraft engine.
posted by 445supermag at 4:03 PM on September 7, 2006
should have an empty weight not exceeding 350 kg, max.
>T-Rex Dry Weight: 900lbs (410kg)
speed of 45 km/h
>Top speed: 140 mph.
and 5.6 hp.
> Engine: 1164cc Inline 4 cyl., DOHC, with Ram-Air. (doesn't give the horsepower, but based on this engine, I'm guessing better than 5.6hp)
So, not even close. Not that I don't still want one, I just won't be able to call it a microcar.
Thanks Skeptic.
posted by quin at 4:28 PM on September 7, 2006
>T-Rex Dry Weight: 900lbs (410kg)
speed of 45 km/h
>Top speed: 140 mph.
and 5.6 hp.
> Engine: 1164cc Inline 4 cyl., DOHC, with Ram-Air. (doesn't give the horsepower, but based on this engine, I'm guessing better than 5.6hp)
So, not even close. Not that I don't still want one, I just won't be able to call it a microcar.
Thanks Skeptic.
posted by quin at 4:28 PM on September 7, 2006
Microcars are cool. (Earlier microcar post )
posted by mr_crash_davis
eponysterical.
careful with those microcars, mr davis.
posted by dminor at 4:44 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by mr_crash_davis
eponysterical.
careful with those microcars, mr davis.
posted by dminor at 4:44 PM on September 7, 2006
And there's of course this one , basically a hybrid between a scooter and a WWII fighter plane (minus the wings).
posted by bluefrog at 4:58 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by bluefrog at 4:58 PM on September 7, 2006
I recall Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean drove some horrible little three-wheeled contraption in some episodes - anyone know what it is?
posted by aeschenkarnos at 5:03 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by aeschenkarnos at 5:03 PM on September 7, 2006
Actually Mr Bean drove a Mini (pretty sure). The three wheeled car was his nemesis.
posted by quin at 5:09 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by quin at 5:09 PM on September 7, 2006
With the 15 year mark, getting micro cars from Japan to Canada just became much easier. I'm seeing a rash of Toyota campervans around town. There's even a local importer of Japanese microcars:
http://www.japanoid.com/
Sometimes I wish our city had one of those MAX height bars across the eastern border, set at 5.5'.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 5:10 PM on September 7, 2006
http://www.japanoid.com/
Sometimes I wish our city had one of those MAX height bars across the eastern border, set at 5.5'.
posted by Extopalopaketle at 5:10 PM on September 7, 2006
Yep. Here it is. (the three wheeled car was a Reliant Regal).
posted by quin at 5:11 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by quin at 5:11 PM on September 7, 2006
"Actually Mr Bean drove a Mini (pretty sure). The three wheeled car was his nemesis."
Correct.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:13 PM on September 7, 2006
Correct.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:13 PM on September 7, 2006
dammit
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:14 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by mr_crash_davis at 5:14 PM on September 7, 2006
And really, if you are getting a Messerschmitt, why not get one of these?
posted by YoBananaBoy at 5:15 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by YoBananaBoy at 5:15 PM on September 7, 2006
What can you drive at 16 years of age in the U.K?
posted by madamjujujive at 6:44 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by madamjujujive at 6:44 PM on September 7, 2006
The government should give massive tax breaks to people who drive minicars (and motorcycles). Minicars could not only massively reduce the amount of CO2 emissions, they could make freeways look really cool.
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:52 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by Citizen Premier at 8:52 PM on September 7, 2006
Park it at your desk: Mazda's Suitcase Car (QT video).
posted by cenoxo at 9:41 PM on September 7, 2006
posted by cenoxo at 9:41 PM on September 7, 2006
This microcar (no idea what kind it is) was incredibly popular in Amsterdam. They were EVERYWHERE!
posted by antifuse at 2:51 AM on September 8, 2006
posted by antifuse at 2:51 AM on September 8, 2006
Actually, upon further inspection, it might be a Canta. (Newer model seen on the same trip)
posted by antifuse at 3:00 AM on September 8, 2006
posted by antifuse at 3:00 AM on September 8, 2006
As long as it can survive like Smartcar passengers are supposed to...
posted by mhh5 at 3:13 AM on September 8, 2006
posted by mhh5 at 3:13 AM on September 8, 2006
That smartcar link is great. They drive one into a cement barricade at 70 mph.
posted by mecran01 at 5:51 AM on September 8, 2006
posted by mecran01 at 5:51 AM on September 8, 2006
antifuse: the cars mentioned in your post&link are all < 50cc. originaly build for the less valid among us they may be driven without a license and starting at age 16.. plus you can park everywhere. so they became quite popular in the nl's among kids.. a href="http://blogofiles.blogo.nl/91/movies/sulky-racing.WMV">sulky racing | pimp my scootmobiel
dont forget the piaggio APE
& i <3 a href="http://www.snapsandbytes.co.uk/fbond.html">bondmobile
the smartcar has become quite common.. there's even a brabus version of the roadster
posted by borq at 6:39 AM on September 8, 2006
dont forget the piaggio APE
& i <3 a href="http://www.snapsandbytes.co.uk/fbond.html">bondmobile
the smartcar has become quite common.. there's even a brabus version of the roadster
posted by borq at 6:39 AM on September 8, 2006
A company called Tri-Tech used to make kit replicas of the Messerschmitt and the Isetta, but, alas, they seem to be no more.
Now that I can afford a Schmitt kit, I can't find one.
posted by Floydd at 9:26 AM on September 8, 2006
Now that I can afford a Schmitt kit, I can't find one.
posted by Floydd at 9:26 AM on September 8, 2006
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posted by bardic at 2:53 PM on September 7, 2006