Is The Time Right For Micro-Cars Like The Subaru 360?

[CO Liberal]

On March 3, 1958, a endearing passenger car with a distinctive individuality came on the market: the Subaru 360, the first of Subaru cars. At that time, Japanese automobile manufacturers were working on developing small cars according to a plan calling for the production of a "people's car" as advocated by Japan's Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The Subaru 360 was developed in line with this concept.

In those days, passenger cars were too expensive to be within the reach of most people. Building a small, affordable car that could perform well proved to be technologically tough, and many manufacturers were reluctant to tackle the problem. However, with its roots in aircraft manufacturing, the Company took up the challenge backed by its pride and prodigious technological strength. It beat the other manufacturers in developing a four-passenger, four-wheel minicar, the Subaru 360, which became a milestone in the history of Japan's automobile industry.

Because of its ladybug shape, the Subaru 360 was affectionately referred to as the Ladybird. For 11 years after its debut, the Subaru 360 enjoyed tremendous popularity. It finally went out of production in May 1970.

http://www.subaru-global.com/about/history/1958-001.html

[Poiuyt]

1. I want a BMW Issetta

[CO Liberal]

2. Do You Remember the King Midget???

They used to advertise this car in the back of magazines like Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, and Mechanix Illustrated. They used to come as kit cars that you had to assembly yourself. It had a 12-hp lawnmower engine.

When my older sister was in high school, one of her classmates drove a King Midget. He used to chain it to a tree in the morning, so people wouldn't pick it up and hide it on him.

[Huckebein the Raven]

3. I would be happy with a Mini Cooper

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. Italian-made Mini Cooper called the "Innocenti"

A very nice car. You can still find them at a decent price in Italy. And the Spanish made their own version of the Mini Cooper called the "Authi", but relatively few were made. I like the old ones, not the new stuff they're trying to sell as a real Mini.

[onager]

4. Und Der Messerschmitt KR200!

""

This is a scale model, but it's not much smaller than the real thing!

This strange looking contraption was developed by a former Luftwaffe aeronautical engineer named Fritz Fend after World War II.

In 1948, Fend developed a small 3 wheeled invalid carriage (which he intended for use by former Luftwaffe pilots injured in the war) which was powered by pushing and pulling the handlebars (in a rowing action). Soon after, a small motor was added and its success prompted Fend to develop it further.

He developed a larger version (still with only one seat) with 2 steerable front wheels, which was known as a Fend Flitzer. He wished to go further and develop a 2 seater with a bigger engine, and approached Willie Messerschmitt (the aircraft manufacturer) in 1951 with a proposal to build the new car in his aircraft factories. Messerschmitt was very keen on the idea, as due to post war restrictions (imposed by the Allied Forces occupying Germany) he was not allowed produce aircraft. Hence production of this microcar put his factories back to work. He also agreed to lend his name to the new car.

More at...

http://www.iol.ie/~donohoer/0Messerschmitt_KR200_Kabinroller.htm

[Pert_UK]

5. I take it you haven't seen the Smart car?

Standard:



And the Roadster:



Click here to see the range:

http://www.smart.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/mpc-uk-content-Site/-/-/-/SVCPresentationPipeline-Start?Page=issite://mpc-uk-Site/mpc-uk.com/RootFolder/smart/home.page

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

6. German Goggomobil

And the Fiat 500

[kysrsoze]

9. I saw a Fiat 500 in Athens last year - it was hilarious

The car was TINY, but I loved it and had to snap a photo of it. A true Kodak moment. Here's the pic...

[robertarctor]

8. Nissan will return to the U.S. with a new subcompact

It's a newer version of the Nissan Tilda, pictured above. Too bad Nissan isn't importing the Micra, a Subaru 360 analogue that it sells in Europe.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. A few more microcars

DKW Junior:



BMW 700:



Lloyd Alexander 600:



Dinarg (Argentina):



Fuldamobil Bambi (India):



NSU Prinz:



Renault 4CV:



Daf 600 (Netherlands):



Trabant (East Germany):



Vespa 400: