Microcars and Bubblecars

[Populuxe]

I remember reading about them very early on when I started writing about cars, but by that point Corbin itself would already have closed, as they were only made from 1999-2003. It seems that only 300 or so were made, but as a semi-serious attempt at a usable EV before EVs were remotely mainstream, it probably played a relatively big part in a relatively small industry. Range of 20-40 miles, top speed of 70mph.

Corbin didn't fold. They are an aftermarket motorcycle seat manufacturer and they are still in business. I've owned two of their seats, one for my 76 Honda Gold Wing and another for my Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. Great seats. The Sparrow was a side project. It was a good idea, but there just wasn't enough of a market to sustain it.

 

[TexRex]

First car that sprung to mind with that picture is the Corbin Sparrow

It's almost as if it was an inspiration.



Of course when the topic is Corbin three-wheelers, one ought not forget the Merlin...

...with a Harley-Davidson Twin Cam sending its power to the front wheels via a VW Type 1 IRS 4-speed flipped 180° horizontally.

 

[bjl23]

It's almost as if it was an inspiration.



Of course when the topic is Corbin three-wheelers, one ought not forget the Merlin...

...with a Harley-Davidson Twin Cam sending its power to the front wheels via a VW Type 1 IRS 4-speed flipped 180° horizontally.

That is one cool looking little machine.

 

[Lilium]

Bringing what I consider one of the best Portuguese cars, the Sado. A micro car built by a the Entreposto Group, which had a few metalurgical factories. By the end of the 70's they decided that they had the need for speed. Conservative safe speed. the top speed was around 110 km/h.
It uses a daihatsu engine, 547cc getting 28 horses pushing it. Had a 4 speed and 480kg's.
It actually sold pretty well for a portuguese car, at a poing having a waiting list.

Stole the first image from jalopnik, and they have a bit more info se here's the link.

 

[homeforsummer]

28 horsepower actually doesn't sound too bad for a car that small.

 

[Lilium]

28 horsepower actually doesn't sound too bad for a car that small.

Its Also rear wheel drive. Its not a pension eater like the axiam and the like.

 

[niky]

Its Also rear wheel drive. Its not a pension eater like the axiam and the like.

28 hp, 110 km/h, those tiny wheels... and is that a front beam axle to go along with the live rear axle?

That's downright frightening. (and this is from someone who's driven a Maruti Alto at 120...)

 

[TexRex]

A micro car built by a the Entreposto Group

I thought-a the use of extra a's after words-a was an Italian thing, not a Portuguese-a one.

 

[Lilium]

My bad. It was a typo. I was writting this on work.

 

[TexRex]

My bad. It was a typo. I was writting this on work.

I know. Just like I think you know that was a playful nudge rather than an intentionally hurtful dig.

Just having a little fun, as this thread is primed for...what with all of the clown cars.

 

[Volksauto]

This technically meets the specifications of a Microcar:

1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen
Often regarded as the first automobile, this park bench on wheels was a RR layout 2 passenger 0 door roadster LoL. It was powered by a 954 cc single cylinder (That's a huge cylinder) 2 stroke engine that produced 2/3 HP @ 400 RPM and could propel the vehicle to about 10 to 12 MPH. The engine used a slide valve system, a drip oil feed, an evaporative carburetor, and a water tank instead of a radiator. The Motorwagen has 3 wheels that had wire spokes with solid rubber tires that were mounted on a steel tube frame. It has an independent leaf spring suspension in the rear. The car only weighs 584 pounds. In 1885, the car cost about $1,000 U.S. dollars. That is the equivalent to about $27,688 today.

 

[homeforsummer]

Dacon 828

Discovered this recently. It's a Brazilian microcar from 1982 powered by a surprisingly large (for a microcar) 1.6-litre Volkswagen flat four with 65PS. There was clearly some Porsche influence visually - the 928 rear lights particularly, and the alloy wheels on some models. According to Wiki, 47 cars were sold from 1983 to 1994.

 

[TexRex]

Dacon 828

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Discovered this recently. It's a Brazilian microcar from 1982 powered by a surprisingly large (for a microcar) 1.6-litre Volkswagen flat four with 65PS. There was clearly some Porsche influence visually - the 928 rear lights particularly, and the alloy wheels on some models. According to Wiki, 47 cars were sold from 1983 to 1994.

Aww, I'd love to have thought to post that here--the VW boxer just has a way of ending up in the strangest places. Also, that front end is so serious and the back has no ****s to give--it's a MULLET!!!

 

[niky]

Dacon 828

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Discovered this recently. It's a Brazilian microcar from 1982 powered by a surprisingly large (for a microcar) 1.6-litre Volkswagen flat four with 65PS. There was clearly some Porsche influence visually - the 928 rear lights particularly, and the alloy wheels on some models. According to Wiki, 47 cars were sold from 1983 to 1994.

I would love to take that thing out onto a kart track.

 

[homeforsummer]

I would love to take that thing out onto a kart track.

I feel like that about basically all microcars!

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

Given the size they had to work with, they actually did a good job with the 928 styling cues; even the door line around the window is similar.

 

[Populuxe]

Given the size they had to work with, they actually did a good job with the 928 styling cues; even the door line around the window is similar.

It's Baby's First 928.

 

[Volksauto]

Maico 500

 

[Populuxe]

Maico 500

It's so frumpy. I love frumpy.

I'm guessing the motorcycles and scooter visible in the second photo are also Maicos.

Looks like Swiss coachbuilder Beutler made a sports car based on it call the Maico 500 Sports. Not sure if it ever went into production, though.

 

[TexRex]

I'm guessing the motorcycles and scooter visible in the second photo are also Maicos.

Safe assumption, and the scooter up top indeed appears to be a Maicoletta with the trio of vent holes.

Looks like Swiss coachbuilder Beutler made a sports car based on it call the Maico 500 Sports. Not sure if it ever went into production, though.

Unfortunately the Sport Cabriolet never went beyond the efforts of the brothers in Thun.

I'd have sworn I highlighted the Champion cars on which the Maicos were based after the company holdings exchanging hands, but it appears my only mention of it was here, with it being pictured in very small part next to the Sport Cabriolet.

 

[Populuxe]

There is a depressing lack of Fiats in this thread, so have some 600 Multiplas, the cutest (and smallest) 6-seaters ever built.

1956


1957

1957



1958



1960



1960 taxi




1963



1965

 

[TexRex]

Forward control 600s are fun, but they're still no Viotti-bodied standard...

I mean...how hard is it to believe there's a 600 in there?

 

[Populuxe]

Forward control 600s are fun, but they're still no Viotti-bodied standard...

I mean...how hard is it to believe there's a 600 in there?

We could devote an entire sub-thread to the "Etcerterinis", the little specialist cars based on Fiat, Alfa, Lancia and other standard Italian cars.

 

[Volksauto]

There is a depressing lack of Fiats in this thread, so have some 600 Multiplas, the cutest (and smallest) 6-seaters ever built.

1956


1957

1957



1958



1960



1960 taxi




1963



1965

Now don't you forget the coachbuilt 600 Multiplas:
Fiat 600 Multipla "Jolly" by Ghia

1957 Fiat 600 Multipla "Marinella" by Fissore

Fiat 600 Multipla "Mirafiora"

The Fiat 600 Multiplas by Vignale

1956 Fiat 600 Multipla "Eden Roc" by Pininfarina

 

[TexRex]

We could devote an entire sub-thread to the "Etcerterinis", the little specialist cars based on Fiat, Alfa, Lancia and other standard Italian cars.

Well, as I've stated earlier in this thread regarding three-wheelers, I won't prohibit such a thing (I'm in no position to anyway) but I don't think it's necessary and I think there are entirely too many overly-specific threads that simply die off as a result of inactivity. I do appreciate the notion, though.

 

[Populuxe]

Well, as I've stated earlier in this thread regarding three-wheelers, I won't prohibit such a thing (I'm in no position to anyway) but I don't think it's necessary and I think there are entirely too many overly-specific threads that simply die off as a result of inactivity. I do appreciate the notion, though.

Yeah, I'm not really going that direction, either. It was more just meant as an observation. I am thinking of a coachbuilt thread, though. One thread for all our favorite creations from the world's great coachbuilders.

 

[Turbo]

1983 Yamaha PTX-1

This 50cc microcar was first shown at the 1983 Tokyo Motor Show, and weighed a light 165kg. Not much is known about it, and one was made.


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[Volksauto]

and none were made.

So are those just mock ups in the photographs?

 

[Turbo]

So are those just mock ups in the photographs?

I meant to say just one were made. Oops.

 

[05XR8]

Dacon 828

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Discovered this recently. It's a Brazilian microcar from 1982 powered by a surprisingly large (for a microcar) 1.6-litre Volkswagen flat four with 65PS. There was clearly some Porsche influence visually - the 928 rear lights particularly, and the alloy wheels on some models. According to Wiki, 47 cars were sold from 1983 to 1994.

Shame there are no pop up lights.