4 Bizarre Microcars That Actually Hit the Road!
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Published 2024-07-06
Ever seen a car so small you could almost pick it up? Welcome to the world of microcars! These super-small vehicles have a fascinating history that goes back to the 1950s and 60s.
After World War II, many people in Europe needed cheap ways to get around. Companies that used to make planes and other stuff had to find new things to build. That's how microcars were born!
Let's look at some cool microcars:
Heinkel Kabine: Made by a plane company, this little car was super light and good at cutting through the air. It had a door that opened at the front and could go 25 miles on just one gallon of gas!
Messerschmitt KR175: Another car from a plane maker! It looked like a tiny airplane on wheels. The driver sat in front, and a passenger could sit right behind them. It even had handlebars instead of a steering wheel!
Fuldamobil: This three-wheeled car was so shiny, people called it the "Silver Flea." At first, they made it with wood and fabric because materials were hard to find after the war.
Peel P50: The smallest car ever made! It's so tiny, you could fit it in an elevator. It didn't even have a reverse gear - you had to pick it up and turn it around!
These microcars were perfect for busy cities with narrow streets. They didn't use much gas and were easy to park. Some were a bit weird - like having windshield wipers at the bottom of the windshield!
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All Comments (21)
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Wow ! What beautiful cars ! Toys for mens ! Here in BRAZIL ( SOUTH AMERICA) ROMI ISETTA was very popular too in middle 50's . Good times. This is it. A big hug bye.
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:44 2stroketurbo is a YouTube channel by a mechanic who specializes is micro-cars, and often features "Stella the Shop Dog".
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I think the Messerschmitt with it's airplane style bubble canopy is the coolest of them all. The P50 is so tiny that it would scare me to death even before actually get hit by a full size car.
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3:11 25 miles per gallon with less than 200cc and 9hp is appalling, you must have got that wrong.
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I had a Heinkel Cabine for three years from 1957 after a few year's of motor bikes and scooters. I chose it over the BMW Isetta as the Heinkel had a longer wheel base and the 197cc engine was on its centreline not on one side. The inline seating of the Messerschmitt was not to my liking. The Heinkel had very positive steering having direct on rack and pinion steering with hydraulic front brakes with hand brake to the single rear wheel. Petrol consumption was 60 miles per gallon which was good for the time as now. I just wish I had kept the Heinkel. I had no problems regarding stability due to its three wheels but I did become quite skilful on ice!
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Would be more interesting if you had been more specific: - Were engines 2 or 4 strokes? air cooled? - Germany in the 1950-1960 was divided in two distinctive countries, were they from East or West Germany?
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Good coverage but missed a very interesting Popular Czechoslovakian made Velorex, had 250 or 350 2 stroke engines. It's on You tube!
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the new toyota micro
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How could you do a video on microcars and not include the Isetta? I had one. It took some getting used to what with the door in the front, but it was a good little car.
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Interesting, well done. I think I’ll stick to the KING MIGET. 🚗🙂
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That scotter is good looking
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The Fuldamobil looks cute and not ugly
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Where I grew up in rural Sweden there were a family who owned 3 Fuldas. One red, one green and one blue. For long these were their only mode of transportation. I think they kept them at least into the 90s?
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crazy that a brand new peel p50 is cheaper than a ps5
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I'd hate to get hit by an 18-wheeler in one of those.
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All the German plane manufacturers that supplied Germany with their wartime aircraft became AIRBUS through different mergers and acquisitions
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I was born in America in 1949 & I've never seen one of these tiny cars in this country. And I really don't know why that is. They ALL seem quite sensible.
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Japanese car 'FUJI CABIN'
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A lot of odd opinions in this video
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Here's the real kicker here, ive researched far and wide for any kit cars or replicas of any and all of these cars, and even old japanese kei cars, as today, im sure theyd be very popular as second cars in these days of $3.63 gas ( thanks Democrats for the 2020 coup ), AND NOBODY MAKES ANY REPLICAS OF ANY KIND,EVEN FIBERGLASS ON TUBE STEEL! The closest you can get are certain electric vehicles and velocars operated by pedaling. I ask you, if truly theres a climate crisis and we are running out of fuel and raw materials, then exactly why is there none of these types being made or reproduced? Answer? Insurance and government over regulation. ie: safety. See how the game is played folks??? They create a crisis, and provide the rest, and youve no choice in the matter. You are nothing but a cash cow to the elites
