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Super small cars from the fifties, made in Europe.
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Jun 15, 2019 17:20:40   #
blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area
 
I guess there was not too much gasoline to be had, so these were the answers.


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Jun 15, 2019 17:55:55   #
NMGal Loc: NE NM
 
I remember seeing cars like these in Germany when I was a kid and Dad was stationed there. He called them pregnant roller skates.

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Jun 15, 2019 20:56:31   #
SnappyHappy Loc: Chapin, SC “The Capitol of Lake Murray”
 
Different stuff than I’m used to seeing from you Mike, but I like em as usual. I bet some of these will better the fuel efficiency of our modern government mandated designs. Who’d a thunk it! Thanks for sharing

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Jun 15, 2019 22:02:52   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
blacks2 wrote:
I guess there was not too much gasoline to be had, so these were the answers.


Cars like this were very popular post WWII as 3 wheels meant you registered as a motorcycle and lower road use tax.

The BMW Isetta (last image) had a 2 cycle motorcycle engine and got something like 42 Mpg with a 3 gal US fuel tank. It was first built by Iso SPA in Italy, that front door actually came from a refrigerator design. These small cars enabled BMW and Messerschmidt (first image) to get into consumer vehicle production, as the terms of surrender eliminated aircraft construction.

I have several friends who own Isettas.

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Jun 16, 2019 05:39:21   #
J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio
 
blacks2 wrote:
I guess there was not too much gasoline to be had, so these were the answers.


Very unique set of images Mike. Don't see these to often.

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Jun 16, 2019 06:11:10   #
Delderby Loc: Derby UK
 
In the UK they were collectively called Bubble Cars. The introduction of the Austin and Morris Mini saw the demise of the bubble cars in 1959.

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Jun 16, 2019 07:06:03   #
Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis
 
blacks2 wrote:
I guess there was not too much gasoline to be had, so these were the answers.


Cute Cars
We used to call them rolling coffins.
I still do!!!

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Jun 16, 2019 07:12:49   #
ELNikkor
 
I could put one or two of these in my Escalade in case I break down. (Spare tire? Harrrumph! I carry a spare CAR!)

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Jun 16, 2019 07:18:18   #
domcomm Loc: Denver, CO
 
Cute! But with my big feet –size 15! – it would take 2 of them to make me a pair of roller skates!

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Jun 16, 2019 07:45:35   #
CWGordon
 
I was surprised that my guess of DKW’s was correct for the 1st 2 cars. I recognized the Isetta. Is the red car (#3) a Messerschmidt. That bubble canopy looks airplane-like, fueling my speculation. Thanks for showing us these “interpretations” of automobiles made in Germany during the fifties. Their ideas were fascinating concepts and show the ingenuity of people with needs for transportation, but little money for or availability of gasoline. Beating taxes was a great idea then and continues today.

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Jun 16, 2019 07:47:20   #
CWGordon
 
Well, maybe not DKW’s. Sure remind me of them, though.

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Jun 16, 2019 08:54:07   #
CPR Loc: Nature Coast of Florida
 
Like the red one - have seen all the other models before but not the red one.

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Jun 16, 2019 08:54:58   #
Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx
 

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Jun 16, 2019 09:21:47   #
Hennes8 Loc: Fairfax, VA
 
The college I attended in ‘66 had an Isetta for the maintenance staff. Funny thing is it kept showing up in the oddest places.

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Jun 16, 2019 10:27:57   #
Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois
 
CWGordon wrote:
I was surprised that my guess of DKW’s was correct for the 1st 2 cars. I recognized the Isetta. Is the red car (#3) a Messerschmidt. That bubble canopy looks airplane-like, fueling my speculation. Thanks for showing us these “interpretations” of automobiles made in Germany during the fifties. Their ideas were fascinating concepts and show the ingenuity of people with needs for transportation, but little money for or availability of gasoline. Beating taxes was a great idea then and continues today.
I was surprised that my guess of DKW’s was correct... (show quote)


The red car is a Peel Trident made in England. Car #1 and #2 are Messerschmidt's. Car #4 is a BMW Isetta.

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