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Micro cars
- Thread starter 78Z
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aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
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I wonder if it can "peel out?"
....or if Mrs. Peel (from the Avengers) ever drove one?
...Geesh, I *kill* myself sometimes!
Anyway, for some reason, I love these little microcars...there's a pretty active microcar club here in the NEast US...and they always "welcome" LBCs.
One microcar caught my eye recently; the little red roadster in the Cadillac commercial (were a Caddy and a little car "fight" for a parking space). I wondered if it was "real", or just some sort of mock-up.....it's an actual car shown below (Kleinschnittger...what a name!):
See more micos at:
https://www.microcarmuseum.com
....or if Mrs. Peel (from the Avengers) ever drove one?
Anyway, for some reason, I love these little microcars...there's a pretty active microcar club here in the NEast US...and they always "welcome" LBCs.
One microcar caught my eye recently; the little red roadster in the Cadillac commercial (were a Caddy and a little car "fight" for a parking space). I wondered if it was "real", or just some sort of mock-up.....it's an actual car shown below (Kleinschnittger...what a name!):
See more micos at:
https://www.microcarmuseum.com
Sherlock
Yoda
Offline
I don't know if I would ever buy one, but I do think they are neat cars.
One of my favourite events of this past summer was attending a show up here in Ontario called Micro North. Just a bunch of guys up this way who own micro cars and show them off once a year, in a very casual meet - no judging, just show up. Check out the website at https://www.sentex.net/~dewood and follow the page down to the Micro North link, there are piles of pictures on this site of some very interesting cars.
One of my favourite events of this past summer was attending a show up here in Ontario called Micro North. Just a bunch of guys up this way who own micro cars and show them off once a year, in a very casual meet - no judging, just show up. Check out the website at https://www.sentex.net/~dewood and follow the page down to the Micro North link, there are piles of pictures on this site of some very interesting cars.
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 78Z:
I love microcars...<hr></blockquote>
I do too - don't know why. I owned a couple of Berkeleys, one 328 and one 500, back when. I won't bore everybody with the details but they all seem to have a unique quality about them.
Meanwhile, I have a page on my web site containing questions about various cars and one involves a micro called a "France Jet". If anyone can help with it I'd appreciate it. It's at:
https://www.coldplugs.com/research.htm
(Question #8).
Thanks.
[ 01-14-2003: Message edited by: coldplugs ]</p>
I love microcars...<hr></blockquote>
I do too - don't know why. I owned a couple of Berkeleys, one 328 and one 500, back when. I won't bore everybody with the details but they all seem to have a unique quality about them.
Meanwhile, I have a page on my web site containing questions about various cars and one involves a micro called a "France Jet". If anyone can help with it I'd appreciate it. It's at:
https://www.coldplugs.com/research.htm
(Question #8).
Thanks.
[ 01-14-2003: Message edited by: coldplugs ]</p>
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dale:
Would the "Vespa 400" that I had back in 64-65 qualify as a micro- car? Boy! do I have some stories about that one.
<hr></blockquote>
Of course. Weren't the actually built in France?
Would the "Vespa 400" that I had back in 64-65 qualify as a micro- car? Boy! do I have some stories about that one.
Of course. Weren't the actually built in France?
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
John:
Your "France Jet" has a name that reminds me of the French "Matra Djet"....sure doesn't *look* as neat as a Djet, though.
Wonder if Basil has seen your question on the "Stanton Special"? (Basil's "real" last name is Stanton).
According to this website, the Vespa 400 was Italian: https://www.microcar.org/carspecs/vespa400.html
I owned an Autobianchi when I was 16....cool name and a definite microcar......bought it for $15 and ran it in the woods behind my parent's house. Made a giant go-cart out of it later (as part of a college engineering project).
Looked like this one:
https://www.autobianchi.it/ims/news3.jpg
Your "France Jet" has a name that reminds me of the French "Matra Djet"....sure doesn't *look* as neat as a Djet, though.
Wonder if Basil has seen your question on the "Stanton Special"? (Basil's "real" last name is Stanton).
According to this website, the Vespa 400 was Italian: https://www.microcar.org/carspecs/vespa400.html
I owned an Autobianchi when I was 16....cool name and a definite microcar......bought it for $15 and ran it in the woods behind my parent's house. Made a giant go-cart out of it later (as part of a college engineering project).
Looked like this one:
https://www.autobianchi.it/ims/news3.jpg
MattP
Jedi Knight
Offline
Yes the Vespa 400 counts. It is one of the most popular micros.
The technical definition is any car with a displacement less than one liter and or less than 11 feet long. This qualifies the Bugeye (985cc, 11ft 6in. long (I think.)) on the big end of the scale for reference.
MattP
The technical definition is any car with a displacement less than one liter and or less than 11 feet long. This qualifies the Bugeye (985cc, 11ft 6in. long (I think.)) on the big end of the scale for reference.
MattP
It's neat to find someone that knows what a Vespa 400 is. I can't imagine them being popular in the sense that they are so rare and were even in the mid sixties. Mine was a 1961 model. They were unique in so many respects though not unusual in Europe I suppose where it was kinda like the Citroen 2-CV I think. Anyway they sure weren't British and mine was made in France. I had to write to an address there for parts and wait and wait but I did eventually get them.
aeronca65t
Great Pumpkin
Offline
So the Vespa's French-built?...Didn't know that, but Italian-inspired French-built cars are some of my favorites (I'm speaking of Bugattis, of course).
Actually, "Cy Stanton" (sorry for giving away the "secret", Basil!)
[ 01-15-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
Actually, "Cy Stanton" (sorry for giving away the "secret", Basil!)
[ 01-15-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by aeronca65t:
Your "France Jet" has a name that reminds me of the French "Matra Djet"....sure doesn't *look* as neat as a Djet, though.
Wonder if Basil has seen your question on the "Stanton Special"? (Basil's "real" last name is Stanton).
According to this website, the Vespa 400 was Italian:
I owned an Autobianchi when I was 16....cool name and a definite microcar......
[Some stuff snipped..]
<hr></blockquote>
You're right, it's no Djet. Re the Vespa, the company was Italian but I think most or all of the cars were made outside of Italy (possibly for tax reasons) because they didn't sell many (any?) there. They didn't see a future in competing with Fiat I think.
Autobianchi is a cool name - I never thought of it that way. It's one of those names that don't often come up in everyday conversation. Maybe I'll ask our local booze place if they have any Autobianchi wine or something...
So - his real name is "Basil Stanton"?
Your "France Jet" has a name that reminds me of the French "Matra Djet"....sure doesn't *look* as neat as a Djet, though.
Wonder if Basil has seen your question on the "Stanton Special"? (Basil's "real" last name is Stanton).
According to this website, the Vespa 400 was Italian:
I owned an Autobianchi when I was 16....cool name and a definite microcar......
[Some stuff snipped..]
<hr></blockquote>
You're right, it's no Djet. Re the Vespa, the company was Italian but I think most or all of the cars were made outside of Italy (possibly for tax reasons) because they didn't sell many (any?) there. They didn't see a future in competing with Fiat I think.
Autobianchi is a cool name - I never thought of it that way. It's one of those names that don't often come up in everyday conversation. Maybe I'll ask our local booze place if they have any Autobianchi wine or something...
So - his real name is "Basil Stanton"?
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