Microcars!

...or, the beloved "bubblecars."

at the Museum of Transportation, Larz Anderson Park, Brookline Massachusetts, 11/00 through 4/01



The cars dispayed at the show are...

1964 Peel Trident- Isle of Man, UK, 1 Cylinder, two cycle, 49cc displacement
( horsepower) engine, three speed (no reverse) gearbox integral with
crankcase, glasfibre bodied, three wheeler, maximum speed 38 MPH.

1960 Messerschmitt TG500 "Tiger"- Germany, Sachs 2 cylinder, two cycle, 500cc
displacement ( horsepower) engine, four speed (plus reverse) gearbox
integral with engine crankcase, four wheeler maximum speed in excess of 100
MPH

1955 Messerschmitt KR200 Kabinenroller Delux-Germany, Sachs 1 cylinder, two
cycle, 200cc displacement (9.5 horsepower) engine, four speed gearbox
integral with crankcase. Reverse polarity employed to start and run engine in
opposite direction to enable four reverse gears through same gearbox. Three
wheeler, maximum speed 62 MPH.

1960 Goggomobile T400 Limosine (export model)- Germany, Goggomobile 2
cylinder two cycle 400cc displacement engine (german cars had 250cc), four
speed (plus reverse) gearbox and differential integral with crankcase, with
electric pre-selector shifting mechanism.

1952 Bond Minicar Mark B- UK, Villiers 1 cylinder, two cycle, 197cc
displacement engine with three speed (no reverse) gearbox integral with
crankcase.

1968 Invacar- UK, Steyr-Puch 2cylinder two cycle 497cc displacement
air-cooled engine with infinately variable ratio Salisbury type power
transfer (forward and reverse) employing centrifically operated variable
pulley and belt drive system, Glasfibre, three wheeledinvalid vehicle issued
by the British government to disabled individuals as part of their disablilty
benefits.
1968 Velorex-Czechoslovakia. Jawa 2 cylinder two stroke 350cc displacement,
air cooled motorcycle engine with four speed gearbox integral with crankcase,
Reverse polarity employed to start and run engine in opposite direction
enabling four reverse gears through same gearbox, exposed chain drive to
single rear wheel. Fabric covered tubular steel frame construction.
1959 BMW Model 600-Germany. 2 cylinder, two stroke, 600cc displacement,
air-cooled engine with seperate four speed transmission (Saxomat automatic
clutch also available)

1961 Vespa 400-France. 2 cylinder, two cycle 400cc displacement air-cooled
engine, three forward speeds (plus reverse), seperate gearbox.

1972 Fiat Cinquecento- Italy. 2 cylinder two cycle 500cc air-cooled engine,
four speed (plus reverse) gearbox, separate transmission.

1981 HMV Freeway- USA. 1 cylinder four cycle 440cc (16 horsepower) air-cooled
Tecumseh engine, infinately variable Salisbury type power transfer employing
centrifically operated variable pulley and belt drive system (no reverse).

1964 Honda S600 Roadster- Japan. 4 cylinder, four cycle, double overhead cam,
600cc displacement, water-cooled engine (9,500 rpm redline!), four speed
(plus reverse) gearbox, separate transmission, dual enclosed chain drive to
rear wheels.

1990 Trabant


The cars which may be rotated into the show are...

1959 Volkswagen Bug

1964 Daihatsu Trimobile-Japan. 1 cylinder, two cycle, 305cc displacement,
air-cooled engine, three forward speeds (plus reverse), separate gearbox.
1982 Piaggio Vespacar P501E-Italy. 1 cylinder, two cycle 220cc displacement
air-cooled engine, four forward speeds with mechanical reverse carrier gear
enabling four reverse gears.

1958 Heinkel Kabine, Germany. 2 Cylinder two stroke 200cc displacement,
air-cooled engine, four forward speed (plus reverse), gearbox integral with
crankcase.

1970 Subaru 360 Japan-2 cylinder, two cycle, 360cc displacement, air-cooled
engine, four forward speeds (plus reverse), transmission integral with
crankcase.

1961 Renault Dauphine-France. 4 cylinder, four cycle, 850cc displacement
water-cooled rear engine, three forward speeds (plus reverse), seperate
gearbox.

1955 Messerschmitt KR175 Kabinenroller-Germany, Sachs 1 Cylinder, two cycle,
175cc displacement (10 horsepower) engine, four speed gearbox integral with
crankcase. Mechanical reverse carrier gear enables four reverse gears through
same gearbox.


Back to the Bubblecars! show main page.