RUMCars Forum
General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: Bob Purton on January 18, 2014, 06:04:25 PM
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Thanks to Barry, I found my old pics from Retromobil 2010. It was the year Claud La Bihan had his collection on display.
Here is the first piece of exotica for your edification. Many more like this to come.
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Exotica verging on erotica! :P
The lower most picture of dome and chrome (OK even cooler if aluminum/ aluminium, but doesn't rhyme as well) exhibits the sexiest curves that I have ever seen on any microcar.
Can't wait to see the rest!
This is one case where becoming the exhibitionist is called for.
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steven you were only the other day being quite rude about Bruetsch cars werent you ?
signed confused of wirral
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Beautiful, thanks for posting Bob!
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steven you were only the other day being quite rude about Bruetsch cars werent you ?
signed confused of wirral
Only if you decide to confuse political correctness with politeness, and value that perception more than truth.
The Muppeta and Rollers were undeniably beautiful babies, but it would be both dangerous and silly to let either one go play in traffic like adult microcars, as their subsequent lack of use for same undoubtedly attests.
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No squabbling please children. This is supposed to be fun.
Here is the next one. What is it?
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Do you want a kovert response?
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Starts with Ko?
Like the one next to this Rolux? or are they both **vers
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If you cant tell the difference between a Kover and a Rolux baby by now Barry there is little hope for you! ;D
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And the next one please. Another favourite of mine, powered by what engine?
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Well the forum has gone quite again so maybe time for another Retromobil photo. Whats the story on this car?
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If you cant tell the difference between a Kover and a Rolux baby by now Barry there is little hope for you! ;D
Yeah Baby!
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Well the forum has gone quite again so maybe time for another Retromobil photo. Whats the story on this car?
Beep, bee bee beep, 'Man, M. Ruquesac, 47, builds car and realizes he forgot engine'. Beep, bee bee beep.
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Perhaps it was a very early conveyance built as a glider and later had the motor fitted.
Apparently the inventor didn't realize that it was supposed to be an internal combustion engine. :o
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Dear Bob
The car in your photo is an exact copy of the first Champion ever made. It has a Triumph engine made in Germany.
Is that the answer you wanted?
Chris Thomas
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Yes but as you were with me when I took the photo I would say that's cheating! ;D
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If you cant tell the difference between a Kover and a Rolux baby by now Barry there is little hope for you! ;D
Yeah Baby!
Thank you Austin Powers! ;)
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Dear Bob
The car in your photo is an exact copy of the first Champion ever made. It has a Triumph engine made in Germany.
Is that the answer you wanted?
Chris Thomas
'A'yup, That's Champion, is that answer! O'course they should 'ave put the engine in before they took it out. Once it were played in it'ed be hard to shift, with not many wrong strokes. A bit slow on the run rate. Probably better at number three rather as opener, I agree, but 'anging out the back is a waste of talent, in my book'.
Thanks Geoff Boycott.
Round here Triumph make the bra for the way you are. When I went there they told me to s*d off :'(.
Triumph, Germany - interesting history including the TWN Contessa, almost an Isetta version of the Hercules/Prior/Kieft see DKR, weird backward step there. Villiers coming in like the Strolch/ Britannia story elsewhere. Then we get Champion over here with Maico bits. Its just not cricket is it Geoff?
'What's Champion doing in France'?
Dunno Geoff. Probably to make their stuff look normal.
'Well it didn't work'!
Sorry just got stereo going really well using the cavity as bass sounding board. Mental!
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Nice photos, cheers Bob!
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Dear Bob
You did say can ANYBODY tell me, not can anybody except Chris and Mike and Jean Do tell me.
Chris Thomas
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Dear Bob
Sorry the wording was actually "What is the story on this car" which is much the same thing.
Chris Thomas
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To tell you the truth Chris, I had forgotten what the car was all together! I'm glad you remembered because I doubt Planty would have remembered. On the other hand Mike Shepherd probably would have known.
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And here's another. Who's this little fella?
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Dear Bob
Am I allowed to answer this one?
Chris Thomas
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Err no, not unless nobody else does in the next 24 hours.
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The blue car appears to be a clone of my All Cars Charly/ Snuggy.
If you could give me information on how to contact the owner, it could help me duplicate the gear and ratcheting set up for the non reciprocating pedal power provision that some of the earlier cars like my 1974 model originally came with.
While we are at it, I am looking for a clutch for my Minicomtesse. Anybody have a good lead for this? ???
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It's a fiberglass creation built in conjunction with the company that made this.
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If we are talking about the white car and not the snuggy, it has a steel body Malcolm.
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Sorry Bob, I misread the translation, the 1949 prototype version had a fibreglass body with a tube frame and a smaller 125cc engine.
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This is the prototype, which was given the same name as another microcar prototype .
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Are we talking about the Kover Atlas connection?
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hy bob,; am i able to answer too??, or not ...
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Of course you can! I only ticked Chris off because he was answering them as soon as I put the pictures up and even then I was joking!
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Whilst on that subject we really could do with stuart marking our work - oops on the trivia that is
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Yes, he has gone very quite. The thought did cross my mind that some of the guesses may have necessitated him modify the answers!
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Trouble is generally there is an official answer and the real answer to such questions. There is strong evidence, for instance, that the Wright Brothers were not the first to achieve powered flight. They were the first to gain international publicity for achieving powered flight. Not the same thing.
Still the fun is to see if the grey matter can produce an answer, before looking it up and finding the answer, and then submitting it before everyone else. My knowledge on odd cars is not as good as people think. Partly because I find I only really memorize things I can use on cars I have. I forget about stuff I read that is not directly useful. Annoying, as when the answer comes I think to myself. I knew that, but could not bring it to the front of my mind.
Bit like IQ tests. I find I start looking at the questions and think, 'but who cares'. Allegedly I am capable of a high score but what does that actually mean? Perhaps thats why people have no idea what I am on about half the time as I am a sort of moving IQ question to other folks. That works well then, especially as I make as many mistakes as other folks! Maybe I should do yogi or something. Yogic Bubbling, increasing the reliability of your unknown microcar, as you obtain it.
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What does IQ mean?
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Idiotic questions I think?
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[quote author=Big Al I find I only really memorize things I can use on cars I have. I forget about stuff I read that is not directly useful. Annoying, as when the answer comes I think to myself. I knew that, but could not bring it to the front of my mind.
[/quote]
It still blows me away that you were able to remember the colors of all the wires (even differentiating stripe and back ground colors) in my Trojans wiring harnesses, as well as what they connected to, including the identification symbols stamped into the regulator tabs, and the relative thicknesses of the wires themselves. ???
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Well that is a product of getting stuck with Treinkel wiring faults, or knobbed restorations, when trying to use them over 25 years. You learn to fix them or you never get anywhere. Ask me the same for an Bond and I would be stumped. You got lucky is all.
Any news on the Sachs Clutch plates? Not had time to refind the Dutch source. Was not Ferdi, who is German last time I looked. I think it is Timmerman your looking for, close but not the same. Bound to be for sale at Antwerp or Essen Shows I would think.
That got us a lot nearer IDing the car!
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You are remembering correctly, (as opposed to my remembering incorrectly) again.
I need the Timmerman Netherlands connection to find a replacement clutch for my exploded Minicomtesse Saxonette unit.
Still don't know what to call, and more importantly, where to find the spline stripped tubular retaining piece with circumferential cut outs seen mounted on a spring in the center of the accompanying picture provided for reference.
All help appreciated here.
But please somebody comment on a Retromobile picture soon or Bob will have to resurrect Richard as on duty off topic Gestapo, and we might next have to be more careful with our spelling. ;D
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Yes, please start a new thread!
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Got more pics?
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Yes but I would like to know more about the red car I posted on page 1.
Here it is again.
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I am assuming it is not a Paul Vallee. Sure mine had more of a greenhouse look about it. The paper/hardboard/whatever body was a bit deformed too. Needed steaming with some formers to get its shape back. I believe this has been done and the car is a runner thanks to management from another micronaut expert before it disappeared into private collectorship.
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also assumed it was a P. Vallee Chantecler , if not i am surprised , lovely car i have only seen in cream before . Didn't answer as i thought bob only wanted answers from those who DIDN'T know the answer :) unless it is that i am wrong in which case bob will be much happier :) are you following this ?
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Well it obviously shows a P. Valee chrome embellishment above the 1955 licence plate.
This is the year shown on a black and white photo that I have seen of one that was tooling around in the southern states.
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I'm curious to know about the body shell material on these cars. This one is smooth but I have seen two others with a rough surface finish, a bit like the inside of a GRP body. Anyone know what this is all about?
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also assumed it was a P. Vallee Chantecler , if not i am surprised , lovely car i have only seen in cream before . Didn't answer as i thought bob only wanted answers from those who DIDN'T know the answer :) unless it is that i am wrong in which case bob will be much happier :) are you following this ?
Well Richard, I wasnt just looking for people to identify the cars I was hoping that a discussion would follow. We need Jean Do to weigh in.
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Here's a nice little car I snapped at Retromobil. Another I cant remember what it is!
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Bob.
Is the name on the bonnet and the number plate reference a clue or just a red herring???
https://www.google.co.uk/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US%3A%7Breferrer%3Asource%3F%7D&rlz=1I7GGIC_en&biw=1920&bih=1099&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Mazda+360+coupe&btnG=
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Mazda did cross my mind Barry but I don't remember that being there logo. not a brand that I have ever taken much notice if. That's a cute little car though!
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Mazda did cross my mind Barry but I don't remember that being there logo. not a brand that I have ever taken much notice if. That's a cute little car though!
It's a lovely little car.
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Certainly looks like one. The Japanese did some very interesting little cars, which we never got due to importation quotas. There was more money sending bigger cars over. The odd one out being Honda. Pity as a Subaru, Mitsi or Mazda would be interesting. The Japanese went on to create the K class cars, which are probably the most sophisticated microcars made. Again not really imported here, a few Cappuccinos and Beats got in but not enough to make spares or servicing cheap. The Cappuccino soon got nicknamed the Scrappuccino as they rust badly. No great resale value and a bit of a bargain if your handy with a spanner. Mind you why have a miniture MX5 when the real one is the same sort of money, Humph.
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And the last retromobil photo I am posting, now is this a microcar??? :D :D :D
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1962–1975 Symbol and corporate mark as seen on most Mazda cars from the Mazda R360 until 1975
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Definitely a Mazda. 'Even the hubcaps are present'.
(1962 Mazda R-360 Coupe)
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And the last retromobil photo I am posting, now is this a microcar??? :D :D :D
I'm guessing this came off a fairground ride?
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I recon so Malcolm , how would you steer it?
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I lied, just one more pic. Not a microcar but who cares! What a great looking car. It was a very memorable visit to Retromobil that year. I haven't been back since because I think any subsequent visit would be a disappointment.
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any subsequent visit would be a disappointment.
I wouldn't be so sure, a quick look at Donald's site will say otherwise, http://donald.over-blog.com/
Now this I love.
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Some more photos here -
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/il3xmi9p0d5qj54/IOVwuFnVr2
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well what a strange coincidence, someone anonymously posted a newspaper cutting through my door this morning from the Metro paper. It was a little article about the same funny looking electric car that is on display at Retromobil this year called a Pierre Faure. I will scan it and post later. Other than this and the Reyonnah there doesn't look like there is much there I would have bothered crossing the channel to see.
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The Japanese did some very interesting little cars. The Cappuccino soon got nicknamed the Scrappuccino as they rust badly. No great resale value and a bit of a bargain if your handy with a spanner. Mind you why have a miniature MX5 when the real one is the same sort of money, Humph.
Miniatures are more cute, give a greater feel of motion, and hence excitement for the same speed as an effect of scale, and in the case of the smattering of K class modern micro sports cars, can actually perform on par on an absolute basis with some of their bigger brethren.
The Mazda Autozam AZ-1/ its manufacturer's namesake, Suzuki Cara, which shares the Cappuchino's
turbocharged, intercooled 658 cc three cylinder engine, but in the more ideal mid body location, in my opinion , is the best of these true micro sports cars. It has an asymmetric design, gull wing doors, and even a rust proof plastic body, and goes and handles like stink. What micro tops that?
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Yep. We in Britain, with our crowded cities and streets, are not allowed such delights as K class :'(.
Apparently it is so much better buying a jeep of some description, pretend to be green by buying wellies and drive them very badly, blocking up little road space there is. If you can work out why we are not following the Japanese on city car policy, and such, I would like to know. Answers in a brown envelope, whoops sorry thats political solutions, isn't it? :o
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And the last retromobil photo I am posting, now is this a microcar??? :D :D :D
What an incredible/absurd contraption. Nice front "Crumple zone"....your passenger!
Al : It amazes me that as our roads get ever-more crowded and as fuel and resources dwindle people seem to want bigger, heavier and faster vehicles, many of which do not fit in parking spaces.