RUMCars Forum
General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: micro marshall on February 27, 2014, 09:38:14 PM
-
I went to Berlin recently and i went into the check point charlie museum. i found the isetta used to smuggle people out of east Berlin, because it was so small it was never checked until on lady sneezed.
I also spoke to a very nice man at a place called trabi world, that had over 500 Trabants. I hope you like the pictures.
-
Another pic of the Isetta ;D
-
The actual checkpoint charlie
-
The sign that is well feared in Germany. 8)
-
The trabi world! ;D :D
-
this is a hidden prison truck for the starsie prism. :o
-
as i recall was it not a secret compartment on the other side to the engine ? i believe it was used many times before the compartment was discovered
-
The story of the people who escaped across the Berlin Wall in an Isetta can be found in RUMCAR NEWS No 8 Spring1986 if you are lucky enough to have a copy. Jean
-
I would like to read that. Maybe Chris could republish it in a future edition of RCN?
-
It can be reprinted 8 times before the sensor catches it and complains ;D.
It is this tale that convinces me that the Isetta does waste a lot of space in its design, just like the Trienkel doesn't. Yet the Treinkel is considerably lighter! Given the direct comparison on the road it defeats me how folk can say the Isetta is better, other than by inability of getting the Treinkel going properly, or an escaping East German dwarf attempting to hid next to the left bulkhead.
Meanwhile the Trabbi collection sounds interesting, especially as it has Barkus in it.
-
You need that space to get in and work on the car Al. The Hienkel is better for having a lid on the back for access.
-
Article about Isetta at check point charlie. There is also a three page article on The History of the Brutsch Microcars
-
here is another picture.
-
I would like to read that. Maybe Chris could republish it in a future edition of RCN?
Unfortunately Bob, in the days when I was producing these issues, it was done by gestetner and photocopying, not a computer in sight. Hence there are no masters left for Chris to create copies. As you will see from the page Rob Dobie has scanned the reproduction is extremely poor. Those early issues were all pretty dire even though there was some good articles to be found in them they would need to be retyped and some new illustrations found. Sorry but that's progress for you! Jean
-
You need that space to get in and work on the car Al. The Hienkel is better for having a lid on the back for access.
Pushed up the black a bit to make it easier to read.
-
Hard to make out the picture.
There certainly isn't much space below the seat, where the battery and heater control valve reside. So why does the article say that this is where the refugees were stowed away?
Other than a place for a twisted right foot, which may not be necessary, it doesn't seem reasonable to me.
Is that a gas tank, or small satchel strapped alongside the inner vertical firewall?
Hope they brought a good axle case pillow- looks like any bump traversed by the rear wheels would be a real headache for the refugee.
Obviously a case for a good chiropractor after reaching the American side.
Would they have to worry about being accepted back in after they deciding that having to obey traffic laws and not carry concealed firearms was too dear a price to pay for their new found freedom?
-
"So why does the article say that this is where the refugees were stowed away?"
Because journalists seldom give the facts, they assume that the reader doesn't know one end of an Isetta from the other. The picture reveals that they removed the tank, exhaust and air filter canister. I'm guessing that is a substitute tank strapped in there.
-
It looks like the roof section has been cut off just below the window line. The missing tank lid is a bit of a giveaway to the border guards, although it may have been nicked by a 'needy' Isetta owner at a later stage.