Isetta at check point charlie

[micro marshall]

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.

[micro marshall]

Another pic of the Isetta

[micro marshall]

The actual checkpoint charlie

[micro marshall]

The sign that is well feared in Germany.

[micro marshall]

The trabi world!

[micro marshall]

this is a hidden prison truck for the starsie prism.

[richard]

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

[Jean]

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

[Bob Purton]

I would like to read that. Maybe Chris could republish it in a future edition of RCN?

[Big Al]

It can be reprinted 8 times before the sensor catches it and complains  .

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. 

[Bob Purton]

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.

[Rob Dobie]

Article about Isetta at check point charlie. There is also a three page article on The History of the Brutsch Microcars

[Bob Purton]

here is another picture.

[Jean]

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

[Barry]

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.