Anyone on here turbocharged or supercharged a micro or bubble?

[AndyL]

As others said, the law was a bit easier going then. A bit like motorbikes, years ago a rider could pass their motorcycle test on a Honda 50, then legally go and climb on 900. No longer the case.

Not only did my Dad pass his test in RYN 726, but Peter learnt to drive in it too and also passed his test in it. Couple of frame grabs of a young Peter Green entering the car. This was in 1963.

They both worked as Postmen at Highgate SO

[Big Al]

Part of the car test was reversing so a vehicle without reverse would not be any use to take the test. I do not know when the rules changed, but over the years they have got more and more tied up in respect of the anachronistic vehicles that still exist in small numbers, but do not really fit in any category.
Interestingly an IC was not a car, so a separate system. Now DVLA say they are PLG, you can drive them! Logic, always sacrificial to bureaucratic expediency. 
PSV was an oddity. Up to 12 people, but not paying passengers. That was changed after several bad accidents to a full PSV license. It was then you needed to apply for old fogeys rights, or you lost them. However it remains the case I cannot drive a bus for reward.

I never bothered with a bike license as I am bloody useless on a bike. It is why I got into Trikes when my mates went biking. Several into racing, I lost touch with most, not surprisingly. I passed my test in a Datsun Cherry.

[Rob Dobie]

They both worked as Postmen at Highgate SO

Ah, the joys of being a postie in the 1960s to 1990s!

Did they use their own cars to deliver the letters as I did many times in the Polegate area? naughty boy! The bosses never knew or turned a blind eye. In 1976 I even used my Peel P50 for a laugh. Customers faces were a delight to see as I crawled out of it with the mail bag throttling me. 

[AndyL]

Yes it was very common to use your own car. The governors knew of course,  but it didn't really hurt the business, they got a lower cost vehicle fleet and the postmen got away a bit earlier- mutual benefit.

My Dad owned a VW bus for many years, and used to ferry other postmen around too.

[richard]

ah indeed 611 TOO the very first bubble of any kind that i think i ever , knowingly , saw - Peters car at HTOEC AGM Crick, Northampton '86 or '87 nice car but why on earth did he paint that colour i wonder ? 

[Big Al]

Peter GREEN

[richard]

yes al that was a rhetorical question 

[AndyL]

I think his first car was green also.

611 T00 was the only Heinkel Trojan I have ever had a ride in, which took place at the 1990 NMCR at Weston Park.

I remembered thinking that although the Heinkel a more elegant design than the Isetta, I felt the latter was a nicer car to ride in being softer sprung and with a less harsh engine note. I think that may be due to the way the engine is mounted on Isetta and also the separate chassis design probably damps noise a bit better than the Heinkel's unitary construction.

[richard]

go and wash your mouth out !

[Bob Purton]

Totally agree with Andy. The reason I never took to Heinkels was the harsh unrefined engine sound and all the vibration through the floor. Give me an Isetta any day.

[Grant Kearney]

Peter Green wrote up his exploits travelling through Europe in his first Heinkel a few years ago in book titled, 'Eric went too', a reference a teddy bear that accompanied him on the journey.

[richard]

I remember many references too the book, I never saw a copy . Pre internet days but even now no reference on it now

[Big Al]

Totally agree with Andy. The reason I never took to Heinkels was the harsh unrefined engine sound and all the vibration through the floor. Give me an Isetta any day.

So the Heinkel is for Men and the Isetta for Wooses? No idea how you spell that bit of East England slang.
'Tiz true. I am not sure the noise level is that different in decibels, but to an untrained ear it can sound like the Heinkel engine is more than keen to sit next to you! The Isetta has a better - quieter - exhaust but at the expense of a bigger system. Most Heinkels now suffer induction noise as they are at least missing the flange seal to the air filter, if not the whole assembly. Once again set up and sorted the car quietens down a fair bit, but it is a more raw experience than a similar prepared Isetta. Its a more minimalist and pure Microcar. It would be interested to have an exit poll on potential buyers back in the day to see if this was one reason the Isetta outsold the Heinkel, about 5 to 1, is it?
You need to get the cars on the road to appreciate the Heinkel's superior performance ability. But then not everyone does, so we remain in the argument and choose our weapons. Just as well as hopefully both marques will get used and show up at meetings. At the moment Isettas seem a bit scarce, but the Club is reported as still to be struggling a bit after the spares debacle and that will have an effect. I really hope that the IOC can sort itself out, even at the expense of reforming in a new entity (As I advised some years back, prior to the debacle, and side stepping the potential damage now done). The HTC managed to reinvent itself after a bit of a disaster, and so in an inversion of the cars, the smoother ride is to own a Heinkel as the support is better - at the moment.

[Bob Purton]

Well I don't think its so much a case of choosing our weapons and an argument but more personal preference, people value different qualities in a microcar. No idea how you spell the W word, we don't use it in Hornchurch but I would imagine the P G Wodehouse route would be about right.

[Big Al]

OK, cliche and debate may be substituted .

As you well know the crucial thing is to have the cars running well and to be able to use them. Experience than leads each to their preference and some leg pulling.

Bring in mego mods and I am not sure where we stand, as the character of the car is altered. In principle I am against it, but there exceptions as some modified cars are testaments to some very clever engineering and skilled workmanship.