Cars such as the three-wheeled German Messerschmitt KR-175 were a product of a time when families needed to spend less on small automobiles that could more easily navigate overcrowded cities. With lengths of under 10 feet and engines smaller than 750 cc, microcars made this possible. Collectors treasure microcars more for their style now, reports the newest York Times. The forward-thinking style of European microcars has made them very popular for collectors and automotive historians. Source for this article – Microcars have come a long way by Car Deal Expert.
The practically working microcar has a futuristic design
In the 1940s and 1950s, Americans were steered toward large autos by automotive advertising. In Europe, the opposite was true. Microcars started showing up there. “These cars have been a reaction to desperate conditions,” microcar historian Peter Svilans told the Times. The front of the auto of the Italian Isetta had egg shaped doors for entry while the German Messerschmitt KR-175 had three wheels initially. These design touches amazed most auto enthusiasts around. Near Atlanta you are able to visit the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. This museum shows just how amazing these microcars really are.
Collecting microcars is what Weiner likes to do. Since 1991, he has been doing this. He told the Times that microcars are not easy to get.
“With microcars, you don’t just show up with a wad of money and say sell it to me,” he said. “In Europe, they mean something more. It is like you showing up and asking me to sell my dad’s watch.”
Microcars are not just toys to play with
Microcars aren’t giant sized children’s playthings, even if they look like they can be. The French Rovin Z-4 is really a great example of how much power these vehicles have as they can go at highway speeds. They do not have any safety features in them though, making them dangerous. The driver’s body would be in some significant trouble if having crashed within the automobile. There is hardly any crumple zone so the body would absorb all of the force.
Economic prosperity wiped out the microcar
Automotive mass production occurred much more often after Europe started recovering from the monetary hardships of the mid 20th century. There were many more Volkswagen, Renault and Fiat cars being made by the early 1960s as they have been more powerful and safer. Microcars ended up being a “small wonder” that died off. The Messerschmitt museum, and others like it, are the only reason any person even knows about microcars today. There are only 50 KR-175s that even exist anymore.
Articles cited
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/10/14/automobiles/autospecial2/14MICRO.html
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