Microcars were born of wartime need

European microcars like the Messerschmitt KR-175 were at first designed to solve transportation issues during World War II. Such inexpensive autos with engines smaller than 750 cubic centimeters and a length of less than 10 feet have been perfect for cash-strapped families to navigate via densely populated cities. But today, the vehicles are appreciated more for their futuristic form, writes the brand new York Times. Thus, the small European vehicles are popular – and rare – gems in museums and on the collectors’ circuit.

Sensible purpose and futuristic style on all microcars

In the 1940s and 1950s, Americans were steered toward large vehicles by automotive marketing. Microcars begun to show up in Europe which led to the opposite effect there. The Times heard, “These cars were a response to desperate conditions,” from Peter Svilans who’s a microcar historian. Design touches like three wheels on the original German Messerschmitt KR-175 and entry doors that make up the entire egg-shaped front of the automobile on the Italian Isetta continue to impress auto enthusiasts. Near Atlanta you can visit the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. This museum shows just how amazing these microcars really are.

Weiner has been collecting microcars since 1991. Microcars are hard to discover, he told the Times.

“With microcars, you do not just show up with a wad of cash 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.”

Don’t handle a microcar like a plaything

Microcars aren’t giant sized children’s toys, even if they look like they may be. The French Rovin Z-4 is a great example of how much power these automobiles have as they can go at highway speeds. They do not have any safety features in them though, making them dangerous. A microcar has hardly any crumple zone. If you crashed with the automobile, the collision would trigger practically all of the force to be transferred to the driver’s body.

Microcar died because the economic climate got better

Once Europe started to recuperate from the economic doldrums of the mid 20th century, automotive mass production became more prevalent. It became important within the early 1960s to have more powerful and safe vehicles. This is when Volkswagen, Renault and Fiat automobiles became more popular. Microcars have been called a “small wonder.” They have been gone as easily as they came. Only museums keep the memory of microcars like the Messerschmitt alive. In existence, there aren’t numerous left. Only 50 KR-175s are known.

Info from

New York Times

nytimes.com/2010/10/14/automobiles/autospecial2/14MICRO.html