2003-2005 Suzuki Twin, MMA #016 2023. The Suzuki Twin was a 2-door coupe, microcar Kei car designed and marketed specifically to women in Japan. Available as petrol car and electrical hybrid it was the first hybrid Kei car in Japan and sold as a 4-speed automatic or 5 Speed manual.
1956-62 BMW Isetta Van, MMA #009, 2020. Microcar Models Australia has remodelled this classic 1:43 diecast / zamak BMW bubble car. We have removed the rear window to access the tray behind the single bench seat and installed the van hatch. The MMA #009, 2020, BMW Isetta Van is based on a van conversion originally produced by the coach builder Buhne in Germany.
Sir Laurence John Hartnett CBE (26 May 1898 – 4 April 1986) had been General Motors-Holden (GMH) Managing Director from 1934 to 1947 and was instrumental in GMH’s introduction of the Holden. In 1949 after discussions with Australia’s Prime Minister Ben Chifley to manufacture an affordable motor car entirely in Australia, Sir Laurence Hartnett, establish the Hartnett Motor Company.
During the 1950’s the Argentinian Government encouraged car companies from around the world to manufacture their cars in Argentina. Few courageously dreamed to produce their own car individual to Argentina. However, with home grown tenacity and perseverance, the Dinarg team conceived and created the Dinarg D-200 Corto and its longer variant the Dinarg D-200 Largo which are added to the legacy and history of wonderful and amazing Microcars.
The L’Oeuf Electrique (The Electric Egg) was a 3 wheeled microcar built in Paris in 1942, by Paul Arzens, an Engineer and Artist as a bespoke lightweight personal car. The designation of “Egg” car was soon attached to this unique car as it was seen driving around Paris in 1942 and was likely the first bubble car.
Designed by Alan Evans in 1983 and produced in Hull, UK by Bamby Cars Limited. The name ‘Bamby’ was Anglicised from Alan’s first choice ‘Bambino’ Italian for baby, because the car was small like a baby. The concept originally was to make a microcar for his wife so she could drive to the shops, make short trips, occasionally carrying a small child, and all the while be out of the weather. As a Microcar enthusiast Alan had earlier made his own copy of the famous Peel P50 which he drove locally. Alan understood and thoroughly researched the technical and engineering specifications of car construction in preparation of making his one-off car.
1984 Bamby Cars Limited was taken over and production moved to a new modern factory in Hull, UK. At the request of new management Alan Evans revised the Bamby’s design and the Bamby Cars team promptly completed the Bamby Car Mk2 prototype which was painted red. Soon after Alan Evans sold his remaining shares ending all association with Bamby Cars Limited.
From 1959–1961 Bill Buckle of Sydney famously imported the Goggomobil from Germany into Australia and in 1960 using the base of the successful Goggomobil Dart sedan, produced the Carryall delivery van completely in house from his own unique design. The concept was to produce a utilitarian van that would have a cheap purchase price, was efficient to run and have a good carrying capacity. The resulting Goggomobil Carryall looked like a shrunken version of the renowned VW Kombi Van, complete with its two tone and V at the front, but uniquely this mighty microcar achieved a huge carrying capacity of 2.8 m3.
Egon Brutsch, of Germany, designed the Avolette Record. Utilising bubble shapes and glass fiber shells joined with a rubber seal connecting the top and bottom sections. Mr Brutsch successfully licensed his concept to several European businesses and had more success with this than himself building the cars.
The Zeta ‘Runabout’ Sedan, it is true, was spacious and convenient enough to carry most loads, at least in a recreational or small-job capacity. But it was not the most suitable vehicle for business- or fleet-owners. Lightburn & Co, however, would not let a large piece of the market slip away, and so they developed a version of the Zeta vest suited to common use in the manufacturing and working sector—the Zeta Utility.
