Microcars

From 5 July to 1 September 2019, the Louwman Museum in The Hague presented a fascinating and colorful overview of microcars from the 1950s. Numerous, often small manufacturers responded after the Second World War to the need for cheap and weatherproof transport. The surprising result was the microcar.

Microcars (also known as microcar, bubblecar or Kabinenroller) were compact three- or four-wheelers, fitted with a single- or twin-cylinder engine with limited power. The lighter and cheaper the car, the better. Some bodies were made from a wooden frame, merely covered with artificial-leather fabric or fitted with nailed-on aluminum panels. Experiments were also already being carried out with plastic bodies. The designs were very diverse and sometimes extremely peculiar. Hardly any attention was paid to safety aspects.

The showpiece of the exhibition was the Peel P50 from 1962. The smallest production car in the world was built on the Isle of Man and was only 132 cm long, 99 cm wide and 120 cm high. The little car weighed 59 kilos and was powered by a 49cc DKW moped engine. Its top speed was 61 km per hour. The Peel shown at the exhibition was the first car produced out of a total of 47 units.

The era in which motorcycles in particular dominated the streetscape in Europe came to a definitive end with the arrival of the microcar. After a brief period of prosperity, the microcars ultimately made way for successful postwar cars such as the DAF, Mini, 2CV and Beetle. The microcar still has a large group of enthusiasts and has now achieved cult status.

The microcars in the exhibition were made available by the PS Speicher museum in Einbeck (D) and several private collectors.