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Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
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04-20-2010, 07:56 AM
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just the messenger
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Vehicles: 2000 Honda Enzyte 5-speed MIMA, CalPod, SGII
Location: Greater Dallas
Posts: 22,878
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Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
 One of the oddest microcar stories is that of the Isetta, a 7.5-foot egg-shaped car with a single front-hinged door and a 247 cc motorcycle engine of 13 horsepower.
Rob Sass - NYTIMES - Apr 20, 2010
Yes - as the article hints, the door looks like it's off a refrigerator. --Ed.
The timely arrival of fuel-sipping small cars like the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa and the Toyota Yaris may finally answer the question of whether Americans are ready to downsize their aspirations in automobiles.
Should gas prices continue to rise, drivers may be willing to consider vehicles smaller yet even tiny urban runabouts like the stylish Smart ForTwo, which DaimlerChrysler recently announced would go on sale in the United States in 2008.
Showroom success is far from certain for this new generation of petro-misers, though. Americas previous flirtations with the microcar a class loosely defined by collectors as cars less than 10 feet long with engines smaller than 1,000 cc have all ended on sad notes.... [Read More]
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04-20-2010, 12:45 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Vehicles: 2000 Honda Insight
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 2,782
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
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04-20-2010, 03:31 PM
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Penguin of Notagascar
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Vehicles: '12 LEAF SL, '02 Insight 5spd MT
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
That's cool! I'm pretty sure I'd never fit in one though. 
__________________
- Sean
|  | <-- She got to drive an EV before I did!!  |
I'm a slow driver with a FASed car! 
New? Start here!
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04-20-2010, 03:42 PM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Vehicles: 2000 Honda Insight
Location: Durango, CO
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
Quote:
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That's cool! I'm pretty sure I'd never fit in one though.
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Many probably think that about your Insight.
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04-20-2010, 05:03 PM
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Penguin of Notagascar
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Vehicles: '12 LEAF SL, '02 Insight 5spd MT
Location: Coon Rapids, MN
Posts: 20,598
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
True enough, Reid... but those old micros really don't have much in the way of leg room at all!
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- Sean
| | <-- She got to drive an EV before I did!! |
I'm a slow driver with a FASed car!
New? Start here!
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04-20-2010, 07:20 PM
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just the messenger
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Vehicles: 2000 Honda Enzyte 5-speed MIMA, CalPod, SGII
Location: Greater Dallas
Posts: 22,878
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
Worth an encore - smallest production car ever
P50
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All is vanity
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04-20-2010, 11:19 PM
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Veteran
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Vehicles: 1994 V8 Dodge Dakota
Location: Illinois
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
Chuck-
Smallest Garage Ever. Perfect for tiny cars. I'm pretty sure my crawlspace is bigger. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTbOXL9F0uo
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04-21-2010, 12:55 AM
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Pishtaco
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Vehicles: 2012 Hyundai Elantra A6, 2006 Scion xB M5
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
When the transmission went out in my old van in 2002, the transmission repair shop I took it to had two Isettas parked out front. So, if any of you are looking for Insight-like mpg without the Insight-like price ...
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Darrell
Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
49.3 mpg avg over 44,900 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Best tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
Last edited by SentraSE-R : 04-21-2010 at 01:01 AM.
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04-21-2010, 12:18 PM
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Veteran
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Vehicles: Smart Fortwo, Suzuki Kizashi,Suzuki SX-4, Sebring Convertible
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
Bantams were cool. The factory was about 15 minutes from where i live. They designed the original Jeep, and it's an interesting story. Government pretty much screwed them over....
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04-21-2010, 03:02 PM
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Beat The System
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Vehicles: 2009 Fit, 2004 Odyssey, 96 Civic retired
Location: Longview, TX
Posts: 12,851
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Re: Smart-sized (or smaller) cars from an earlier era
Wasn't it something like, "We'll take your great design for free, thanks." and then give it to someone else to build the thousands used for the war?
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Andrew
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100 mpg commute / 90.2 mpg tank = 1191 miles
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