Los Angeles, CA, June 17, 2007-- Gas gurgling giants now dominate our streets, freeways, parking lots and garages but there have always been visionaries or crackpots who believed fuel sipping ultra-mini cars were the cars of the future.
    
These Microcars faded away as cheap gas and Post War prosperity caused buyers worldwide to raise their expectations and reach for something bigger.  But these quirky relics from the 50s and 60s, have a long, rich and fascinating story to tell that will be celebrated this summer with a special exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum starting on June 23.

The exhibit, “Microcars: The Minimum in Motoring” puts the history of the smallest automobiles of the last 70 years under the magnifying glass, exploring their rapid rise to popularity before World War II and their subsequent fall, as drivers opted for wider seats, more cargo space and bigger engines.

Packs of mammoth motoring beasts like the Hummer H2 still roam US highways but high gas prices and environmental concerns in Europe has stimulated the production of new microcars, like the Smart car which is finally slated for a US launch in ’08.  Some feel we may see a resurgence of down-sized vehicles on these shores as a variety of conditions make smaller cars more attractive to own.

“From the Toyota Yaris to the Smart car, we’re seeing more interest in all things small in the automotive world,” said Dick Messer, director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. “What they lack in size, they make up for in character. And given the interest in the Smart, the Mini and other modern microcars, Americans will likely be seeing more of these pint-sized cars in the future as fuel prices continue to climb.”

To provide this fun exhibit with some context, the curators suggest that you use the Toyota Camry (currently the best-selling car in America) as a comparison when reading the specs of the microcars. A Camry, when fitted with a 3.5 liter (3,500 cc) V6 engine weighs 3,483 pounds and gets 22 miles per gallon in the city and 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

Here are some of the microcars you’ll encounter.

1950s VESPA 400
Engine:  2-cylinder, 394cc, 14-horsepower
Weight:  795 pounds
Price when new: $1,080
Top Speed: 56 miles per hour
Fuel Efficiency:  60 miles per gallon
Summary: Built in France by the scooter manufacturer of the same name, Vespa, the Italian motor-scooter manufacturer, produced a tiny, but chic microcar in its French factory for a period of four years.  The only model available was a roll-top convertible with two doors.  In the United States the Vespa cost far less than a Volkswagen, but its extremely small size and dismal performance doomed its chances and the vehicle was soon withdrawn from the market.

1950s MESSERSCHMITT   
Engine: 1-cylinder, 175cc, 9-horsepower, kick start
Weight: 397 pounds
Price When New: $1,073
Top Speed: 56 miles per hour
Fuel Efficiency:  80 miles per gallon
Summary: Built between 1955 and 1964, the German Messerschmitt was one of the narrowest cars manufactured after World War II.  It had handlebar steering, a tandem seating arrangement, and a rear-mounted, one-cylinder engine rated at just 10 horsepower.  To select reverse, the motor was shut off and a switch engaged.  The engine ran backwards when restarted.  Top speed was slightly in excess of 50 miles per hour.

1960s HEINKEL Trojan-Built
Engine:  1-cylinder, 198cc, 10-horsepower, four-stroke
Weight:  535 pounds
Price When New: $1,100
Top Speed: 53 miles per hour
Fuel Efficiency: 65 miles per gallon
Summary: Bearing a strong resemblance to BMW’s Isetta, the Heinkel was so short that it could be parked facing the sidewalk without jutting into traffic. The occupants could then step directly onto the sidewalk upon exiting through the single front door. While most Heinkels had two rear wheels placed close together, those built under license by the British firm Trojan had a single rear wheel. This configuration was popular in England where three-wheel vehicles were classified as motorcycles for tax purposes.

These fuel-efficient little machines have often been overlooked and derided as automotive jokes.  But with soaring gas prices, concerns over global warming and the wholesale abandonment of the SUV by consumers maybe the descendants of the these “cars of the future” will finally find the mass acceptance that was denied their mechanical ancestors.  This might even be the key to dealing with clogged freeways.  Imagine how many of these you could squeeze into the Sepulveda Pass?  


The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard (at Fairfax) in Los Angeles.  Admission prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students with ID, and $3 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum members and children under five are admitted free. Covered parking is available for $6.00 per car. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For general Museum information, call (323) 930-CARS or visit the Museum’s web site address at www.petersen.org

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