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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 10:59 am Post subject: |
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This was 55 years ago so my memory might have some holes in it. I think my charging problem was with the control box. I bought a scrap Isetta for the engine and I think I swapped the control boxes to sort the problem.
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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MVPeters
Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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On a camping holiday in Wales some years ago, in a BMW Isetta, we stopped at a farm for the night.
The usual charge was 1/- but the farmer said as we only had 3 wheels it would be 9d. _________________ Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S' |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4756 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
MVPeters wrote: | On a camping holiday in Wales some years ago, in a BMW Isetta, we stopped at a farm for the night.
The usual charge was 1/- but the farmer said as we only had 3 wheels it would be 9d. |
He obviously didn't check round the back.
Quote: | The first prototypes had one wheel at the rear, but having a single rear wheel made the car prone to roll-overs, so the rear wheel layout was changed to two wheels set 48 cm (19 in) apart from each other. This narrow track eliminated the need for a differential. |
_________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6315 Location: Derby
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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I have had both 3 and 4 wheel versions and neither were what you could call stable. I thought the ones assembled at Brighton were all three wheelers. The four wheelers were taxed as a car and you required a car license to drive one.
The three wheelers were taxed less and you could drive them on a motorcycle license.
There is a myth that they had no reverse gear and if they did it had to be blanked off. Both my Isettas had a reverse gear ( if you could find it!) and no blanking off was necessary. |
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alanb
Joined: 10 Sep 2012 Posts: 516 Location: Berkshire.
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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All the early isettas were 4 wheel it was only the Brighton built cars made after 1957 that had 3 wheels to take advantage of the tax regulation’s _________________ old tourer
Morris 8 two seater |
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MVPeters
Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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MVPeters wrote: | On a camping holiday in Wales some years ago, in a BMW Isetta, we stopped at a farm for the night.
The usual charge was 1/- but the farmer said as we only had 3 wheels it would be 9d. |
Sorry, it must have been a Heinkel.
I just remember the 9d. _________________ Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S' |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6315 Location: Derby
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2020 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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MVPeters wrote: | MVPeters wrote: | On a camping holiday in Wales some years ago, in a BMW Isetta, we stopped at a farm for the night.
The usual charge was 1/- but the farmer said as we only had 3 wheels it would be 9d. |
Sorry, it must have been a Heinkel.
I just remember the 9d. |
Pretty little cars; Heinkel. A true "Bubble" car. Only 200cc I seem to remember. |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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The Messerschmitt had no reverse gear. You stopped the two stroke engine and restarted it backwards. This gave the possibility to use all the gears for travelling backwards even up to full speed if you were brave (or foolhardy) enough!
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6315 Location: Derby
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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peter scott wrote: | The Messerschmitt had no reverse gear. You stopped the two stroke engine and restarted it backwards. This gave the possibility to use all the gears for travelling backwards even up to full speed if you were brave (or foolhardy) enough!
Peter |
They also produced a 4 wheel car - the TG Tiger.
Quite a performer by all accounts.
https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/messerschmitt-tg500-tiger-ar59157.html |
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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Ray, I see in you link for the KR500 it describes the transmission as:
4 speed plus reverse transmission, and differential
I wonder if they moved to this more conventional arrangement for the 500?
Peter _________________ http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6315 Location: Derby
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2020 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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peter scott wrote: | Ray, I see in you link for the KR500 it describes the transmission as:
4 speed plus reverse transmission, and differential
I wonder if they moved to this more conventional arrangement for the 500?
Peter |
The Tiger had a transaxle. I didn't even know the 4 wheel version of Fritz Fend's design even existed until many years after my 'bubble' car era. I understand they fetch a pretty penny these days. |
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lowdrag
Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1585 Location: Le Mans
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peter scott
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6315 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2020 10:04 am Post subject: |
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In the real world you are at risk on the roads in a small car like an Austin Seven. To drive something as small and in particular as low as a Messerschmitt you would be terribly vulnerable.
I once went in a Kabinenroller as a passenger. It was quite good fun - but I imagine the novelty would wear off. |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22447 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2020 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Rick wrote: | The A40 was the first car I ever drove on the road as my own car, after passing my test in it, late 1987. But KED 453F was the first car I owned albeit as a wreck to begin with. It was donated to me in many many pieces in about 1986/7 but it was only in 1989 that it hit the road. It's still around and I last heard from the current owner a few years back, I think it must have been rebuilt at least three times in all so far.
RJ |
Coincidentally I heard from the present owner yesterday, who is thinking of selling KED. In some respects it'd be nice to own it again but maybe these things should be left to the rose-tinted memories of old?
RJ _________________ Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop |
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