Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[RogerB]

Do any Forum readers have any personal experiences of driving micro-cars in the 50's?
I have written about the following- Reliant Mk3; Goggomobil; Scootacar; Rodley; Coronet- for classic car Club mags. And I would like to hear from anyone who drove one of them.
Thank you.

[Keith D]

I shared the driving of a late fifties Bond Minicar (250cc model F) with my mate (who owned the car) to John O'Groats in UK summer 1959. At that time the "in" thing was to drive one's Bond Minicar to either end of the UK.

We left Essex and drove, and drove, and drove......! At about 30/35mph we thought we'd never get there. The droning buzz of the Villiers motor almost hypnotising us both.

We used 'Petroil" which was premixed fuel from tiny bowsers. Unfortunately one of these dispensed petrol without oil and we seized the engine up a few miles south of Preston. We managed to free this by using the kick starter located under the bonnet and limped into Preston to the factory where the cars were made. (Sharp's Commercials in Ribble Lane! - How do I remember that?)

They treated us like royalty and soon replaced rings and a few other jobs for very little money and we buzzed happily north into the evening!

In Wick we were given a police escort through the centre of town! They thought it a great joke.

A fabulous holiday for a seventeen year old on my first break away from home, but not one I would attempt nowadays!

One never drove past a Bond Minicar with the bonnet up, which was often! Owners formed a very strong protective bond towards each another.

I owned an earlier Bond Minicar (200cc Villiers) in the early sixties, but the least said about that one the better!

Keith

[DPP]

A great story Keith.
Could you imagine turning up at a car factory now and asking for help
_________________
Dave
Jensen Interceptor MK111
Princess 2

[Ronniej]

I had a brief run in a Bond as a passenger and I did not feel comfortable.
You just feel so vulnerable. I certainly would not have relished a run as long as Keith's.
The Berkeley which was Laurie Bond's later venture was an attractive looking car but I have no knowledge of how it drove.
I read some where that Laurie Bond worked for the Blackburn Aircraft Company where he worked on Micro cars and built aircraft in his spare time!!!

[Ray White]

I have related some of my "bubble car" stories in other threads on this forum - but by no means all of them!

I bought my first Isetta 300 from a neighbour. It had been standing in his garden for some time and looked awful but under the grime was a little gem. It was light green, I remember and polished up like new. Mechanically it was a good car but there was a problem. The little car had 4 wheels; the back two of which were coupled close together and as such was rated for taxation purposes as a proper car which was a lot more expensive than a three wheeler. Another problem was that one needed a car licence, as opposed to a motorbike to drive it. Sadly, it had to go.

The upside was that the Isetta had come up so well that I was able to make a profit on the deal. My next Isetta 300 was a blue three wheeler which fitted the bill and like the previous car was a hidden treasure - at least the body work was. Mechanically, it was past it's best and gave me no end of trouble. On one occasion, I noticed oil dripping from the engine and realised the single cylinder block had come loose on the crankcase. I tightened the nuts and continued on my way but I had not gone that far when the block came loose again. Once more I tightened down the nuts but the problem persisted except that when it happened again, I found one of the lugs had broken off. A replacement block was sourced but the same thing happened to that one as well.

My mechanic/engineer father took a look and concluded that the studs had stretched. In fact, the threads in the aluminium crankcase were shot. From what I can remember, we were able to replace the studs with bolts that went up through the crankcase and the problem never returned.

Despite the numerous breakdowns and absurd amount of time that my bubble car caused me I loved it dearly and it taught me a great deal. As far as driving the three wheeler was concerned, I enjoyed every minute....except for the time when the gear lever came away in my hand; but that is a whole other story!!

[RogerB]

Many thanks for your detailed experiences with Bond etc. My intention is to write an article on the Bond three wheeler shortly and, if I may, I will incorporate your personal experiences.... #
The Isetta has been well covered in the classic car mags. and if you want to buy one they are fetching very silly money!
More micro-car tales please...

[Penman]

Hi
I believe Trojan got round the 4 wheel problem by having theirs close coupled, I have seen a rear wheel track of 220mm mentioned in a spec.

Of cpurse this would not have been as stable as a wider track such as the Isetta, but it could attract the part of the m/c market that wanted more weather protection.

I think the cut off figure used in the regulations was around 12 ins.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10