Micro Cars

Three-Wheel Thrills! 1981 HMV Freeway

If you’re looking for the kind of thrill you get on a Slingshot or Spyder, unfortunately this ain’t it. What it IS, however, is what some would call the predecessor of those. This 1981 HMV Freeway is up for… more»

Economical Classic: 1958 Austin A35

From what I’ve observed, the sweet spot for the importation of British economy cars was 1958/1959, just before the American auto companies introduced much larger compacts of their own. Perhaps that’s how this left-hand-drive Austin A35 ended up in… more»

For Sale as a “Kit”: 1957 BMW Isetta 300

The Isetta was designed in Italy in the early 1950s as a microcar that would carry two passengers. The single door opened outward from the front and its overall shape was that of a “bubble car.” It was built… more»

BF Exclusive: 1972 Honda Z600 Coupe

One of the most unique Kei cars to roll out of Japan in the 1970s is the Honda Z-series. Starting with the smaller Z360 – about five inches longer than a Subaru 360 but with much better engineering –… more»

A Little Project: 1950 Crosley

Powel Crosley Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, was a busy man. He sold countless radios, owned the Cincinnati Reds, and most importantly, sold cars. He sold enough of them that I am never surprised to see one at a car… more»

Keep It An EV, Or?… 1971 B&Z Electra-King

This shape is hard to forget, like seeing me on the beach. Once this form is burned into your brain it’s there forever. We’ve seen around eight B&Z Electra-King EVs here on Barn Finds over the last decade or… more»

The Big Block: 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile Special

This diminutive Fiat-derived classic promises around-town fun in the sun. Made by Autobianchi – a cooperative effort between Bianchi, Pirelli, and Fiat to test transportation concepts – the Bianchina was produced from 1955 through 1970 in wagon, convertible, sedan… more»

Stored 20 Years: 1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Personal luxury cars were all the rage in the 1960s, so Chevrolet joined the party in 1970 with its new Monte Carlo. Part Pontiac Grand Prix and part Chevy Malibu, it was an instant hit that would see its… more»

Rare 1954 Messerschmitt KR175 Project

Yes, indeed, as the owner says, these German-made Messerschmitt KR175 Kabinenroller microcars are indeed very rare–only 15,000 were built. But it’s the later 200 model (1955 to 1964) that’s a more valuable example of the breed, and the cream… more»

55 MPH 3-Wheeler! 2008 ScootCoupe

If you live in or visit a popular tourist destination, you’ve probably seen a ScootCoupe or more running around. They’re a two-seat (side-by-side) scooter that can be rented by the hour or the day and they resemble a big… more»

Handsome but Diminutive: 1938 American Bantam Roadster

One of the more endearing aspects of the automobile market in the thirties was the incredible number of choices available to consumers.  There were still several independent manufacturers scraping by.  They did so by exploiting niches in the market… more»

1960 Messerschmitt KR200

In the ’50s the German company Messerschmitt was temporarily forbidden from manufacturing aircraft so the engineer Fritz Fend recommended manufacturing small motor vehicles in the interim. The result was the Kabinenroller or cabin scooter. When the cars were offered… more»

Soichiro Honda’s Last Car: 1991 Honda Beat

Born in 1906, Soichiro Honda was as famous in Japanese culture as Henry Ford was here in the U.S., in much the same manner. He didn’t invent the car but he made it better and gave the masses an… more»

46k Mile 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit

The Rabbit is a first-car classic. In the ’80s the cars dotted high school parking lots across the country. In Europe, the cars were called Volkswagen Golfs but it sounded too fancy for the United States youth so they… more»

350 V8 Drop-Top: 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS

By the time the Chevy Camaro was introduced in 1967, Ford had already sold nearly 1.3 million copies of the hot new Mustang “pony car”. The Chevrolet would also attract a flock of buyers, although the Mustang continued to… more»

California Cutie: 1959 Fiat 600

The little Fiat 500 with its adorable little two-cylinder engine has become a worldwide pop-culture favorite, but I don’t mind who knows that I much prefer the styling of the “upscale” 600, which actually beat the 500 to market… more»

Barn Finds