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Unrestored Microcar: 1971 Lawil S3

UPDATE – This Lawil is now being offered here on Barn Finds as an Exclusive for $4,500, so be sure to check it out!

At just under seven-feet in length, this 1971 Lawil S3 is one short ride. Most SUVs today could use this thing instead of carrying a spare tire, just pull it out of the back and off you go. It can be found here on eBay in Altadena, California and the seller has a $7,000 buy it now price listed or you can make an offer.

I’m a huge fan of small cars and although there are a few cars smaller than 6.5-feet in length, there may not be many of them that would be capable of actually being used on the street. Side street that is. Of course, these cars were never made for highway use. But, how cool would it be to take this thing a mile away to grab some groceries?

Back in April of 2016, I wrote about a Lambretta Willam City here on Barn Finds, a somewhat similar car except for being a hardtop with a little trunk/boot on the rear and a much smaller engine. Cars like the drop-top Lawil seem to have been used by folks in Italy and elsewhere who had either yachts or airplanes, either to get to the airport or to their yacht or to take this on the yacht for use on land after a voyage. What have I done with my life that I don’t have either a yacht or an airplane yet?!

I would have guessed that this car had been repainted but the seller says that it is in fact unrestored. I can see some areas with surface rust around the edges of the red paint. Those super hefty safety chains would probably meet all of the current U.S. regulations for passenger safety, maybe?.. (crickets)

This one has the “big” engine which is about twice the displacement as the “beginner” model, having a 246 cc Lambretta two-cycle engine with 12 hp. They had a top speed of around 40 mph which seems like it would be fairly scary. The seller has a few YouTube videos showing this car and it really looks great. Are there any microcar fans out there?

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Scott Marquis

    Drag coefficient of your average boat anchor.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar photo David Mika Member

    I was gonna say, good thing it don’t go so fast, as it has the aerodynamics of a cinder block.

    Like 2
  3. Avatar photo Coventrycat

    Another amusement park ride. The chain door gives it away.

    Like 2
  4. Avatar photo LARRY

    Can we shoehorn a v8 in it..maybe a turbo 4.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar photo grant

    This is freaking adorable.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar photo Mike

    Awkward top makes it look like one of the supports broke.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar photo Duff

    This would be perfect to use in “God’s Waiting Room”, AKA, Sun City, AZ. They drive golf carts everywhere, there are even reserved parking spaces at the stores, just for golf carts! No licensing of any kind needed and NO ONE ever gets stopped.

    Like 1
  8. Avatar photo Johnmloghry

    I could probably drive this thing inside the VA hospital in Houston when I visit there. It’s not much bigger tha some of the electric wheelchairs I see there, but considerable faster, hope it has a horn; beep, beep get out of my way, coming through. Take up the entire elevator going to the heart doctor though.😺🐶
    God bless America

    Like 1
  9. Avatar photo Danny DeAngelis

    Hey everyone, I’m the owner of this vehicle. I have no idea who this Scotty Gilbertson is or where he got these pictures of the car. It was never listed for $7000. Why would he be showing these pictures and information of the vehicle. This car will be listed on Barn Finds for $4500. LOOK IT UP

    Like 0

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