Hector1 Coventry All posts by this member Thread starter | 16 of 26 Tue 2nd Jun 2015 10:44pm Member: Joined Jan 2014 Total posts:13 This is the 1958 car which led to my enquiry. It is difficult to judge from photos but appears to be original and all there. On top of the purchase price, you would have to budget for a comprehensive restoration, but then it would be a nice car to own. |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Dillotford Stafford All posts by this member | 17 of 26 Wed 3rd Jun 2015 5:18pm Member: Joined Dec 2014 Total posts:29 Hector - Have a visit to the reference library, and see if there are any trade books / phone directory for the late '50's, to see if its listed. |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
pixrobin Canley All posts by this member | 18 of 26 Sun 29th Apr 2018 3:33pm Member: Joined Mar 2014 Total posts:1103 Hi Helen, I know what you mean about the size of the wheels from my years of riding motorbikes. Passing a large lorry in the rain was my image of hell. But, the Mini replaced the 1950s bubble cars where you sat even lower. The only saving grace was they hardly went fast enough to pass a bus or a lorry ![]() ![]() |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
scrutiny coventry All posts by this member | 19 of 26 Mon 30th Apr 2018 5:37pm Member: Joined Feb 2010 Total posts:754 A little story, someone I knew used to drive one of these. Driving up towards Tile Hill he decided to pull in by the shops just past Eastcotes hitting the kerb. I think you can already guess? A bit too quick, he turned it over, landing front down. Luckily some nice people turned it back onto its wheels so he could get out. He drove off as he was to embarrassed to get out. ![]() |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Helen F Warrington All posts by this member | 20 of 26 Mon 30th Apr 2018 6:50pm Moderator: Joined Mar 2013 Total posts:2621 I believe that those bubble cars had no reverse gear? I've heard tales of people driving up to walls and being unable to get out or drive back. |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
PhilipInCoventry Holbrooks All posts by this member | 21 of 26 Mon 30th Apr 2018 9:48pm Moderator: Joined Apr 2010 Total posts:4236 Hi Helen ![]() |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Helen F Warrington All posts by this member | 22 of 26 Mon 30th Apr 2018 10:02pm Moderator: Joined Mar 2013 Total posts:2621 Hi Philip ![]() |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Earlsdon Kid Argyll & Bute, Scotland All posts by this member | 23 of 26 Fri 4th May 2018 12:45pm Member: Joined Apr 2017 Total posts:105 On 30th Apr 2018 6:50pm, Helen F said:
I believe that those bubble cars had no reverse gear? I've heard tales of people driving up to walls and being unable to get out or drive back.
My first car was a bubble car, bought for £10 with the engine and gearbox in pieces. After putting it back together and brush painting in red Dulux household gloss, it was my transport on a motorbike licence before I turned 17 and got a full car licence. It was an Isetta (BMW) which did have a reverse gear. The one in your picture I'm pretty sure is a Trojan, but you are correct that many DID NOT have reverse, which I believe was a condition for driving on a motorbike licence until the rules were changed (or clarified) sometime before 1968 when I started driving it. I recall that driving it in icy conditions was somewhat challenging but I could fill the petrol tank completely for 10 shillings and 6 pence!
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Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Greg Coventry All posts by this member | 24 of 26 Fri 4th May 2018 6:48pm Member: Joined Apr 2011 Total posts:301 I, also, had an Isetta and travelled far and wide in it. If you only had a m/cycle licence, you could take out a `spacer` near the gear stick and this blanked off reverse gear. This could be replaced when you passed your test. |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
pixrobin Canley All posts by this member | 25 of 26 Fri 4th May 2018 6:49pm Member: Joined Mar 2014 Total posts:1103 LOLOLOL - I probably paid more than that for a model of the Heinkel shown in another thread. The Trojan was a Heinkel made under licence. |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') | |
Earlsdon Kid Argyll & Bute, Scotland All posts by this member | 26 of 26 Fri 4th May 2018 9:40pm Member: Joined Apr 2017 Total posts:105 The Messerschmitt bubble car was quite unusual (see post 1) as the passenger sat behind the driver. However, back to the reverse gear subject, the Messerschmitt had a reverse which was engaged by stopping the engine and then re-starting it in reverse. This had the result of being able to use all gears in reverse which meant that very brave or foolhardy drivers could theoretically travel at the same speed in reverse as they could in normal forward travel. I don't know anyone who actually achieved this feat! |
Motoring - Bubble cars (was 'Messerschmitts over Coventry!') |