Musicians paying tribute to the car have ranged from the East German Puhdys to the British super group U2. Recently U2 featured the car on their world-wide ”Achtung Baby” tour, prominently displaying Trabis as a source of stage lighting. The Trabi charm has gone world-wide.
The Trabant was East Germany's peoples car for East Germans as Volkswagen was in West Germany. After a production run of almost 3,000,000 the Trabant line was closed in 1991.
These days it's not enough just to have a good product -- whether it's shoes, cameras, or even cars. Now it's important to make sure that the right people are buying (or at least seen using) your product to get the kind of sales you want.
And microcars are no different.
Jay Leno owns a smart car. Does that help with sales of the cars -- well, maybe not. Jay, as any car nut knows, probably owns every car that ever existed -- so there is nothing special about him owning a smart car.
So let's think about the younger set. What are the "teen heartthrobs" driving? (At least the ones old enough to drive.)
This is the Miley Cyrus smart fortwo. But it turns out that it's just a prop. Miley's first car was her mom's Porsche Cayenne -- but she has since gone green with a Prius.
Frankie Muniz, on the other hand seems to actually drive his smart car.
OK...that wasn't it. This is his smart car.
How about rich guys? If you saw Donald Trump driving around in a smart car, wouldn't you start thinking that maybe it's a pretty good car. After all, if the Donald doesn't like something, all he has to say is, "Your're Fired."
Well...we're pretty sure that he doesn't drive one. (Pretty slick photoshop job, don't you think?)
But it turns out that Shaq does own one. How do you suppose he gets in and out? After all, the guy is seven foot one, and weighs 325 pounds.
But we all know the celebrity who really drives sales of smart cars. Yup...the pink guy himself.
When was the last time you saw a Duster get blown away by a Crosley?
Hmmm. OK...when was the last time you saw a Crosley even race a Duster?
Well...when was the last time you saw a Crosley in a race at all?
We've got to admit that the engine sticking out of the hood of this Hot Shot (or maybe it's a Super Sport) doesn't really look like a stock 4 cylinder, 750cc Crosley engine. But look at that little car go.
Reports are coming out that Piaggio will soon be releasing an electric version of their classic "Ape" three-wheeler in European markets.
Powered by lithium batteries, the electric Ape is expected to have a range of just under 50 miles, with a recharge time of about 4 hours. The electric scooters will be "Arctic White" with burgundy doors. Only 999 will be sold at a price of 19,900 Euros (almost $28,000).
Chris Booth, a technical advisor of the Morgan Three-Wheeler Club took on an interesting project in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the Morgan. Starting witht he acquisition of an appropriate engine (Peugeot) in 2002, Mr. Booth worked with a "team" of volunteers to get the replica finished in time for the centenary.
Not satisfied with a static replica, this is a fully-functioning (althought quite basic) automobile. Don't miss the video of the 1909 Morgan participating in a hillclimb.
The Speed King Auto Racer was a midget two-seat roadster built by the R. E. Chambers Company of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania for use at the 1939 New York World's Fair where a 60-by-200 foot oval racetrack (the attraction was called the "Midget Auto Racers") saw approximately twenty Speed Kings in constant use whenever the Midway was open. As expected, the Speed King cars were very heavy and sturdily-constructed to hold up under such hard usage.
One of the little beasts (and it seems that only six still exist) showed up at Micros on the Monument in Racine, Wisconsin. Owned by Mel and Rosemary Stark, the car was rescued from its 50-year rest behind a farmer's barn.
Who says there is no such thing as a "barn find" today?
We aren't really sure that this is smart -- but it is certainly clever.
A Michael Jackson fan has dreamed up a way to remember Michael Jackson while funding his Smart Fortwo. For a $10 payment (through PayPal), Eric Callisto promises that he will put your name on the side of a "Michael Jackson Tribute smart Car", and put your name on www.ultimateMJtrubute.com.
We'd like to know how many names Mr. Callisto plans on cramming on his smart car.
This blog started as a supplement to a quarterly print newsletter, MINUTIA.
Well...the Microcar & Minicar Club folded several years ago. And with it, the quarterly newsletter ceased publication. So, there's no club, and no newsletter. But that doesn't mean that the club's online presence needs to end.
I've decided to "resurrect" the blog portion, and start some postings. If you like them...great. If you don't...well, it's not like you're paying for this.
If you have ever used a "blog," this will be old news.
Comments can be posted to the various sections of MINUTIA Online by clicking on the link at the bottom that lists the number of comments that have been made.
You can email links to friends by clicking on the envelope icon.
