It's one shell of a car

0 gallons per mile (unless it's a beverage) was the goal of the oxygen team. It's a one or two people powered vehicle made from an old subcompact. I'm not exactly sure of why the car body is used, but you can read more about it at http://www.o2fc.com/about.html

Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion Car in Exhibit at the Whitney Museum - NYC

Buckminster Fuller's innovative three-wheel car, the Dymaxion, is part of a Buckminster Fuller exhibit at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

The Dymaxion was a concept car built in 1933 (actually, three prototypes were built) as part of a broader goal of Fuller's to improve overall living conditions. The car seated eleven people, got 30 miles to the gallon, and was able to cruise at speeds up to 120 mph. And the car was a huge departure from typical cars of the 1930's. The car steered with its single rear wheel, and could do a U-turn in its own length.

Unfortunately, the prototype crashed at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, killing the driver and injuring two passengers. The incident caused investors to abandon the project -- leaving it as an interesting footnote in automotive history.

At 20 feet long, and powered by a ford V8, the Dymaxion is hardly a minicar -- but we have a soft spot for any three-wheelers -- particularly one as unusual as this one.

Velorex: Microcar or Cultural Icon?

This certainly shows that the 250cc single-cylinder Jawa two-stroke in this Velorex Oskar has got some get-up-and-go to it.



The Velorex looks like a cross between an airplane and a motorcycle. It has a tubular frame with fabric skin stretched over it (like an airplane), with the rear wheel of a motorcycle sticking out the back. The Velorex, profiled in MINUTIA Issue 15 Number 3, was produced from 1951 to 1971 in what was then Czechoslovakia.

And...based on this music video, it must have been produced in sufficient quantities that it became a sort of a "cultural icon." I don't know if "waszlavik" is a popular group -- I'm not a fan of the music, but I like their choice of cars.

Many Minis (Mini Car Pictures)

In our club a minicar is something a little larger than a microcar. But most think of the word and the Mini comes to mind. In this picture we have a modified Mini. To see what's under that flip-up hood and a lot of other Minis - Click this link for many Minis
http://www.mainlyminismontreal.com/photos.cfm

Renault on the roof

Previously we've featured a car on a pole. If you don't have a pole handy and no room in your garage or driveway, just pop your excess collection up on the roof. This old Renault sits on top of an abandoned service station on the corner of Memory Lane and Condos Coming Soon Road.

Post-War Austin 7 Club - Winter Trial 2007

And here they are today.

The Pre-War Austin 7 Club (and several other UK-based clubs) continue to run their vintage minicars up some pretty incredible hills. Despite the age of these cars (some are on the high side of 70 years old), these Austins continue to perform. In the words of John Cameron Swayze, "They take a licking, and keep on ticking."

Hagley & District Light Car Club Winter Trial 1948

The English have an interesting way of treating their sports cars. While enthusiasts in the States tend to exhibit their cars in "Park & Shine" events -- held only in the best of weather, the Brits seem to enjoy flogging their little cars -- in the mud.

Trials -- a uniquely English sport -- take place when the weather is "iffy," and on hills that would scare the faint-of-heart. Initiated as reliability trials, these events morphed into muddy hillclimbs, where the object is to make it to the top (through gates) without stopping.

And before you assume that these only took place in the past, keep a look-out for more videos on this site -- and for articles in MINUTIA.

Oh...and the significance to Microcars & Minicars is that the Austin Seven is one of the most popular cars for these events. Light weight, with a high-revving engine, they work well in the mud.