[jwight]

I have every album by the Bettles...

 

[1983JZR3W]

I have every album by the Bettles...

Never heard of that group...were they famous?

 

[Bill Harris]

Sure, a 1973 Super Beetle was unaffordable in 1973, but I'd still like one of the New&Improved Beetles in the 2020's.
The first actual micro car I drove was a Honda 600 in about 1971. Small dimensions. The driver and passenger rubbed shoulders and bumped elbows on the doors. Two cylinder 600cc air cooled vertical twin motor. Transmission was motorcycle-like with n-1-2-3-4, 4-3-2-1-n. rather like the Smart car's manual mode. Really, this was a motorcycle engine-transmission unit dropped into a car. The heater was from ducts around the exhaust manifold. The general ride and performance was below that of a '70 VW, and I'm thinking it would be way below a Smart car.

 

[1983JZR3W]

I had a new 1971 Honda N600 that my then wife drove. It actually cost about $100.00 less than the 1971 Honda CB750 that I bought at the same time.

 

[Stephen Mikkelsen]

Took this pic yesterday before heading out in my Corvair. The Brabus is torn apart in the garage, waiting on tools and parts.

 

[Smarty-rants]

I've had 4 or 5 Isettas over the years, plus a Messerschmitt and a few other exotics. Isetta is no comparison to the Smart,other than just as much fun to own and drive.
The Isetta and Smart in the picture belong to Marilyn Stine, a good friend from Isetta days.
Bill

View attachment 72793

Your pic of the Isetta and Smart together gave me an idea. How outrageous of a spectacle would it be to have an Isetta or Peel P50 being towed on a small trailer behind a 450 or 451 Smart? I haven't seen it yet and I'm already hysterical! 🤣 (Escape vehicle in the event of a breakdown or your Smart ED/EQ running out of juice!) ⚡😳?

 

[DudeInTheSmart]

My '74 beetle was the worst car I ever owned. Heat only worked in the summer. Could maintain 55 mph for about 30 minutes in the summer before overheating. Tracked crazy-bad on gravel roads. I sure loved that car at the time.

 

[Smarty-rants]

My '74 beetle was the worst car I ever owned. Heat only worked in the summer. Could maintain 55 mph for about 30 minutes in the summer before overheating. Tracked crazy-bad on gravel roads. I sure loved that car at the time.

You loved it because it got nearly 40 mpg and it sure beat walking! I worked on mine more than I drove them. ALWAYS something. Even when there was nothing broken there was something to upgrade or tinker with. Bad on gravel, good in snow, unless of course you WANTED to do donuts on the interstate! 😳

 

[Miss Mercedes]

Your pic of the Isetta and Smart together gave me an idea. How outrageous of a spectacle would it be to have an Isetta or Peel P50 being towed on a small trailer behind a 450 or 451 Smart? I haven't seen it yet and I'm already hysterical! 🤣 (Escape vehicle in the event of a breakdown or your Smart ED/EQ running out of juice!) ⚡😳?

That's actually very possible! The smallest Isettas were around 778 pounds. I used to haul motorcycles that weighed about that using my 451. Total weight (U-Haul motorcycle trailer + motorcycle) was often around 1,500 pounds. Acceleration was glacial and 5th gear was too tall, but you know what? The darn car would hold 75 mph through multiple states. The brakes worked fine, too. Just think like a trucker and don't tailgate people.

 

[Smarty-rants]

That's actually very possible! The smallest Isettas were around 778 pounds. I used to haul motorcycles that weighed about that using my 451. Total weight (U-Haul motorcycle trailer + motorcycle) was often around 1,500 pounds. Acceleration was glacial and 5th gear was too tall, but you know what? The darn car would hold 75 mph through multiple states. The brakes worked fine, too. Just think like a trucker and don't tailgate people.

I have No choice! Since I own two Freightliners I AWAYS think that way. I will say this; I can't think of too many things that would be more outrageous than seeing THAT mini-train going down the road! Of course you'd have to have a fancy dancy trailer with matching Brabus wheels! A replica Peel P50 kit car is about 15 Grand. How much do Isetta's sell for?

 

[Smarty-rants]

I have No choice! Since I own two Freightliners I AWAYS think that way. I will say this; I can't think of too many things that would be more outrageous than seeing THAT mini-train going down the road! Of course you'd have to have a fancy dancy trailer with matching Brabus wheels! A replica Peel P50 kit car is about 15 Grand. How much do Isetta's sell for?

OOOOOOO!!! THOSE are pricy! But do-able! I may as well buy a '56 Cabriolet! And it's a BEAMER? 🤪

 

[Bill Harris]

I've had 4 or 5 Isettas over the years, plus a Messerschmitt and a few other exotics. Isetta is no comparison to the Smart,other than just as much fun to own and drive.
The Isetta and Smart in the picture belong to Marilyn Stine, a good friend from Isetta days.
Bill

View attachment 72793

Darn, Bill, that Isetta is smaller than I recalled it. The one time I drove one I was 15, and a year before getting a Beetle. But then, from another photo here, the Beetle looks about 3/4 the size of an all-windshield Smart car.
I likes quirky cars!

--Bill

 

[bill.mcbride]

Darn, Bill, that Isetta is smaller than I recalled it. The one time I drove one I was 15, and a year before getting a Beetle. But then, from another photo here, the Beetle looks about 3/4 the size of an all-windshield Smart car.
I likes quirky cars!

--Bill

I had one when I was stationed in Quantico in 1966. Battery was under the bench seat. The first time I took my wife-to-be for a ride in it, was also the first time i had ever had a passenger beside me. I had neglected to put a cover over the battery, and when the two of us were in it, the seat (with metal springs and horsehair stuffing) compressed more than it had with just me in it, contacted the battery...sparks, smoke, welding! Never could get rid of the smell of that scorched stuffing. I'm surprised she still married me.
bill

I also had a Honda 600 Z in Hawaii. It could barely make it up the Pali if I had a pax.

 

[Smarty-rants]

Took this pic yesterday before heading out in my Corvair. The Brabus is torn apart in the garage, waiting on tools and parts.

View attachment 72817

GREAT pic!

Took this pic yesterday before heading out in my Corvair. The Brabus is torn apart in the garage, waiting on tools and parts.

View attachment 72817

GREAT pic!