Daihatsu Midget III
The 1995 Daihatsu Midget III looks like a deliberate nod to 1950s bubble cars such as the Messerschmitt, packing retro charm into a modern microcity package.
Its egg-shaped body carries two passengers in tandem around a central steering wheel, while large round headlamps sit on classic mudguards—styling cues that make the car feel both nostalgic and intentionally playful.
Under the skin the Midget III uses a 660 cm³ three-cylinder engine (the same displacement class used in contemporary kei cars) paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, all packaged into a very short overall length of 2,785 millimetres.
That compact footprint, combined with the tiny powertrain, keeps the car lightweight and city-friendly while delivering the basic performance and ease of use expected from a micro urban vehicle.
The layout—central driving position, two-seat tandem arrangement and minimalist body—emphasizes simplicity and economy rather than comfort or luxury.
Visually striking yet mechanically straightforward, the Midget III presents itself as a cheerful, practical little city car that deliberately revives the microcar spirit for modern urban mobility.
