A.M.P. 3-wheeler
In 1957, in Pamplona, Antonio Muñoz Perera (A.M.P.), built a unique prototype of a touring tricycle...
Small Cars of the 1950s: A–Z List
After the war, shortages and expensive fuel made tiny cars popular, especially in Europe, and the 1950s became the golden age of bubble cars and microcars. This page lists models from the 1950s in the Small Cars Club catalog.
Models appear here when the catalog gives a production or presentation year (or a decade tag). Models without a known year are not listed, so use the catalog A–Z for the full list.
Other decades: Before 1950, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s.
65BRANDS
97MODELS
A
AC Acedes (Model 57)
In 1957 AC introduced its Model 57 (or Acedes) 3-wheeler for invalids. These microcars were sold by the...
AC Petite MkI / MkII
AC are best known for their sports cars especially the powerful Cobra, but they also have at various times...
AGB Lusito
António Gonçalves Baptista (AGB) was born in Tondela, Portugal. In 1950s, he started development of a...
AGB Prototype 1952
In 1952, António Gonçalves Baptista (AGB) from Tondela, Portugal, made the first prototype of a small car....
AISA
AISA microcar was made by Actividades Industriales, SA, located at Cervera Lleida, Spain. The company was...
AISA wooden prototype
At the beginning of the 50s, Martí Martí, in addition to running his carpentry shop, decided to produce...
Alba Regia
In 1955, the Hungarian Ministry of Metallurgy and Machine Industry commissioned three engineers: Ernő Rubik,...
Alco
The German company Kleinschnittger made the F250 microcar with an open body between 1950 and 1957. A...
Aleu Bambi
In 1954, the motorcycle brand “Manufacturas Aleu, s.l.” presented a 3-wheel microcar called...
Allander Roadster 7hp
The Allander Roadster is a one-off car that was built by Claes Allander of Alingsås, Sweden in 1950. The...
Allard Clipper
Allard were another manufacturer renowned for their powerful sports cars, however, they also had a little...
André Siames Electric Car
This electric microcar was made by electrician André Siames from Boulogne-sur-Seine near Paris in his back...
Antilope Bromauto
Antilope Bromauto was made by N.G. Boos from Hilversum, Holland in 1952. In Dutch ‘Antilope’ of...
Ardex 50 cc
Ardex is a small French company which started producing cyclecars in 1934. The production was ended in 1943...
Ardex Type T / Type E
In 1953, Ardex showed a new Type T model. The 2-3 seater cyclecar with a simple open top body was equipped...
Arzens Le Carrossee
The famous French designer of railway locomotives Paul Arzens (1903-1990) in addition to his main work, was...
Austin Mini
Conceived as an alternative to the “bubble cars” popular at the time of the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Mini...
Auto Sandal FN
During 1953, an FN model was launched. The second model of Auto Sandal brand (オートサンダル) was...
Auto Sandal FN-L
In 1954, a full model change was planned, and a model with a front engine and front wheel drive was planned,...
Auto-Tri 3-wheeler
Construcciones Gaitán was founded in 1936 by Francisco Gaitán Sánchez and was located at 10 Carlos Cañal...
Auto-Tri Huevo
The company Construcciones Gaitan, SL founded in 1936 by Francisco Gaitan Sanchez, was located in Seville,...
Auto-Tri with aluminum body
Construcciones Gaitan, SL was founded in 1936 by Francisco Gaitan Sanchez in Seville. It began as a bicycle...
Autocycle by August Paul
This autocycle began as a motorcycle that gradually evolved. Back in the day, cyclist August Paul found it...
Avia 350
The Avia 350 is an uncommercialized prototype microcar, developed in Czechoslovakia in the mid-1950s. The...
Avolette 125 / 150 Lambretta engine
At the end of 1957, a redesign of the “Avolette” with new shapes and better mechanics, equipped...
B
B&B Broganette
“The answer to the demand for a tiny, inexpensive car” was how Frank Brogan described the $500...
Badia-Ballarin
Despite the little information that exists about this curious microcar, and the fact that in the few...
Balaton
After Schadek János had lost interest in his “child”, the Úttörő, the prototype was sent to...
Bambi
The Bambi Automotive Factory SAIC and F in the city of Buenos Aires manufactured the Bambi, under license...
Bambino 200
The Bambino 200 is a microcar that was built in the Netherlands between 1955 and 1957. Manufactured by...
Bambino Sport
Bambino Sport was a concept car based on the Bambino 200 microcar. The small roadster was designed by Franco...
Barrett Model 58 Minor
Bristol-based W&F Barrett Ltd started making invalid tricycles in around 1948 with tiller-steered...
Bassons’s Star
Basson’s Industries of the Bronx, New York was behind this car, which was styled by Gil d’Andrea....
Belcar
This was a licence-built version of the Brutsch 200 Spatz. It swapped the original 191cc Sachs engine for a...
Benteng
Benteng electric convertible was made in China in 1958. It is likely that the only copy was made. The design...
Berkeley B95 / B105
Berkeley B95 and B105 models were presented at the 1959 Geneva Motor Show. The main features is a new...
Berkeley Foursome
Berkeley Foursome presented in October 1958 was wider and longer version of Berkeley Twosome. The rear...
Berkeley QB95 / QB105
In October 1959, Berkeley introduced QB95 and QB105 models. They share engines with B95 and B105 models, but...
Berkeley Sports / Twosome
The Berkeley was another Lawrie Bond design (see Bond). This time a compact sportscar with a GRP body, and...
Biscuter 200-F (Pegasin)
Introduced in 1957, the Biscuter 200-F (or Pegasin) was the last of the saga. The new car model was...
BMW 600
BMW 600 microcar was another tiny model of the company based on the 2-seater Isetta 300. BMW’s financial...
BMW 700
The story of the BMW 700 is, uncharacteristically for BMW, one of corporate dissent, division, and intrigue....
BMW Isetta 250 / 300 ‘Bubble Window’
Conscious that its mainstay motorcycle sales were slowing as rising German prosperity in the 1950s encouraged...
BMW Truck
Boulevard Machine Works was a small California company founded by Leslie Perhacs, a Hungarian immigrant who...
Bond Minicar Mark B
Popularity of Bond Minicars was growing up. The deman for a slightly more practical version led to the...
Bond Minicar Mark C
October 1952, Bond introduced the 3rd generation of its 3-wheeler – Bond Minicar Mk C. It can be easily...
Bond Minicar Mark D
In May 1956, Bond discontinued Mk C and presented Bond Minicar Mark D. The changes between Mk C and the Mk D,...
Bond Minicar Mark E
Announced on 31 October 1956 as a late addition to the 1957 range, the Bond Minicar Mark E received a...
Bond Minicar Mark F
Bond Minicar Mark F was presented at the November 1958 London Motorcycle show. The body of Mark F was...
Bouffort Transville
Victor Bouffort developed automobiles as early as 1945, starting with a fairly well-known aerodynamically...
Brütsch V2
The Brütsch V2 roadster was created in the mid 50s by the German company Egon Brütsch Fahrzeugbau from...
C
Chasqui
Chasqui was a little known microcar from Argentina, which was made sometime from 1955 to 1960. The unusual...
Chongqing Municipality Public Transport Company Type 58
The Type 58, manufactured in 1958 by the Chongqing Municipality Public Transport Company, was a three-wheel...
Citroën Bijou
A 4-seater coupe Citroen Bijou was created in the late 50s by British designer Peter Kirwan-Taylor (he...
D
Dornier Delta
In the 1950s, the German aircraft designer and founder of the aircraft manufacturer Dornier GmbH decided to...
F
Feiyue
The Feiyue was produced by the Shanghai Mini-Auto Works from August 1958. Feiyue, which means “flying...
Fiat 500 Nuova
Despite Fiat’s 1936 500 “Topolino” being a well-liked little car in its day, the Nuova 500 of 1957 is...
Fiat 500 Spiaggina
The Fiat 500 is an icon. Both the original from the 60s and the revival from 2007 managed to win the soul...
Frisky Family Three
Frisky Cars, formerly known as Meadows Frisky, had a fascinating journey that took them from Egypt to England...
Fuji Cabin Model 5A
Fuji Cabin was presented at the Tokyo Exhibition in 1955. The car was a tricycle with a closed body made of...
G
Gitta
In 1958, István Karika, a small craftsman from Budapest, made a three-wheeled miniature car. It was named...
H
Haiyan 250
This is the three-seat open-top Haiyan 250, powered by a 250cc 2-stroke 1-cylinder Changjiang motorcycle...
Haiyan 730
In August 1958, Shanghai Bus Repair Works produced the Haiyan 730, a closed mini-coupe with two doors and two...
Haiyan 730 Second Model
This is an updated version of the Haiyan CK730, now equipped with doors. It was first introduced in February...
Haiyan CK730
Introduced at the National Exhibition of Industry and Communication in Beijing in 1959, this open-top...
Hoffmann Auto-Kabine
Auto-Kabine was created by the German company Hoffmann-Werke Lintorf. The company was engaged in the...
Honghai’er
The Honghai’er was manufactured in 1958 by the Chongqing Municipality Public Transport Company. It was...
Hongqi
This car was manufactured by the Shenzhonghua Auto Accessories Works located in Shanghai, China. It was named...
Huke 580
The one-eyed, four-seater Huke 580 was manufactured in October 1958 by the Shanghai Bus Repair &...
I
Imre Vogl home built car
After WWII the Soviets prohibited the East-European countries to produce passenger cars. In 1953 Hungary...
IMZ-NAMI-A50 ‘Belka’
By the mid-1950s, the automotive industry in the USSR was booming. The factories started production of...
J
Jet 175 Prototype
Air Tourist and the Avolette brand give way to Union Industrielle and the Jet and France-Jet brands. Air...
Jet V2N
In 1959, Union Industrielle (formerly named Air Tourist) made a turn and announced the new Brutsch design,...
Joagar Station Wagon
In the 1950s, Joaquim Garcia—a musician, carpenter, and mechanic from Jaboticabal, Brazil—built a series...
Jurka 2nd prototype
The Jurka 2nd prototype was the fifth and last car built by Spain-based company AISA, which changed the name...
K
King Midget Model III
The King Midget was produced for a remarkably long 20 years, yet you have probably never heard of it. It was...
L
Lőrinc Petrovics Children’s Car
At the Budapest Industrial Fair in 1958, many children envied watching the small car in the pictures, which...
M
Mitsubishi 500
In 1955, the Japanese government decided to create its own car. Several companies responded to the government...
Moskvich-444
The name “Moskvich-444” probably will not say anything to you. But when you look at the photos there will...
N
Nakano Yoshimishiro prototype
In 1947, Nakano Yoshimishiro founded the “Nakano Automobile Kogyo Company Limited” in the...
New Map Solyto TC-7
Solyto TC-7 small truck was very popular in France in the middle of the last century. Due to its...
P
Porsche Type 534
In the early 1950s, the German automobile concern Volkswagenwerk GmbH decided to expand the range of the...
Powerdrive
In the arcane world of British microcars, David Gottlieb is a near-mythical figure. The designer of three of...
S
SAP Tomos Mopi
At the end of the 1950s, a Yugoslav motorcycle factory produced small vehicles with plastic bodywork and...
Skorpion & Super Skorpion
The Skorpion was a small American sports car with a fibreglass body, developed in California after the Second...
Suminoe Flying Feather FF-2
Yutaka Katayama worked for Nissan, but in 1954 decided to establish his own brand Suminoe to compete with the...
T
Tianjin-made jeep
In 1956, a very small jeep was made in Tianjin, China. It does not seem to have a name. The Tianjin-made jeep...
Trivia Rana 500
The old Spanish company Triver was known for producing large, heavy items such as safes and hydraulic jacks....
U
Úttörő
In 1953, the Ministry of Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering planned to manufacture a vehicle with a...
V
Velorex 435 Cabriolet
A prototype of Velorex 435 Cabiolet was presented at the Engineering Fair in Brno in 1959. Only few pieces of...
Vespa 400
Everyone knows the Italian scooters manufactured by Piaggio under the legendary Vespa brand. But they were...
Volkswagen EA48
Volkswagen EA48 — a deeply unusual car for VW, and arguably the company’s second-ever truly clean-sheet...
W
Weijman Auto
Weijman Auto was a three-wheel automobile created by Jo Weijman in Holland during the 1950s. It was a small,...
Weixing microcars
In the 1950s, the Chinese government encouraged the development of minicars, which were used primarily as...
WFM P80
The WFM P80 was constructed by J.Przylski of Bytom, Poland. The prototype was made by Zakłady Wytwórcze...
WSK Meduza
Simultaneously with the creation of the Mikrus MR 300 microcar in 1957, an alternative body was developed for...