Small Wonders: Three Microcars from Days Gone By

The microcar era produced some of the most charming, unusual, and inventive vehicles ever to appear on public roads. Built for economy, simplicity, and, in many cases, necessity, these tiny machines offered a very different answer to personal transportation. Three memorable examples—the 1952 Felber TL400, the 1951 Fend Flitzer 101, and the 1965 Peel Trident—show just how creative small-car design could be.

The 1952 Felber TL400, often known as the Felber Autoroller T 400, brought Austrian character to the microcar world. Built by A. Felber & Co. of Vienna, a company better known for motorcycle sidecars, it was a three-wheeled cabrio-style microcar powered by a rear-mounted 398cc two-cylinder two-stroke engine. Its layout was unconventional, its production was limited, and its appearance had exactly the kind of endearing oddness that makes early microcars so appealing today. The Felber has been modeled in resin by Kimmeria of Ukraine.

The 1951 Fend Flitzer 101 came from a very different postwar setting. Created by Fritz Fend in Germany, the Flitzer began as a practical three-wheeled invalid carriage at a time when affordable personal mobility was badly needed. Its narrow body, lightweight construction, and simple mechanical layout reflected the realities of the era. Built by Fend-Motor GmbH in Munich, the Flitzer 101 also helped establish ideas that would later influence the more famous Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars. The Fend has been modeled in white metal by SAMS Model Cars of Hull, England.

The 1965 Peel Trident is one of the most instantly recognizable microcars of all time. Built by Peel Engineering on the Isle of Man, it followed the even smaller Peel P50 but took a more futuristic approach, with a clear bubble canopy and a tiny three-wheeled body that looked almost more like a fairground ride than a road car. Produced in very small numbers, the Trident was marketed as an ultra-compact runabout that was light, simple, and easy to park almost anywhere. Its fiberglass body, rear-mounted engine, and dome-like top gave it a personality far larger than its physical size. The Peel has also been modeled in white metal by SAMS Model Cars of Hull, England.

Together, these three cars capture the spirit of a remarkable period in automotive history. They were small, sometimes strange, and often built in tiny numbers, but each had a purpose. Whether designed for economy, mobility, or sheer ingenuity, they remain delightful reminders that big ideas have often come in very small packages.