Two Tiny Treasures from Down Under

My two newest 1:43 additions are a real treat: the BSA Ladybird Mk2 and the Lightburn Zeta Ute, both made by SMTS for Microcar Models Australia. I had already dipped a toe into the MMA lineup when I picked up their beautifully done 1942 L’Oeuf Electrique, and that one left a strong impression. This time, after seeing Karl mention a rare electric van prototype on BMOutlet, I went looking and ended up being completely sidetracked by these two instead. I am very glad I was! They are charming, unusual, and full of character. Microcar Models Australia has been producing limited-edition, thoroughly researched 1:43 white metal microcar models since 2018, with a clear focus on quality and subjects that collectors do not often see represented.

The 1960 BSA Ladybird is one of those vehicles that feels almost too quirky to be real, which of course makes it irresistible in model form. The original 1960 prototype was an experimental three-wheeler created under BSA managing director Edward Turner, reportedly moving from sketch to finished prototype in only nine weeks. It used BSA scooter mechanicals, had a tiny 249cc engine, handlebar steering, and a lightweight hand-formed steel body. Only two prototypes were built, and the project was eventually abandoned as the microcar boom faded in the early 1960s.

The 1963 Lightburn Zeta Ute comes from a very different but equally fascinating story. Built by Lightburn Industries in South Australia during the brief Zeta experiment of the early 1960s, the utility version combined a steel base with a fiberglass body and used a 324cc Villiers two-stroke engine. It was intended as a compact, practical little workhorse, but production was tiny—just eight utility versions were made—and total Zeta production was only 363 cars before the project came to an end. That rarity alone would make it memorable, but the styling gives it even more appeal, especially in miniature.

What makes these two models especially satisfying is that they are not just well made, they represent corners of microcar history that are easy to overlook. One is a late-era British prototype that never got its chance, and the other is a wonderfully odd Australian utility spun from a short-lived dream of homegrown small-car production. Together they make a perfect pair that are obscure, inventive, and just plain fun. Best of all, they somehow made it from the UK to the US faster than some domestic packages manage, which only adds to the glow of bringing them into the collection.