Mini Cooper Based Micro Cars?

I think the Mini Cooper is cool. I remember reading how they shared platforms back when they first made them; in Great Britain. They had different branches with similar cars but with different names. I remember reading on American companies doing that too. I believe there are some companies that still do; in some ways that makes sense (shared cost of development among divisions).

This is a line drawing of the Mini Cooper. It is the newer one. It is bigger than the original. They needed to add safety devices and emission controls. If they could that for a Mini, why not other micro cars of the past? 

Perhaps one company that could use the platform of the Cooper but have a different body is the King Midget. It would have to be bigger and heavier but that is what they did when they created the newer Cooper and 500. The original KM was a rear engine rear wheel drive car. The new one would be like the Cooper and be front wheel drive. Perhaps it would have a 'roadster' appearance since it would have a trunk but no back seat (perhaps give others an idea of how the Cooper would look like a two door sedan? - that is for another blog). 

This design was created but never made; as far as I know (it would be neat to find out that they did but there is so little on it on the internet). This is a scanned image from a magazine that I had that contained an article on the King Midget. 

I think this is the model 3. It is the most recent of the models. They had others but I think this one is the best. 

Midget Motors was supposed to create one but I have not heard or read anything that is recent or that if it is still being considered. I have not read - or perhaps I missed it? - at the International King Midget Owners Club. 

I think another vehicle that could be brought back and built on the Cooper platform would be the Goggomobil. I think it would make a great basis for some of their models.

 Here is the coupe.

Here is the 250.

Like the 500 by Fiat, it would go from rear wheel drive to front wheel drive. I think this would give both more trunk space. 

While I posted this being used on the MX5 platform, I think it could also be used on the Cooper platform. It would be interesting to see the size comparison of the Dart next to the Cooper. The Dart would be bigger - wider and longer - but I think that would make it more appealing; in my opinion. 

I think there are other ideas for creating a newer version of an older micro car. There is a list at Micro Cars site. Perhaps ideas for future blogs? 

Perhaps this could be someones art project. Take a new micro car and adapt an older micro car design to fit over it. Like I said before, it would be bigger - longer and wider - than the original since it would hold safety equipment and emission controls; both could be taken when the platform of the Cooper is used (or other modern micro car - mentioned in other blogs).

Big Goofy Guy

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Fiat 500 Based Micro Cars?

Like the post I had on old cars brought back and built on the Mazda MX5 Miata platform, I think there are older micro cars that could be brought back, updated (like the older Fiat 500 that was updated with the newer Fiat 500 and the older Mini Cooper updated with the newer Mini Cooper). Since the updated Mini Cooper and Fiat 500 are bigger and safer than the original, any older micro car would also be bigger and safer. It would be like platform sharing that some cars (past and present have done or are doing). 

One can take a Fiat 500 line drawing and adapt the older micro car design to it. It could share the same platform but just add a body to it. I have read of past companies that made the platform and a separate company that made the body; called a 'coach works' if I recall correctly (it made for some interesting designs and some unique ones). 

I think one older micro car that could be brought back and made new would be the Goggomobil. There are a couple that might fit on the Fiat 500 platform even if it is updated (like the newer 500 compared to the older 500). 

I think another older micro car that would be cool to be brought back is the Vespa 400. It is a neat design. It seems the vehicle in Despicable Me 2 could be based on it? It looks like the car that the A.V..L. (Anti Villain League) agent drove. 

It would be cool if the Vespa company saw this and made this (even if it is just a one off as an anniversary vehicle).

I was thinking the King Midget Mark 3 (or the newer design that never got made) would be great on the 500 platform (or perhaps on the Cooper platform - another blog).

This is the scanned image from a magazine that had an article on King Midget. I guess it could be sold as the model 4. 

Here is the King Midget model 3.

Another possible car would be the Subaru 360. It is a small car made by Subaru many years ago. It could be their re-entry into the modern micro car market (neat to think out loud). Of course the styling would be a little different but it would be styled after or inspired by the older micro car. 

Here is the Subaru 360. 

There are others at Micro Cars site that could be updated and built on this platform. I guess it would only depend on ones imagination and having a lot of money (I doubt it would be cheap but it could make for a really cool hobby). 

This is just me thinking out loud. I like to think 'what if?'. I have lots of ideas like this that never came about but it is a joy to me to think of them. There are some that I think would be cool if someone actually worked on my idea. It would be really cool if one or some came to fruition, even if it meant not getting any credit. As Ronald Reagan once said (I hope I am getting this correct), 'it is amazing what you can get done if you don't care who gets the credit'. 

Big Goofy Guy

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New Versions of Older Cars Built Using the Mazda MX5 Miata as the base?

I have read of platform sharing at different car companies. One example is the Chevrolet Chevette. It shared - IIRC - the platform with the Pontiac T1000. I read of British car companies doing the same thing. I read that the new Fiat Spider is a Mazda MX5 Miata with a different body.

I read of cars in the past where one company would make the platform and another would make the body; a coach works. I read that it made for some unique cars.

If they did that now and in the past. why not now? Perhaps one could bring back cars that are no longer around and a particular model is no longer around and create a body for it that is adapted to fit on the Miata platform?

I think it would be cool to make an updated version of the Goggomobil Dart. it would be bigger, as updated versions of older tend to be (to fit in emission controls and safety devices). It could be the first one with doors, the original did not have doors.

This is the older one. I think having a newer one based on the Miata would make it bigger and safer and greener; IMO. 

Perhaps one could create a newer King Midget MK 3? It could be a newer version of the one that was in a magazine article but never got made? 

Here is an article I scanned of the 'newer' KM that did not get very far. It is what could be used as an inspiration for a MK 4?  

There was supposed to be a newer KM by Midget Motors but nothing seem to have come from it. If they were a bigger company, they could use my idea? Using an updated version of the above on a MX5 platform? (just thinking out loud about what could be). There doesn't seem to be any information on their site (unless I somehow over looked it).

The International King Midget Car Club has a new model 'coming soon' but I am not sure how long that has been there and whether or not they are still planning on making a 'new' one.  It would be interesting to see what they might come up with, assuming the project hasn't been abandoned. Perhaps it could be a kit car or plans for one. 

It would be interesting what a Peel Trident would look like after it was adapted to fit onto the MX5 platform? Would it have traditional doors or would one have access via the traditional clam door that original one has. It would be longer and bigger and - assuming - safer. It would have four wheels instead of the original having only three wheels, making it more stable.

I wonder if one could make a newer Peel Viking Sport car using the MX5 platform? It was the biggest that Peel made. I think it would definitely turn some heads when people saw it. Even the original - IIRC - is rare. It would make for a neat updated vehicle; IMO (just thinking out loud). It will probably just have two seats unlike the original (perhaps adapted for four seats?) 

One could think of other micro cars that one could update and expand the body from the ones listed at the Micro Cars site. I think it has a lot of potential. 

Perhaps the MX 5 isn't the only platform one could use to adapt a body on? Perhaps there are cars out there that could be updated and expanded to fit onto a Fiat 500 platform? (that would be different blog - for the future). It would be interesting to see Fiat update some of their older models; based on their newer 500. That is another future blog too. 

I like thinking of these 'what if's'. It keeps my mind busy about what could be. It helps keep the mind active. This is good as one gets older. 

Big Goofy Guy

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Suzuki LC Concept?

I was looking for modern micro cars and found this. I think it looks really cool. It would be neat if it went beyond being just a concept but they actually make it and sell it. It would be cool if they sold it in the USA after putting it in production. 

The article and photos are from Paultan Org. 

I like this design. I wish there was a size comparison of it with a Smart Fortwo. Perhaps if they had a person near it to show relative size? I think they did a good job on the design. 

One can see the door and inside. I think it looks really nice. I think it would look better with the left hand drive; so it could be brought to the USA. 

Since it is for Japan, it is right hand drive. The inside seems roomy but it is not easy to show size since there is nothing to compare it to; size wise. 

The article indicates the LC concept is an updated version of their Suzulite design from the 1960's. 

I wonder how many cool compact concept cars never get made. Perhaps they were too expensive to make, or the design does not transfer well to a production vehicle, or they don't think there is a real market for it, or it does not meet USA safety standards? 

Big Goofy Guy

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