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With the car industry trying to sell us the fastest, greenest, or most efficient cars it’s easy to forget that sometimes the best things come in the smallest packages. Practical when it comes to city parking and extremely unique, we’re taking a look at classic cars that are small in size, but big in impact!

Don’t forget many of these motoring icons are of great interest to collectors looking for a showpiece or a wise investment.

Just be sure to have the best insurance for your classic in place to protect them from damage. They may be small but they’re not invulnerable!

These tiny but desirable classic cars are only going up in value and make perfect daily run arounds. So, which one of these diminutive automobiles would you love to have in your garage?

 

Isetta

The original Italian-designed ‘bubble car’, the Isetta is an egg-shaped microcar with bubble-like windows.

First built in 1953 by the Italian company Iso, it caused a sensation when it was first introduced. Several versions were built under licence in a number of different countries including Argentina, Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany and the UK.

The BMW version from 1955 was the top-selling single-cylinder car in the world at the time, with over 160,000 sold.

With a shortage of materials following World War ΙΙ it’s no wonder this compact car was so popular. Entry to the car was via the single door in the front. While in the event of an accident exit would be through the canvas sunroof!

Those looking for a restoration project could fall in love with the Isetta as its technology is not too complicated, it’s easily accessible and it doesn’t need much room to work on.

Brütsch Mopetta

Another egg-shaped marvel but with a far lower production run. In 1956, German car designer Egon Brütsch needed a small car to show off at the International Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition.

The single-seat three-wheel Mopetta was the result.

Weighing only 78kg and with a top speed of 22mph, just 14 Mopettas were built, and today only five are known to have survived. So, if you’ve managed to find one then you have a truly rare gem of motor design history.

 

Fiat 500

Considered one of the first purpose-designed city cars, the Fiat 500 is an instantly recognisable modern design classic.

Manufactured between 1957 and 1975, the four-seat, rear-engined Fiat 500 measured just 2.97m long, and was originally powered by a 479cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine.

Being small certainly didn’t hold this classic back, with sales soaring all over Europe. Indeed, the diminutive Italian car had a rugged side and was reputed to be the smallest car to complete a world circumnavigation.

Messerschmitt KR200

Designed by aircraft engineer Fritz Fend, this three-wheeled bubble car was produced in the factory of German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt from 1955 to 1964.

Which probably explains why this little motor looks more like a cockpit on an old fighter plane than a car.

Unfortunately, Messerschmitt soon lost interest in car production and with the German economy booming the public also lost interest in basic economical cars.

 

The Classic Mini

No, we don’t mean the rather larger models that BMW now produces. We mean the real Mini, the distinctive two-door classic that Sir Alec Issigonis designed for British Motor Corporation right before the 1960s got swinging.

Launched in 1959 it swiftly became a cultural icon beloved by the British public, celebrities and the rest of the world.

Its revolutionary space-saving transverse engine and front-wheel drive layout meant that 80% of the car’s floor plan could be given over to passengers and their luggage.

In 1999, the Mini was voted the second-most influential car of the 20th century, behind the Ford Model T, beating the Citroën DS and VW Beetle.

The little car with its rubber suspension turned out to be the ideal car for races and rallies and over the years it’s had notable success in motorsport.

So, if you fancy a spot of racing then look no further. Just remember to check your classic car insurance before hitting the track!

Goggomobil

This series of microcars were produced by former German automobile company Glas between 1955 and 1969.

The insanely cute Goggomobil was available in three models: a sedan, a coupe and a transporter van.

These distinctive German beauties weren’t the fastest and came with an air-cooled, two-stroke, two-cylinder engine initially of 250cc. But later available in sizes of 300cc and 400cc.

 

Autobianchi Bianchina

The Autobianchi Bianchina was a minicar produced between 1957 to 1970 as a result of a collaboration between Bianchi motorcycles, Pirelli Tyres and Fiat.

Based on the already popular Fiat 500, the result was a stylish small car but with a more sophisticated design which cost just a little more than the Fiat.

It eventually came in five body styles: Berlina, Cabriolet, Transformabile, Panoramica and Furgoncino.

 

Peel P50

Originally made from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, the Peel P50 is narrower than a phone box and shorter than a Vespa!

So, it's little surprise that it’s held the Guinness Book of World Records' title of smallest production car ever made for over 50 years!

Still fully street legal in the UK the P50 has only one door and one headlight but is a great collector’s item with character.

While it has no reverse gear, the car is so lightweight that you can simply grab a handle mounted at the rear and turn the car around yourself.

Before you start checking the auction catalogues, only 26 of the original 47 P50s are known to exist, so you’ll definitely need deep pockets!

 

Choosing classic car insurance

If you’ve managed to secure one of these cute classics at auction then congratulations! Now it’s time to get it insured.

For over 35 years the dedicated team at Lancaster Classic Car have worked with carefully selected underwriters to offer classic car enthusiasts the best in both comprehensive and bespoke insurance.

Call our team today to get a classic small car insurance quote.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.