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Renault introduced its frugal 5 model to the European market in 1972. It was one of the first “superminis”; larger than a Mini, but smaller than a VW Beetle or Ford Escort, and usually a hatchback with two doors and front wheel drive. The 5 is considered one of the more influential designs of the […]

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Victor Bouffort was a brilliant French engineer whose designs included the Lohr Fardier, a small utility four-wheel drive vehicle used by the French military, and the Valmobile folding scooter. By the late 1960s, Bouffort had become increasingly aware of traffic congestion in cities such as Paris, and decided to do something about it. Bouffort and

The Austin-Healey Sprite was the entry level British sports car in the 1960s. The Mark IV represents the final development of the Sprite line. This model was a true convertible, meaning that it had roll-up windows and a permanently attached folding top. It was still the same handsome car as its predecessor, but now with

Known affectionately as the “Bugeye” in the US and “Frog-Eye” in the UK, the Mark I Austin-Healey Sprite was an entry level British sports car introduced in 1958. Designers Donald Healey and Leonard Lord saw a chance to fill a gap in the market below the larger and more expensive MGA. Instead of a traditional

Marian Kotlicki, an airplane mechanic and an aviation enthusiast who lived in Poland, owned five cars in his lifetime. He built each one himself. His creations ranged from a three-wheeler that used an airplane canopy and a single cylinder Ilo engine from a German Tempo-Wagen, to a proper four-wheeled car based on the frame of

Fabryka Samochodów Małolitrażowych, or FSM (translated as Small Displacement Car Factory), was established in Poland in 1971 as a joint venture between Fiat and Polish automobile parts manufacturer FSO. The new factory opened in Tychy, Poland, to build the 126p, the then-new Polish version of Fiat’s venerable 126. In 1987, FSM introduced the BIS variant

During Japan’s “Bubble Economy” (1986-1991), the nation’s car manufacturers enjoyed a bit of freedom in their car designs. Cars designed for smaller and smaller niche markets were financially feasible during this period. Nowhere was this more evident than in the kei class, or “light car”, segment.Suzuki Motor Corporation began designing a mid-engine sports coupe in

When Henry Ford introduced his new low-priced Model T in 1908, he could not have conceived what impact the humble “T” would have on the world. Before the Model T, most people had not traveled outside their hometown. By making cars available to the masses, this newfound mobility would soon alter American’s living patterns, their