1959 Heinkel Kabine Bubble Car
Heinkel manufactured aircraft in World War 2
and were restricted as to what they could manufacture after the war. Some
of the items they developed were Mopeds and Motor Scooters. The scooters
were of a very robust and sturdy design and thought of
as Tourers rather than Commuters. Using the same motor scooter
engine enlarged from 175cc to 200cc with the addition of a reverse gear
and monocoque construction derived from their aircraft experience the
Heinkel Bubble Car was launched. Remarkedly roomy it could fit two adults
in the front and a “childrens seat”
behind the adults but
more suited for luggage. A total of sixteen thousand Kabines were
manufactured, however BMW sought legal action for infringing patent rights
of their “Isetta”, a very similar vehicle. Heinkel then sold the
rights to Dundalk Engineering in
This vehicle is a very rare right hand drive
with four wheels, usually they had three, It was assembled in
This vehicle was located in Tumut NSW where it
had one owner for the previous 20 years. He had purchased it from
the original owner who had brought it with him from
