Outspan Orange Mini: A fruitful advertising campaign!

The Outspan orange car has to be the funkiest mode of transport ever invented. Cars are a passion of mine and the more bizarre the better for me. The only other car that comes close to this is the Bond Bug, which like the Outspan Mini, to give it it's correct title, looks like you could eat it (but not obviously in one go!) I first saw the fruity four wheeled wonder outside my local greengrocer shop in the early 70's. It had a crowd surrounding it, in awe of the madness on view. Based on a Mini it can apparently achieve a top speed of 30mph, any more and the thing becomes unstable and could roll over (and roll, and roll, and roll... for some distance, I would guess judging by the shape of the thing!) They built six of these for advertising campaigns in the UK and Europe and can be seen regularly at motoring events.

...And now for something completely different (well, in shape that is, not colour) Meet it's cousin, the 3 wheeled wonder Bond Bug. This car was quicker than the Outspan Mini, it has a 700cc engine and boasts a top speed of 78mph (126km/h) Not bad for a lump of cheese! They were built between 1970 and 1974 and over 2000 were made. It has a lift up canopy instead of doors and the engine apparently protrudes into the cabin! They weren't cheap however, despite being a microcar, it was more expensive than a basic mini with a bigger 850cc motor. The car is much sought after by collectors and enthusiasts and quite rightly, it's a classic bit of English eccentricity at it's finest. I had a Dinkey model of this and wish I still did.

This cute thing below (the car, not my son, although it has to be said he is rather cute too) is the BMW Isetta 300 'bubble car'. Who said the German people lacked a sense of humour. Having said that the BMW is a very sensible mode of transport. It is very economical as you would expect from egg on wheels! It has a BMW single cylinder motorcycle engine giving it a top speed of 53mph (83km/h) so in a race with the Outspan Mini, the BMW would win, unless the British car became unstable going downhill and decided to roll, the momentum would probably make the Outspan Mini triumphant, -it's a long shot, but it's possible!!! Actually the car was an Italian design (hence the name Isetta) and built under licence from the manufacturer in several countries. The German nickname for it was rolling egg, or coffin car, due to the zero distance (I presume) between the passengers and oncoming traffic. But my favorite name is from the French, er...yogurt pot, how very cute and apt. The UK variant had one less wheel (the others had two narrow track wheels at the rear) This was specifically to make the vehicle legible for cheaper tax and licencing as with three wheels it was basically classed as a motorcycle. You gained entry by the single door at the front, the steering wheel and instrument panel swung out with the door too.

What's your favorite weird and wonderful car, whether it's a production car, a one off, or something from TV, i.e. The Batmobile, The Pink Panthers car etc? please let me know.