Heinkel/Trojan Bubble Car

Scooters, Bikes & Trikes

This was powered by a 200cc four stroke twin engine driving the single rear wheel. It had four forward gears and reverse. Seating was side by side and the driver had to get in first and move sideways to get behind the wheel. Unlike in the BMW Isetta bubble car the steering wheel didn't move when the door was opened.

It did over 90mpg and if your nerves were up to it could reach 60mph. That meant we could visit do the Derby to Cockermouth return trip for £1:00 as petrol was 4/11d (25p) per gallon.

Having three wheels was ‘interesting when driving in snow. On one occasion we drove down through the Lake District with the rear driven wheel screwing along in the gutter to get grip up the hills. We also startled some drivers on Long Hill near Buxton when it spun on some ice and tipped over onto it’s side and slowly rotated to a stop on the drivers' side window. We opened the front door, clambered out and put it back on three wheels, pointing back home, got in and drove off.

Driving back from Anglesey the windscreen was smashed by a pebble. The nearest replacement screen was in Manchester. The day I drove up to get it fitted was one of those days when it forgets to stop raining. I put on my motorcycling waterproofs and set off. I had to keep opening the front to let the accumulated rain water out of the car.

Parallel parking was never a problem, especially in small spaces. You drove the front in, got out and lifted the back into place. One night I tucked it into a gap on Cockermouth main street. When I came back it had gone. Looking round I saw it being wheeled up and down the middle of the street like a large wheelbarrow by some one I knew. I went and asked for my car back. He very apologetically gently placed it’s rear wheel back on the road and we had a laugh.

We also took it down the M1 to London. Going round Marble Arch between two buses with their wheels nearly as big as we were was quite an experience.

The picture shows the Bubble car at Catterick with a fully loaded roof rack. And the sunroof open.