"Light Cars" and cycle cars were popular during the Depression-Era 1930s, and one -- the Goliath Pionier proved to be the springboard for Carl Borgward's empire of the 1950s that featured 2 makes of trucks and three cars. The Goliath made sense for many cash-strapped Germans, as it did not require a use tax or even a driver's license. It's body was made of wood and fabric, and it was powered by a rear engined one cylinder, two cycle engine of either 200 ccs or 247ccs. Weighing only 767 pounds and costing 1,460 RM, it had a top speed of 32 mph, although turning it at 30 mph could well cause the vehicle to tip over. 4000 units were sold between 1931 and 1934. These little cars that feature an electric starter an still be found in small villages in northern Italy, where very narrow roads favor a small, agile car with enough power to climb the hills.
You can see one at the Lane Motor Museum, in Nashville, TN. Apparently on 4 survive??
No comments:
Post a Comment