Microcar instead of a Toad?

Jim Blackwood · July 21, 2018, 10:00:08 PM

C'mon now I know you have all thought about this one. There are a few buses out there which have a very small car that fits in a storage bay belowdecks. Very customized no doubt, both the bus and the car but what if? Just how small would a car have to be, and is there one that could work? (Hopefully something a little better than a King Midget)

Jim

lvmci · July 22, 2018, 12:47:45 AM

Hi Jim, in Italy where an American fiat 500 is considered a mid size car, there are convertibles that surely would fit in the larger intercity bus bays, top to bottom, side to side however is another story. I've seen Cadillac and Mercedes of the 280SL type on a custom modified bay that you drive onto a rack that lays on the drivers side ground, then it slides under the bus and raises to a point that is the bottom of the bays, Gary Bennett had modified the original Honda to fit in his Eagle, there are pictures of that in an early FMCA magazine, lvmci...

chessie4905 · July 22, 2018, 05:22:18 AM

https://www.google.com/search?q=prevost+carrying+a+smart+car&client=tablet-android-verizon&prmd=isvn&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&fir=QgSQLr3CVz851M%253A%252CmWdesHtQeLDFNM%252C_%253BA6iAZoPSqwmqFM%253A%252CWVF1Lqa92h1R3M%252C_%253BG-53mZ4jB3P0JM%253A%252Coi9jsy-M1fI64M%252C_%253Bx8KtVArdYYQAzM%253A%252CkbMiyPKstmr2vM%252C_%253BRZkyrAjcgz791M%253A%252CjcKxqzwjvRS8XM%252C_%253BT-P4ieaG_nSumM%253A%252CHKzCqw-pRs6WYM%252C_%253Bpb1gQbHVq1LeeM%253A%252CuAn0bm0wAbkh7M%252C_%253B4Z7A5brGp_s9RM%253A%252ChoQDnvkFAsF_3M%252C_%253BRod8VE_FxP-w6M%253A%252CzZV20pJLbq5GoM%252C_%253BQdQcEli0lmmSGM%253A%252C94hlHKBGNw0E3M%252C_&usg=__9nyhFnX-KUV-tlOjo4mF9k00XNE%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj27-qS2LLcAhXQneAKHe9DC2MQ7AkIVQ&biw=962&bih=601#imgrc=Sz857d7M2FF1TM:

buswarrior · July 22, 2018, 05:37:08 AM

GM 4501 Corvette carrier

lostagain · July 22, 2018, 07:05:36 AM

The car couldn't be too "micro". It has to be able to run down the highway at 70, 75 mph to keep up to traffic. You park the bus somewhere for a few days, and use the car to see the sights, go shopping, etc. We find the Jeep Wrangler is the best for the street and off road exploring.

JC

TomC · July 22, 2018, 08:03:20 AM

One of the problems with that is you loose one of your storage areas.

Jim Blackwood · July 22, 2018, 08:51:18 AM

Hey, here's a thought... I have an MGB body out in the shed, that's not anywhere near small enough but I bet it could be sectioned and shortened. With smaller wheels and tires it is probably already low enough if you take off the windshield (which is removable), which leaves the width. That would be a problem. Found Dave's A3 bay dimensions: 54"x 33" x 96", I expect the D3 would be similar. Which means the body would also have to be sectioned lengthwise as well. A Midget might be a better option, it is already 54" wide but would have to be shortened almost 40". A classic Mini would have to have the top cut off but is narrow enough. Still too long by about 20", but as a fwd would not be as hard to shorten, just lose the back seat but the windshield would have to be made to fold down.

There has to be a better choice out there somewhere.

Jim

And you could pack stuff in the car for traveling.

chessie4905 · July 22, 2018, 01:19:57 PM

I don't have a full bay space to spare to carry a car.
This is my tow car, but in red with removable hardtop, auto, and 4wd.
http://auto-database.com/images/suzuki-grand-vitara-cabrio-2003-images-69837.jpg.html

windtrader · July 22, 2018, 02:11:44 PM

That Suzuki Grand Viatera cabriolet weighs about 2700 lbs, fairly light for a cabriolet and an easy tow. The Samurai weighs in around around 2100 plus 4wd. Won't fit in a bay either but likely a better ride than anything that fits in a bay as well as loosing the bay storage.

gg04 · July 22, 2018, 02:35:30 PM

Our toad... if it's not fast why have it lol...

HB of CJ · July 22, 2018, 05:30:17 PM

Our 2001 Suzuki Vitara 2 door 4x4 4 cylinder automatic removable hardtop weights in right at 3450 pounds with a full tank of gas, tool bag, bug out bag and me. Truck scales. Even all around.

DoubleEagle · July 22, 2018, 08:03:59 PM

How about a Mini-bike like the Honda CT70? Two knobs on the handlebar base loosen up to fold the handlebars down, and it will roll into the bay standing up. It weighs about 150 lbs., and will go 45-50 miles an hour. Unless you chop a small car down to freakish proportions to fit in a bay, or create a flip-top door on the back of the bus with a long ramp, it's this or a toad.

Jim Blackwood · July 22, 2018, 08:52:16 PM

Here's one:
https://www.miniguy.com/vehicles/69minishorty/

I didn't even know a Mini-Shorty was a thing. Way cool. Check out the shot of one sitting in a bus bay.

In Europe they have a shorty Mini-Moke:
https://www.google.com/search?q=hrubon+schmitt&client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5kuid3LPcAhWiO5oKHWP6DVwQsAR6BAgEEAE&biw=1920&bih=1058

A bit more utilitarian.

Jim

DoubleEagle · July 23, 2018, 07:04:41 AM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on July 22, 2018, 08:52:16 PM
Here's one:
https://www.miniguy.com/vehicles/69minishorty/

I didn't even know a Mini-Shorty was a thing. Way cool. Check out the shot of one sitting in a bus bay.

In Europe they have a shorty Mini-Moke:
https://www.google.com/search?q=hrubon+schmitt&client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj5kuid3LPcAhWiO5oKHWP6DVwQsAR6BAgEEAE&biw=1920&bih=1058

A bit more utilitarian.

Jim

I don't think so, how many wives can be talked into climbing into one of those? Two mini-bikes would be a lot cheaper and only a tiny bit more dangerous.

Jim Blackwood · July 23, 2018, 07:44:07 AM

Only a bit?
And what if it's raining?
I'll grant you an old Mini was not the safest transport around but they were at least a fully licensed and accepted road car. And as you can see it does fit (once modified). Sure it looks like a toy, I get that. Those minibikes don't? And for something that will fit in a bay it has the maximum of frontal area, meaning the maximum of protective sheet metal as well as a 4 cylinder engine in front of you.
Way more protection than any bike, and much more than any golf cart. Will your wife ride in a golf cart? Mine has no problem with that. OK the Mini goes faster and can get up to highway speeds. That's both a plus and a minus.

It's never going to compete with a Toad in a lot of ways. But hey, no trailer. That seems like a pretty big plus. And you can ride around in comfort in any weather. Just have to fit a top of some sort, about anything will do. Seems worth it to me, but then I have no problem with slicing out 20" and welding the remains back together, or with the paint afterwards. In fact, I might have to start Mini shopping.

Jim