It seems I’ve got away lightly, because Ray tells me that of all the cars here, the Heinkel is probably the most accomplished dynamically. Which rather begs the question: why does anyone buy a classic microcar?
Ray’s response is predictable: “Because they’re quirky! The microcar scene is full of interesting people and interesting cars that are an important part of our history.
“Sure, they have limited performance, but people love them and film us every time we go out. People go into microcar ownership knowing they’ll be the centre of attention, but in a good way, because these cars make people smile, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Citroen Ami is the modern microcar
During the eighties and nineties, a raft of companies sprang up across Europe to make a new breed of microcar, now called light quadricycles and officially recognised by EU legislators. They can be driven by children as young as 14, but there are strict limits on power (8bhp), maximum performance (28mph) and weight (425kg, without batteries if an EV), and it’s these rules that have led to the introduction of the electric Citroen Ami, Opel Rocks and their cousin, the Fiat Topolino.
As a modern-day microcar, the Ami fits into this group perfectly because it shows how far things have moved on in the past 65 years or so – but it’s not all progress. Compared with any of the classics, the Ami is a breeze to drive with its automatic transmission and effective brakes, and while it’s bouncy because the suspension is too firm, the Citroen is genuinely fun.
