Topic: SOLVED: Araknid #19 - 1959 Meadows Frisky Sport

[araknid]

Make, model and year for 1 point

[tautaudu02]

Meadows Frisky Sport ?

[araknid]

Give me the year and the point is yours.  Locked for 24 hours.

[tautaudu02]

I would say 1959 or 1960 but I'm not pretty sure. Let's say 1959 !

[araknid]

Correct you are.  Congratulations on your 5th point.  

We think we’re so advanced, but if you want a coil-on-plug, mid-engine car that gets 56 MPG, then look no further than this 1959 Frisky Sport for sale on _______.com. Allegedly one of about a dozen such cars, this one seems to be all-there and ready for restoration by a dedicated microcar lover. From the seller’s description:

"1959 Meadows Frisky Sport, This vehicle is an extremely rare example of an original, unrestored Meadows FriskySport convertible microcar. It is titled as 1959 model and is one of roughly 13 in the world, with roughly half of those being LHD. This car is in the Frisky Registry and is a very early production split-tail model, being manufactured in the same manner as the prototypes and retaining the rear "vents" in the body. The mileage is correct at 1166, and the Villers 3T engine has been confirmed as original to the car. Essentially all of the details are present, including mirrors, levers, bumperettes, spare tire, luggage rack, signal lenses, convertible top, dash trays, engine cover, and more.

The car has been stored dry in a barn & garage for decades, and you can see that it is showing its 50+ year age, but it is remarkably complete and intact. Mechanically the car is sound, and I believe it to be only a gentle restoration away from a running, driving, highly collectible vehicle."

[araknid]

Here's what they looked like when they're nicely restored.   

[tautaudu02]

Thank you !

I've read recently that you have to stop the engine and launch it reverse if you want yo go rearward !

[DeAutogids]

I believe you get the same thing in a Trabant?

[Wendax]

No, the Trabant had a reverse gear. 

But as I recall,, the Messerschmitt (and other microcars) had to be started reverse to drive backwards.

[Wendax]

A nice brochure:

[Carnut]

It's probably something to do with the laws in the UK.
A 3-wheeled car (don't know if all Friskies had 4 wheels or if there were 3 wheeled versions) could be driven on a motorbike and learner's motorbike licence by a 16 year-old.  But they weren't allowed a reverse gear; if they had one they would be classed as a car rather than a trike and then you had to have a car licence!
The lack of a reverse gear is probably a throwback to that.