Heinkel Kabine (1956)Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Heinkel Kabine

1956 — West Germany

Post-War (1946-1959)GermanRear EngineMicro Cars & Bubble CarsAir-Cooled Legends
Engine174 cc
DrivetrainRWD

Heinkel Kabine

After being prohibited from aircraft manufacturing post-WWII, Heinkel Flugzeugwerke turned to producing microcars, launching the Kabine in 1956. The tiny three-wheeler featured aircraft-inspired construction with a tubular frame and fabric-covered body panels. Its 174cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine produced 9 hp, providing adequate performance for the 230 kg vehicle. The distinctive front-opening door and bubble canopy gave excellent visibility. Though Heinkel built only about 7,000 units before selling the design to Dundalk Engineering in Ireland, it remains an iconic symbol of 1950s microcar culture.