Brütsch Mopetta

The Brütsch Mopetta is an egg-shaped, single-seat, three-wheel automobile manufactured from 1956 to 1958 with a total production of 14. It was the smallest in a series of microcars designed by Egon Brütsch.

Brütsch Mopetta
Brütsch Mopetta on display at the Automuseum Engstingen in Engstingen, Germany
Overview
ManufacturerEgon Brütsch Fahrzeugbau
Production19561958
AssemblyStuttgart
DesignerEgon Brütsch
Body and chassis
ClassMicrocar
Body styleConvertible
LayoutRear-wheel-drive by chain
Powertrain
EngineILO-Motorenwerke V50 50 cc (3 cu in) Single cylinder 2 stroke
Transmission3-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase3 ft 4.5 in (1,029 mm)
Length5 ft 9.5 in (1,765 mm)
Width3 ft 0 in (910 mm)
Height3 ft 9.25 in (1,149.3 mm)
Kerb weight1.75 long cwt (89 kg)

With a single wheel at the front, the Mopetta is an open roadster with a fiberglass body, with one example having a detachable, transparent, folding hood. The Mopetta used a 50 cc (3 cu in) ILO V50 engine with a pull start and an integral three-speed gearbox.

Top speed was tested at 22 mph (35 km/h), with an average fuel consumption of 111 mpgimp (2.5 L/100 km; 92 mpgUS).

Each Mopetta cost £200 (c£2000, 2017) as the most produced car by Brütsch, only 5 are known to survive. There were negotiations with Opel to distribute the car, but only sales brochures were produced.

A Brütsch Mopetta replica is available, built in the UK with a modern Honda automatic engine.

Sources

  • Kleinwagen, Small Cars, Petites Voitures, by Benedikt Taschen, 1994


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