Lot 161 - 1957 Brütsch Mopetta

Brütsch were best known for producing a large number of different microcar designs, but only produced small numbers of each design and the primary function of the company appears to have been that of the development and promotion of each design to sell licences to manufacture to other companies. Many of the bodywork designs were simple two-piece mouldings of polyester reinforced with fiberglass, bonded at a waistline join, which was then covered by a protective strip. The Brütsch Mopetta is an interesting historical curiosity, only 14 of the microcars were ever made and even though there were some negations with Opel, nothing came of the talks and sadly the car never saw a production run. Originally designed and built in a single day by Egon Brütsch in 1956 the Brütsch Mopetta is a 2-stroke, 50cc 3 wheeler with a top speed of 30mph and enough seating room for one man, his flap cap and his pipe. It isn’t hard to imagine the Mopetta taking on icon status in much the same way that the Messerschmitt, Goggomobil and Peel Trident did in the 1960s. Georg Von Opel planned to build the Mopetta at the Horex factory to sell it as the Opelit at his Opel dealership but he lost interest in 1958 and only 14 units were ever built.
This particular car, of which there are very few left in existence, is a delight for any enthusiast or collector. It also allegedly completed the slowest lap at Goodwood Revival one year! A rare and interesting micro car which will intrigue people for many years.