1950’s Hungarian Microcars: The Fesztival

Submitted by Markydoodle January 4th, 2011
Certifikitsch WinnerClassique d Camembert

Another microcar, this one built and designed by a guy at a shipyard in Vac, Hungary.

It’s design is superlative to anything else I’ve seen from this era of microcars in Eastern Europe. Looks almost like a 60’s American Car!

Of course Post-War Hungary was short on materials. The gentleman wanted to build the body with resin, but there wasn’t any.

“The car was 3.15 metres long, 1.15 metres tall and weighed 380kg; its top speed was around 60km/h. Constructed out of motorcycle parts and with a body made of pig’s blood, chicken feathers and shellac, the Fesztival was smelly, but it worked*.”

*Source: “The marvellous Magyar microcars,”

The Economist,” December 16 2010.

13 Responses to “1950’s Hungarian Microcars: The Fesztival”

  1. Allee Willis

    Ok, this is about the best looking car I’ve ever seen! I would trade all my earthly possessions for it. The back fins are beyond, the roof opening is insane, and the way it’s split up into two tones is spectacular. The shape of that back window kills me too and the little white walls are adorable.

    Is that body really made out of pigs blood, chicken feathers and shellac? I’ll take it, fumes and all.

    • Mark Milligan

      Allee, thanks for the Classique d’Camembert (Fesztival Frommage!)

      There was just one made, and the reading I’ve done says it was repurposed as a utility van (a different body on the same frame I assume,) which then had an accident, and then was salvaged for parts.

  2. windupkitty

    Wow, this is my new dream car….HOw many were made, I wonder? It really does look an American car and it’s absolutely beautiful! But yeah, I gotta ask as Allee did: Is it really made of animal parts? Really?!? That freaks me out completely….Love the idea of resin though..wow…

    • Mark Milligan

      I know, right? I just quoted the magazine, so I really don’t have any idea if that’s true, but in that day and age, it was a hardscrabble world there.

      Here’s the link, which also has a couple other microcars pictured, one of which has wheels taken from a wheelbarrow: http://www.economist.com/node/17722676

      • Allee Willis

        I love the photo of the three guys just carrying the car off. And don’t get me started about my lust for The Kabinenroller in the last photo!

  4. k2dtw

    Have you guys seen the TV Show “Auction Wars”..It’s a show that follows a group who bid blind on Storage Units. The show covers what they bid/pay, what are the contents, and then what they sell the contents for. There is a episode where the bidder wins a storage unit, and uncovers a BMW, Isetta!! I saw it earlier, and I just watched it again, because of your mico mini post.
    I was googling to see if by chance, any of the 2011 Auto Shows would be featuring any of the vintage Micro Mini’s?? BMW is featuring a new Micro Mini…
    I googled Vintage Micro Mini and the Isetta at shows, and found info on a 2010 past date Chicago Auto Show…LOVE Cary Grant!
    http://www.car-and-travel.com/2010/07/chicago-car-show-celebrates-small-mini-and-micro-cars/

    • Allee Willis

      It’s called STORAGE WARS and I LOVE it. I was literally just about to go to my Facebook page and add it to my favorite TV shows list! I didn’t see the episode with the Isetta but I’m absolutely fanatic for the show. Is it this week’s episode? I only saw them bidding on the first couple of units, through the one that had the mannequinn with the telephone in its chest.

      • windupkitty

        Wow, sounds like an awesome show! I can’t imagine uncovering an Isetta!!!!!! I think I’d just drop dead! I haven wanted one of those since childhood after seeing one of my favorite movies: Bedazzled.

  5. k2dtw

    Really, I saw it Wed. night…they loop the show so it shows up at odd days/times. It’s a wild…that mannequin phone was fab!!! They buy blind..and get a collection of Suge Knight clothing!
    “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night”

  6. Mark Milligan

    I just saw them open the door, and tell the rules about what the bidders could and couldn’t do. Then I saw the auctioneer, and I thought how much I’d love to bid on one! Last weekend was the first time I’d seen it when I was looking for some white noise for a nap!