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Microcars Take Center Stage at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix with Lane Motor Museum's Collection

1/24/2024

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by Bernard Martin
Lane Motor Museum features 150 unique cars and motorcycles
Lane Motor Museum features 150 unique cars and motorcycles.
The Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix is set to transform into a showcase of micro automotive wonders with a spotlight on the Lane Motor Museum who will be bringing some rare microcars from their extensive collection. The PVGP, known for its celebration of automotive history, has designated microcars and microtrucks as one of the spotlights for the entire show, to complement the Mini Marque of the Year.

Jeff Lane will take the stage on August 3 at the #PVGP to share insights into his remarkable collection. The Lane Motor Museum is renowned for its eclectic assortment of rare and unique vehicles, and this year.
​

Lane Motor Museum's Microcar Collection

Founded by Jeff Lane, the Lane Motor Museum's roots trace back to his childhood fascination with cars, inspired by his father Gene's love for MGs. ​
Jeff's first car, a 1955 MG TF, now on display, kickstarted his lifelong passion. In the late '90s, realizing his eclectic collection was outgrowing his Nashville home, Jeff envisioned a museum to share his unique cars with the public. From restoring his first MG at age 12 to acquiring rare finds like a 1960 Dodge Power Wagon and a 1973 Citroën SM, Jeff's enthusiasm for automobiles runs deep, influenced by a family history deeply connected to the automotive world.
​
HOW IT HAPPENED
"I had been talking to Jeff for several years about creating a spotlight show for Microcars at the PVGP, and each year he had a business conflict and had to be in France.  In 2023, I turned around and saw Jeff just as I was finalizing plans for Lyn Hiner to be our featured artist at the Cortile Italian Car Show.  Before I can get a word in, Jeff states, "Before you even ask Bernie, I can't make it to the 2023 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix but I've moved our Board Meeting for 2024 and I can be there!"   ~ Bernie Martin
Become a Lane Motor Museum volunteer

What is a Microcar?

Microcars, characterized by their diminutive size and lightweight design, have a unique place in automotive history. Often featuring quirky styling and innovative engineering, these compact vehicles were popular in post-war Europe and are known for their efficiency and affordability.  

Some notable examples of microcars include the Messerschmitt KR200, a three-wheeled cabin scooter, stood out for its unconventional design and tandem seating arrangement. The Peel P50, recognized as the world's smallest production car, boasts a single front door and minimalistic features. Each of these microcars holds a distinctive charm, embodying the creativity and practicality that define this tiny category of vehicles.
Microcar Spotlight

In addition to the Lane Motor Museum showcars, microcar owners are invited to join this special spotlight area, creating a diverse display of these charming vehicles. It's a rare opportunity for enthusiasts and the public alike to get up close and personal with these pint-sized treasures that have left a big impact on automotive culture.
​

PVGP 2024 Microcar
​Featured Shows

  • ​​Microcars and microtrucks spotlight for the all 17 car show at Schenley Park
  • Mini Marque of the Year celebration.
  • American Car Show features Nash Metropolitan's and American Bantams
  • Asian Car show features JDM Kei Trucks
  • BMW Car show features Isetta
  • Cortile Italian Car Show features Autovetture Piccole
  • Special showcase open to microcar owners.
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Amelia Island Coastal Motoring Tour 2021

12/9/2021

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by Bernard Martin
Picture
Concours LLS produced a home-grown Amelia Island “Coastal Motoring Tour,” on May 20, 2021. Launching from the legendary Brumos Collection, and running through some of the area’s most scenic highways and byways, the Coastal Motoring Tour will arrive just in time for the Hangar Night Film Festival.
​
According to Bernard Martin at Concours LLC, the Coastal Motoring Tour evolved into from a couple cars driving along to coast to a full blown event:

"We started talking about how we needed to do a drive up the coast and thought we could do that and then head to the Grand Motoring Hanger Night & film festival. Then some others said they hadn't been to Brumos Collection yet. As I started digging into it we decided to just wrap it all in package, plan the thing & invite some friends. Then it grew legs!" ​

After enjoying the incredible displays at the Brumos Collection, the tour group began the drive up the coast.
brumos-to-st-johns-river-ferry_orig
The Tour Route. It looks some serious coordination to make sure all three car groups made it to the ferry ar the same time!
The mid point of the trip featured an auto ferry ride across the St John's River. Then we continued on the final leg of the coastal drive to dinner and movies.

The evening took flight at the Fernandina Municipal Airport with hors d'oeuvres, a special 'Floribbian' dinner, a cash bar, and most importantly, a beautiful display of our touring cars at the Amelia Aerodrome as the sun set at the airport. We where served dinner before the public arrived which gave our touring group plenty of time to take in the cars and ambiance.

The evening culminated at the Amelia Aerodrome with a unique experience for automotive enthusiasts as we enjoyed the Grand Motoring Hanger Night Film Festival!

The 2021 Tour Itinerary

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Grand Motoring Hangar Night Interview with Jeff Lane and Christine Oneill

8/4/2021

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by Bernard Martin
Erica Hyman Jeff Lane Motor Museum Christine O Neill
A really unique 1970 Fiat 500K Giardiniera, hauling a very unique 1936 Le Carabe
Erica Hyman interviews Jeff Lane and Christine O'Neill from the Lane Motor Museum about their 1970 Fiat Giannini Camioncino, based on the Fiat 500K Giardiniera (wagon), hauling a very unique 1936 Le Carabe. Jeff and Christine brought these to the Grand Motoring Hanger Night & Film Festival .

In 2002, Jeff Lane established Lane Motor Museum. Jeff has been an automotive enthusiast since an early age. He began restoring his first car—a 1955 MG TF—when he was a teen. His personal collection was the donation that began the foundation.

​
Lane Motor Museum unveiled its collection to the public in October of 2003. As director, Jeff Lane continues to search out cars for the collection that are technically significant or uniquely different. The goal of Lane Motor Museum is to share in the mission of collection and preserving automotive history for future generations.

1970 Fiat Giannini Camioncino Replica

1970 Fiat Giannini Camioncino, Photo courtesy Lane Motor Museum
1970 Fiat Giannini Camioncino, Photo courtesy Lane Motor Museum
A testament to the adaptability of the Fiat 500 platform, this apparently homebuilt homage to coachbuilder Giannini’s Camioncino (translation: pickup truck) is itself based on the Fiat 500K Giardiniera (wagon). As in the Giardiniera, the rear mounted, air-cooled engine is laid down under the bed to allow for aflat load floor.

​Many of Giannini’s trucks were put into service as city service vehicles throughout Italy. Original Camioncinos had slatted sides surrounding the bed to maximize cargo capacity. Our replica has a snap-on cover to conceal the up to 400kg (880 pound) payload.

1936 Le Carabe Replica

Picture
1936 Le Carabe Replica - photo courtesy Lane Motor Museum
Little is known about French inventor Hippolyte Delimal. But in 1936 he attempted to create the world's smallest car, which reached a speed of 24 mph and touted fuel economy of 118 mpg. He affectionately named it Le Carabe, or the “Ground Beetle”.

His vision and enthusiasm could be seen in a completely intact, hand-written, hand-drawn, 63 page manuscript he left behind. The found booklet details his trials and tribulations of building the car. Most remarkably, it contains detailed instructions, complete with dimensional schematics that rival anything out of Popular Mechanics from years past. This is fitting because, according to this arduous account, Delimal stated what he wanted most was for the everyday person to build and drive his Le Carabe. In neat penmanship, he wrote the vehicle was, “…designed specifically for amateur construction. No special tools or machines.”

In materials alone, Le Crarabe could be built for around 450 Francs (about 4% the cost of a new car at the time). He repurposed a Motobécane 175cc single cylinder two-stroke engine of the time and coupled it with a light wooden body. “Plywood is the sheetmetal of the carpenter.

​The body should be light and very strong.” For steering, he fitted old bicycle handlebars and a telescopic fork. He also reused bicycle sprockets and rear hubs, motorcycle drum brakes, and he even suggests filling the empty space of the body sides with cotton to keep the feet warm during the cold winter.
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