70 Years of the Heinkel Kabine: What We Preserve When We Preserve Cars

One of our objectives at Haynes Motor Museum, as an independent charity, is to preserve our Collection of over 300 cars and motorcycles to ensure that it will be accessible for generations to come. This is not just about preserving the vehicle itself, but also the stories of the engineers, people and everyday moments that have made up the vehicle’s history.  

This year marks 70 years since the Heinkel Kabine began production in Stuttgart. Designed by the aircraft manufacturer Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and almost certainly taking inspiration from the BMW Isetta, the tiny microcar was created to provide affordable transport at a time when Europe was rebuilding after WW2 and demand for mobility was growing.

The Heinkel Kabine utilised a scooter engine mounted in the rear, powering the single rear wheel via a 4-speed gearbox. It has steel construction with access via an opening front door. Unlike some ‘bubble cars’ the car does feature a reverse gear but also has a canvas roof to provide an escape route in case the front door is damaged. 

One of the earliest surviving examples is part of our Collection at Haynes Motor Museum. Built in the first year of production, our 1956 Heinkel Kabine is believed to be the tenth oldest Heinkel Kabine still in existence and the second oldest known in the UK.

It was bought in 1976 in a very poor state for just £5 and restored in a lock up garage near an RAF base. At the time microcars were of little value, spare parts were difficult to find and restoration knowledge was still developing. Yet through skill and patience the car was carefully brought back to life by the owner and completed in 1977.  

It was then used exactly as it was meant to be. Over the years it travelled to rallies and shows, including a 1,700 mile round trip to a microcar gathering in Germany in 1985. On one memorable journey, a sudden stop sent the front door swinging open and the dog that was riding as passenger hopped out onto the road. Thankfully, a quick manoeuvre back round avoided any disaster and the dog climbed straight back in, ready to continue the trip. 

Today, after another careful restoration by our volunteers, the car remains fully operational and can still be seen running during our summer running vehicle displays. 

Seventy years on, the Heinkel Kabine is a reminder that the value of historic vehicles is not just in their engineering, but in the everyday, human stories that travel with them.