Description

On Sep 11, 1937, the world's smallest automobile - LE CARABE - was presented beside a Peugeot 301 in Paris.

In 1936, French inventor Hippolyte Delimal pursued the dream of creating the world's smallest automobile. Fueled by vision and passion, he built the three-wheeled, wooden-bodied Le Carabe ("Ground Beetle") in just over a week. At a diminutive size but capable of reaching 24 mph, this quirky microcar exemplified Delimal's resourcefulness and DIY spirit. Though Le Carabe never reached production, it endures as a symbol of eccentric innovation.

Delimal left behind a remarkably detailed 63-page booklet chronicling Le Carabe's construction. In neat penmanship, he envisioned an affordable car made from repurposed parts that the "everyday person" could build themselves. True to his mission, Le Carabe was crafted from a Motobécane motorbike engine, bicycle handlebars, and even cotton stuffing for insulation.

In September 1936, Delimal unveiled Le Carabe at the prestigious Concours Lépine invention exhibition in Paris. Though it didn't win any prizes, crowds marveled at the tiny vehicle. Delimal fine-tuned his creation after getting feedback, though it sadly never made it to market.
Decades later, Delimal's booklet offered a thrilling window into one inventor's tireless ingenuity. Using the original plans, Lane Motor Museum worked with a Czech restorer to recreate Le Carabe in all its idiosyncratic glory. Bright red and impossibly petite, yet endowed with big dreams, Le Carabe exemplifies the relentless creative spirit. Delimal's passion lives on through this pint-sized wonder that captured hearts in 1930s Paris. His tiny car offers enduring inspiration to tinkerers and dreamers everywhere.