Arola (microcar)
Encyclopedia
Arola SARL was a small manufacturing
company based in Lyon-Corbas
, France
, which manufactured a range of microcars, designed initially to be driven without a licence. Arola became part of the Aixam
group in 1983.
bed. It was built until 1982, together with the 12.
s in 1979, they bore close resemblance with the earlier models. Main difference, of course, was the front axle with conventional steering by a center-positioned steering wheel. This layout was chosen before it became evident that French legislation for this class of vehicles would be changed soon to allow to carry two persons instead of one. The seat "bench" was still here, but now a similar back was added. Plexiglass doors were now standard equipment. Model 14 got them with cooling louvres, Model 15 instead had them with sliding (real) glass inserts. Length was 74.02 in. (1,880 mm), other dimensions were the same as those of the tricycles.
It is not clear if the Compacity saw actual production. Obviously, it served the same purpose with the four-wheelers as the SP did with their three-wheelers. This little Pickup truck was offered officially from 1980 to 1982. Production of the Models 14, 15 and Compacity halted in 1982.
or Peugeot
, and a 125 cc BCB which gave the vehicle a top speed of 40 mph (ca. 65 km/h). The Model 18S was a little bit more sophisticated and had amenities like a clock. Model 18 was 78.47 in. (2000 mm) long, had a width of 49.21 in (1,250 mm) and weighed in at lb 418.88 pounds (190 kg).
width 51.18 in (1,300 mm) and weight 447.54 lb (203 kg).
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
company based in Lyon-Corbas
Corbas
Corbas is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.-Demographics:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, which manufactured a range of microcars, designed initially to be driven without a licence. Arola became part of the Aixam
Aixam
Aixam - Mega is a French automobile manufacturer based in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie. It was founded in 1983 to make microcars in the old Arola factory after that company failed.-History:...
group in 1983.
Models 10, 11, 12
Arola started manufacturing road vehicles with a range of tricycles, models 10, 11, and 12. They shared the tubular frame, front and rear coil suspension, cable brakes, polyester body, and many other components. The driver sat on a flat bench without aback and controlled his cycle car like a motorbike. General layout met French legislation of the day for permission-free driving. So, they were single-seater. The 10 and 11 did not have a speedometer and ashtray, the 11 takes advantage of the storage bag found in the 12, too. All had electric starters, wipers and the chromed muffler could be transverse or longitudinally mounted. Main difference was in power train: The 10 and 11 used a 47 cc (2.85 c.i.) Saxonette single-cylinder engine by Fichtel & Sachs that delivered about 3 HP (ca. 2.2 kW), coupled to a two-speed automatic transmission. The 12 featured a Motobécane 50 cc (3.05 c.i.) which had a reverse gear. While top speed for Models 10 and 11 was about 25 mph (40 km/h), the 12 was good for 40 mph (ca. 65 km/h). Easily attachable and completely transparent plexiglas doors were available. All models had a length of 72.45 in. (1,840 mm), a width of 42.13 in. (1,070 mm), a height of 61.81 in. (1,570 mm), and weighed in at 242.5 lb (ca. 110 kg). Model 12 was built until 1982. It seems that production of the Saxonette-powered vehicles ended earlier.Model SP
In 1978, Arola presented a somewhat larger variant of the Model 12, called SP. It was 89.567 in. (2,275 mm) long, other dimensions were the same as the 12's. SP meant here not "Sport" but "Super Practical". To meet that purpose, additional length went completely into a tiny pickupPickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
bed. It was built until 1982, together with the 12.
Models 14, 15 and Compacity
When Arola presented its first range of quadricycleQuadricycle
Quadricycle, quadracycle, quadcycle, quadrocycle refers to any vehicle with four wheels.More specifically the term may refer to:...
s in 1979, they bore close resemblance with the earlier models. Main difference, of course, was the front axle with conventional steering by a center-positioned steering wheel. This layout was chosen before it became evident that French legislation for this class of vehicles would be changed soon to allow to carry two persons instead of one. The seat "bench" was still here, but now a similar back was added. Plexiglass doors were now standard equipment. Model 14 got them with cooling louvres, Model 15 instead had them with sliding (real) glass inserts. Length was 74.02 in. (1,880 mm), other dimensions were the same as those of the tricycles.
It is not clear if the Compacity saw actual production. Obviously, it served the same purpose with the four-wheelers as the SP did with their three-wheelers. This little Pickup truck was offered officially from 1980 to 1982. Production of the Models 14, 15 and Compacity halted in 1982.
Models 18 and 20
Model 18 was introduced in 1981. It is somewhat larger and has an even more squarish shape than its predecessors. Above all, it is built on an innovative concept with an aluminum-reinforced polyester floor, and a body constructed of a aluminum structure that carrys the polyester body panels. There were four engines to choose: Three 50 cc by BCB, MotobécaneMotobécane
Motobécane was a French manufacturer of bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, and other small vehicles, established in 1923. "Motobécane" is a compound of "moto", slang for motorcycle; "bécane" is slang for "bike."...
or Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
, and a 125 cc BCB which gave the vehicle a top speed of 40 mph (ca. 65 km/h). The Model 18S was a little bit more sophisticated and had amenities like a clock. Model 18 was 78.47 in. (2000 mm) long, had a width of 49.21 in (1,250 mm) and weighed in at lb 418.88 pounds (190 kg).
Minoto
The Arola Minoto used the same name and body shape as an earlier prototype microcar from Bel Motors International, a short-live offshoot of the Bellier microcar company. The Minoto name is a pun derived from the terms "miniature" and "automobile" as expressed in French language. Aside from taking its predecessors name and shape, the Arola Minoto was completely different, with a molded, self supporting bodyshell of polyester. The Minoto was powered by a 50 cc engine, either by Motobécane or Peugeot. Later, a Lombardini Diesel with 325 cc was added. Much more conventional in design than other Arolas, its dimensions were: Length {convert|79.92|in|mm|abbr=on}}width 51.18 in (1,300 mm) and weight 447.54 lb (203 kg).
External links
- Microcarfan, French language web-page with descriptions and photographs of several models of the Arola microcars.
- 3-wheelers.com, 3 wheeled Arola microcars
- Bruce Weiner's Micro Car Museum has detailed information on the Arola Model 11