Zoe Motors
Encyclopedia
Zoe Motors, Inc., a subsidiary of Zoe Products Inc., was an early-1980s automotive company based in California
and best known for its Zoe Zipper three-wheeled microcar
. Zoe was publicly traded on the NASDAQ
as ZOEP and later ZOEP.PK, although the company is no longer active today. In addition to the Zipper, Zoe's products included the Little Giant truck and the Zoe Runner.
Zoe should be pronounced to rhyme with Maui rather than with doe or joey.
") based on a 50 cc Honda
motorcycle engine. It was manufactured by Mitsuoka Motors of Japan, introduced there in 1982 and made its American debut the following year in 1983, where Zoe had distribution and branding rights to the vehicle. In the US, the Zipper could be considered a motorcycle for registration and insurance purposes, making it somewhat simpler to own than a full-sized car. The Zipper was sold in both a convertible and a hardtop model.
The Zipper had angular styling inspired by Giorgetto Giugiaro
's "folded paper" automotive designs seen on other early-1980s cars such as the De Lorean DMC-12
and the Lotus Esprit. In terms of performance, the Zipper had 5 hp of power and reached speeds of 45 mph (72 km/h), with considerable fuel economy of 112 miles per gallon. It ran on regular gasoline.
Perhaps the single best remembered part of the Zipper outside auto-enthusiast circles was its appearance as a prize on the TV game show
The Price Is Right
. Neither host Bob Barker
nor announcer Johnny Olson
could keep from giggling when the incredulous contestant asked "What is that?" and later "It's a car?!" She did win it, and after enthusiastically hugging and kissing Barker, Barker quipped "If you want some affection, just give a lady a three-wheeled vehicle!" According to the show, the Zipper (the hardtop model) cost $3785.
The Zipper was not successful in the United States. Numerous factors contributed to its lack of success. The name and design were perceived as too "cutesy" by the general public. Also problematic was the one-seat design common to microcars, which severely limited its usefulness as a general-purpose vehicle: even most motorcycles are able to accept a second person as a passenger. The price, while certainly low for a car, was not so extremely low that consumers were willing to give up the convenience of a second seat. A four-seat Yugo
, for example, boasted a $3990 price in the mid-80s, just slightly more than the Zipper. Mitsuoka does still manufacture microcars in Japan, currently with four wheels and very different styling.
were handled by the Joseph Molina company, which specialises in the automotive and motorsports with clients such as Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and best known for its Zoe Zipper three-wheeled microcar
Microcar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
. Zoe was publicly traded on the NASDAQ
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
as ZOEP and later ZOEP.PK, although the company is no longer active today. In addition to the Zipper, Zoe's products included the Little Giant truck and the Zoe Runner.
Zoe should be pronounced to rhyme with Maui rather than with doe or joey.
Zoe Zipper
Zoe Motors' best-known product was its Zoe Zipper vehicle, a very small three-wheeled single-seat car (or "microcarMicrocar
A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...
") based on a 50 cc Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
motorcycle engine. It was manufactured by Mitsuoka Motors of Japan, introduced there in 1982 and made its American debut the following year in 1983, where Zoe had distribution and branding rights to the vehicle. In the US, the Zipper could be considered a motorcycle for registration and insurance purposes, making it somewhat simpler to own than a full-sized car. The Zipper was sold in both a convertible and a hardtop model.
The Zipper had angular styling inspired by Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
's "folded paper" automotive designs seen on other early-1980s cars such as the De Lorean DMC-12
De Lorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is a sports car originally manufactured in Dunmurry, a suburb west of Belfast, Northern Ireland by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company for the American market in 1981-82. Most commonly known as the DeLorean, it was the only model produced by the company which would go into...
and the Lotus Esprit. In terms of performance, the Zipper had 5 hp of power and reached speeds of 45 mph (72 km/h), with considerable fuel economy of 112 miles per gallon. It ran on regular gasoline.
Perhaps the single best remembered part of the Zipper outside auto-enthusiast circles was its appearance as a prize on the TV game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
. Neither host Bob Barker
Bob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
nor announcer Johnny Olson
Johnny Olson
John Leonard "Johnny" Olson was an American radio personality and television announcer. His work spanned 32 game shows produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s...
could keep from giggling when the incredulous contestant asked "What is that?" and later "It's a car?!" She did win it, and after enthusiastically hugging and kissing Barker, Barker quipped "If you want some affection, just give a lady a three-wheeled vehicle!" According to the show, the Zipper (the hardtop model) cost $3785.
The Zipper was not successful in the United States. Numerous factors contributed to its lack of success. The name and design were perceived as too "cutesy" by the general public. Also problematic was the one-seat design common to microcars, which severely limited its usefulness as a general-purpose vehicle: even most motorcycles are able to accept a second person as a passenger. The price, while certainly low for a car, was not so extremely low that consumers were willing to give up the convenience of a second seat. A four-seat Yugo
Yugo
Yugo may refer to:Automobiles* Yugo or Zastava Koral, a subcompact vehicle built by Zastava corporationPlaces* Yugo, Baltistan, a small village in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir regionEntertainment...
, for example, boasted a $3990 price in the mid-80s, just slightly more than the Zipper. Mitsuoka does still manufacture microcars in Japan, currently with four wheels and very different styling.
Little Giant
Built upon the same 50 cc Honda motorcycle engine as the Zipper but otherwise not resembling it at all, the Zoe Little Giant was a truck, advertised as a "all purpose mini-utility truck" and similar to the baggage carts seen at airports but smaller. According to Zoe sales literature, it had a payload of half a ton. With an open doorless cab, it was unsuitable for street driving. It sold for about $6000 and was released at roughly the same time as the Zipper.Company information
At the time of the Zoe Zipper launch, Zoe was headed by president and chairman James MacPherson. Dan Levitan, formerly of Dollar Rent-a-Car, was executive vice president. Public relationsPublic relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
were handled by the Joseph Molina company, which specialises in the automotive and motorsports with clients such as Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini
Lamborghini
Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly referred to as Lamborghini , is an Italian car manufacturer. The company was founded by manufacturing magnate Ferruccio Lamborghini in 1963, with the objective of producing a refined grand touring car to compete with established offerings from marques like...
.