# What is this little car I keep seeing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299 "2005-08-09T17:23:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/1 "2005-08-09T17:23:17Z")
It looks to be from the same era as the original Beetle and has a somewhat similar shape. It’s a bit smaller and narrower with a boxier frame but a curved top. It looks rather like a shrunken Beetle that has been squeezed so that the sides are flattened. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/2 "2005-08-09T17:25:09Z")
It’s the BMW Mini-Cooper. They were quite popular for a while, disappeared (at least in the States) for deacdes, and have now returned with a vengeance over the last couple years. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/3 "2005-08-09T17:25:09Z")
The [Mini Cooper](http://auto.szonline.net/szcar/car_wallpaper.asp?type=79)? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/4 "2005-08-09T17:43:57Z")
Nope, it’s not either the new mini or the old mini. The body of the car is curved like a Beetle, but it is flatter on the sides. It’s and older car–60’s I’d guess–and pretty rare. There just happen to be a couple in the neighborhood, but I’ve never seen one anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/5 "2005-08-09T17:47:26Z")
Could it be a [Citroen 2VC](http://autosclasicos.espaciolatino.com/archivos/citroen-2cv.htm) ? ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/6 "2005-08-09T17:54:47Z")
My SWAG is it is a Citroen, the model my dad used to call a Cigarette Roller. I’ve never known what the real name of that model is, but it is the first thing I thought of from your description. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/7 "2005-08-09T17:55:35Z")
That look’s more like it. I don’t remember the black roof, but the last one I saw had a surfboard on top, so I might not have noticed ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/8 "2005-08-09T18:04:30Z")
It wasnt one of these by any chance [Morris Minor](http://www.morrisminoroc.co.uk/history/seriesMM.html) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/9 "2005-08-09T18:09:11Z")
[Fiat 500, maybe?](http://www.quepo.com/queposite/fiat/fito500his/fihis500s.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/10 "2005-08-09T18:15:07Z")
Is das nicht ein Messerschmitt? (scroll down for the likely suspect)… ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/11 "2005-08-09T19:15:12Z")
I was going to suggest a Karman Gia, but the Citroen or Morris Minor are probably the more likely candidates. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/12 "2005-08-09T19:31:34Z")
So far the Citroen is still closest. Definitely not the Fiat and the nose on the Morris Minor is too big. I know what Ghias look like. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/13 "2005-08-09T19:58:47Z")
It’s gotta be the Citroen. With your description of “flattened sides” and similar shape, I can’t think of another car that fits that profile. Most of the others mentioned here are too curvy or not Beetle-shaped at all. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/14 "2005-08-09T20:03:51Z")
There’s one that parks a few blocks away, sometimes. If I get a chance I’ll stop and take a look and report back. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/15 "2005-08-09T20:06:57Z")
Just do a web search on “Citroen 2CX.” It isn’t really a rare car at all–it’s a bit of a French icon, in fact. They were produced into the 90s without too much change to the basic design and are famous for their unique suspension. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/16 "2005-08-09T20:09:59Z")
Sorry. I guess I should edit my definition of “rare.” It’s not exactly common in the US. Citroens period aren’t seen much round these parts (even though they have some lovely cars. I always did like the 306.) But in Europe they’re common enough. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/17 "2005-08-09T20:11:11Z")
:smack: I’m an idiot. Just after I hit “submit” I realized I was thinking of Peugeot’s 306. (Another brand not terribly common in the US.) But the rest of the sentence stands. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/18 "2005-08-09T20:35:04Z")
Maybe a Citroen Duck? Used to see them in Germany all the time… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/19 "2005-08-09T20:42:27Z")
Could it be one of those innocuous little Volkswagens that were produced alongside of the (original) Beetle back when? Some silly name like Type B or Type 2… Aha…[Type 3](http://www.vwtype3.com/topics.htm)! Is that it? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299/20 "2005-08-09T20:51:43Z")
Not a Type 3–too sedany. Definitely not a Peugeot 306. They aren’t new cars. They’re old and made of metal, like Bugs. The Duck seems to be the same as the 2VC. The only reason I’m not certain, I think, is that the doors on the 2VC seem too plain. I’m pretty sure the cars I’ve seen have retagular depressions stamped into the door panels. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-little-car-i-keep-seeing/316299.md?page=2)