Powerhouse Museum Microcars exhibition to feature vintage cars
A 1960s microcar made in an Aussie wheelbarrow and washing machine factory is coming out of mothballs for a new exhibition.
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A 1960s microcar designed and made in an Australian wheelbarrow and washing machine factory is coming out of mothballs as the Powerhouse Museum gets into gear for a new motoring exhibition.
The fibreglass Lightburn Zeta runabout, launched in 1963 as the perfect “second family car”, will be featured in Microcars, one of 12 new exhibitions announced yesterday by Powerhouse CEO Lisa Havilah.
Presenting 17 cars from across Europe, Japan, the UK and Australia, Microcars will explore the advent of electric and hybrid microcars in the context of environmental damage wrought by the internal combustion engine.
The Lightburn Zeta is sure to be a hit with the public and has an amazing backstory.
Back in 1963, Adelaide whitegoods and barrow manufacturer Harold Lightburn designed the tiny Zeta to be a utilitarian mix of sedan, wagon and light delivery truck.
The car’s speedo maxed out at a brisk 70 miles an hour. Owners could remove all the seats and sleep in the car during road trips. And with a price tag of 595 pounds, the car was a snap.
What could be better than “Australia's most reliable, economical and versatile light car”, as the brochure said?
But the Zeta didn't fly. Australians were already in love with Britain’s Morris Mini Minor, launched in 1960, and production of the Zeta sputtered to a halt in 1965. Just 363 Zeta cars were ever sold.
Luckily, the Powerhouse has its own off-white Zeta in its vehicle collection. It also has a red Goggomobil Dart, designed and made by Bill Buckle in Sydney with German chassis and mechanics.
The fibreglass Dart featured no doors and a front luggage boot and cost buyers 685 pounds.
Curator Damian McDonald said Microcars not only looks back at social history but introduces recent models, including a Renault Twizy and a Tango T600 like the one owned by George Clooney.
There will also be a Mercedes Smart car.
“That’s the modern microcar that’s taken off in Australia,” McDonald said.
Most of the cars in the show are being loaned by collectors.
Powerhouse CEO Lisa Havilah said the 2021 program celebrates the museum’s 500,000-object collection and will include a survey of Australian ceramics, a display of the museum’s rarely-seen Persian objects, and an exhibition of social photography by Robert Rosen.
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