No driving test required: ’63 Lloyd Alexander
There was a tremendous demand for small fuel-efficient cars in post-war Germany. Volkswagen and Opel were the top performers but their engines were large enough to require a driver’s test. The Lloyd, however was engineered to be under the 250cc engine size limit so one was not required. The Lloyd was therefore known as a car for the aged who feared they wouldn’t pass any new driver’s test. They were relatively inexpensive but very well-engineered and built. In their heyday, Lloyd sales catapulted them to 3rd place behind VW and Opel. That is all the catapulting an 11 hp car can manage. There was no prestige in driving a Lloyd. As the saying goes, “He who is not afraid of death, drives a Lloyd”. So we don’t know why or how a Lloyd Alexander wound up a California car for most of its life. Maybe the seller knows the story. But this one is in pretty decent shape. The seat covers seem to be the biggest cosmetic flaw. Everything works although the seller states a good tune up is in order. It’s kind of cute and if you are looking to add a Lloyd to your micro-car garage, this would be fun. Click here for the eBay auction. I’m told just under $5,000 is all it will take.
I have a ’59 Alexander TS Sedan in the same color. An original New Jersey car. Maybe I need a wagon too? The TS model has a few extra HP (25 DIN total), so it can easily cruise at 55 mph. These are well built and somewhat advanced little cars (SOHC and full synchro gearbox). There’s an active owners club in Germany and a small but enthusiastic group of owners in the U.S. Those interested are invited to visit http://www.lloydselig.com for more info.
Let us know if you add this one to your collection!