1958 OPPERMAN UNICAR T

Country of origin: England 

Years of Production: 1956-1959 

Number produced: 256 (including kits) 

Engine: Excelsior Talisman 328cc 2-stroke parallel twin 

Cooling: Ambient air 

Transmission: Sequential 3-speed w/ reverse 

Starter: Dynastart 

Electrical: 12V 

Power: 18 hp 

Top speed: ~65 mph 

Dimensions (LxWxH): 114”x56”x51” 

Weight: 730 pounds 

Construction: Fiberglass monocoque w/ aluminum supports 

Brakes: F & R mechanical drum 

Suspension: F – Independent coilover, R – Single central coilover 

Steering: Reduction box 

Tire size: 125-12 (4.50-12 standard)

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        SE Opperman was a British engineering company that became known for their ‘Motocart’ 3-wheeled tractors in the 1940s and 1950s. However, seeing the growing popularity of microcars around England in the ‘50s, they decided that they wanted to build their own entry for the segment. They enlisted Lawrie Bond to help design it, who was also responsible for designing the Berkeley micro sports car and the Bond Minicar. The result was the Unicar: a four-wheeled, 4-passenger family saloon, which was rather unusual to see in the world of microcars when it debuted, in 1956.

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        Early Unicars, designated ‘Model A’, were powered by a 322cc Anzani 2-stroke twin with 15 horsepower, but fairly quickly they changed to a 328cc Excelsior 2-stroke twin with 18 horsepower (both of which were also used in Berkeley cars). These Excelsior-powered cars received a few other minor changes and were referred to as the ‘Model T’. Thanks to the extra power, they now had a top speed of over 60 miles per hour, and they were able to comfortably sustain 50 miles per hour.

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        Just like the Berkeleys, the Unicars utilized a fiberglass monocoque construction with aluminum supports, which helps keep the weight down to just 730 pounds. Interestingly, the engine is mounted directly between the tiny rear seats, and power is delivered through a 3-speed sequential gearbox to a solid, chain-driven rear axle, as you might see in a go-kart. Since there was no differential, they made the rear track narrower to allow for a better (but still quite poor) turning circle. The rear axle has just one central damper, and braking was provided by cable-operated drums at each of the 12” wheels.

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        When the Unicar was introduced, it was the cheapest 4-wheel car on the market in England and received a good amount of positive press, but even so, sales were slower than they had hoped. In 1959, they began to offer the Unicar as a low-cost build-it-yourself kit (which also avoided the 33% vehicle purchase tax, at the time) in hopes of attracting more buyers. The kit was delivered in 8 large, well-packed wooden crates, and after following their detailed instructions to build the car, Opperman would even provide a free vehicle inspection service before the car went on the road.

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        While the kit option helped sales, it still wasn’t enough, and Opperman ended production of the Unicar in late-1959. From 1956 to 1959, 306 cars were produced (50 Model A, 256 Model T), and the survival rate is very poor, with only 7 currently known to have survived.