HEINKEL TROJAN, Roman Blue

ABOUT HEINKEL TROJAN

The Heinkel Kabine was a microcar designed by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke and built by them from 1956 to 1958. Production was transferred under licence to Dundalk Engineering Company in Ireland in 1958. However, the licence was withdrawn shortly afterwards due to poor quality control. Production restarted in 1960, again under licence, under the Trojan 200 name by Trojan Cars Ltd. in the UK, and continued until 1966.

Trojan was founded by British engineer Leslie Hounsfield, who sought to make a simple, economical car that was easy to operate. Design began in 1910 and by 1913 a prototype was ready. The advent of World War I caused a delay in production, but in 1922, 100 of Trojan’s “Utility Cars” were ordered by Leyland Motors. Over the next seven years, 16,800 Trojan passenger cars and vans were produced. When the Leyland partnership ended, Trojan introduced the RE (Rear Engine) model at the 1929 London Motor Show. 

The low purchase price and high fuel economy, around 40 mpg, made the Trojan RE van very popular with firms requiring small delivery vehicles. The largest order of vans came from Brooke Bond tea, making the car familiar all over Britain.

During WWII, the factory ceased car production to manufacture bomb racks and containers in which supplies could be dropped to troops by parachute. Post war, Trojan concentrated on producing vans.

Lambretta scooter importer Peter Agg bought Trojan in 1959, about the same time Ernst Heinkel wanted to pivot from producing his German microcars back to airplane manufacturing. A deal was struck, and in 1961 rebadged Heinkel Kabines started rolling off the lines as the Trojan 200, with cars in some markets retaining both badges. Trojan ceased building these bubble cars in 1965, yet the company later built the Elva Courier sports car and then moved to production of McLaren sports racing cars. Trojan also built Formula 1 and F5000 open wheel cars until the mid-1970s.

The Kabine had a steel unit body. Access to the interior was by an opening front. In order not to infringe Iso Rivolta's patent used on the Isetta, the steering wheel did not hinge outwards with the door to ease passenger access. However, it did feature a reverse gear, unlike some other bubble cars. The fabric sun roof served as an emergency escape hatch should the sole door in front become jammed in a collision.

The Kabine featured prominently in the 1959 film I'm All Right Jack and the 1961 film Murder in Eden, and was briefly featured in the 1957 films Blue Murder at St Trinian's and The Naked Truth (aka Your Past Is Showing).

"Kabine" is the German word for "cabin".