1951 Atlas Babycar 2S Roadster

The Atlas Babycar was a post-war French microcar that had a design rendered entirely in steel. It had a well-engineered chassis with a tubular frame, coil spring front suspension, rack-and-pinion steering, and cable brakes on all four wheels. It wore a modern roadster design with rounded, bulbous fenders, two-piece aluminum casting wheels, and a sloping rear deck.

Early in production, several different engine sizes were installed, with the final unit being a 175-cubic centimeter AMC single-cylinder engine. The 8.5-horsepower engine drove only the left rear wheel, via a Cardan shaft, to a cable-operated separate gear case incorporating a reverse gear. Starting was via a floor-mounted pull-lever in the cabin.

Luxury amenities found on the Atlas included doors, a folding windshield, built-in headlamps, and baroque grille and headlamp alloy castings.

The Atlas Company was a short-lived venture, with its existence not lasting much after its appearance at the 1953 Paris Salon.

This particular example was formerly part of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison, Georgia. It was discovered in its original condition in France and has since been given a restoration.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2017