1946 Mathis 333 3-Wheeled Car Prototype

Modern Mechanix provides this scan of a 1946 Popular Science, pointing to this three-wheeled prototype from French auto manufacturer Mathis. A little digging uncovers that a "Mathis 333" prototype was built and shown at the 1946 Paris Motor show, but never entered into production.

Had it been made, the Mathis 33 would have been powered by a 707cc flat twin watercooled engine, including "separate radiators for each cylinder." (That means two whole radiators!)

Sadly, Mathis gave up the ghost in 1950 and the sleek little 333 never made it onto the mean streets of Paris. Fortunately for us, the prototype is still around.

(And yes, I know there have been other three-wheeled cars, like the Reliant Robin, but I like the cut of the 333's jib.)

AUTO IDEAS (Nov, 1946) [ModernMechanix.com]
Mathis 333 Page [3-Wheelers.com]

[#1 posted by stockholm , September 4, 2007 11:52 AM]

This look so much like the Corbin Sparrow\Myers NmG and (especially) the Corbin Merlin that it makes me think someone is fibbing.
http://www.3wheelers.com/corbin.html

[#2 posted by Anonymous , September 4, 2007 12:46 PM]

"Popualr Science"...shouldn't it be "Popular"?

[#3 posted by dculberson , September 4, 2007 9:07 PM]

Stockholm, the Sparrow or Merlin look different enough to me. Why would 3wheelers.com and Modern Mechanix both be wrong?

I like that this is the more stable layout (verus the Reliant Robin) of two in front, one in rear. Cool looking, too. A replica, powered by a Hyabusa engine, would be awesome. :-)

[#4 posted by Anonymous , September 5, 2007 5:05 AM]

The Corbin Sparrow is at most a 1 person car, and this looks like it holds at least 2, or maybe if you can wedge someone into the back seat 3.