- Two vintage micro-roadsters for children are listed for sale on eBay.
- Both were manufactured by Polish company Alpha under license from Mercedes and Porsche.
- They use combustion engines from lawnmowers and manual gearboxes.
Generation X and Millennials might remember the cool factor of having a scaled-down replica of an automobile with a gas-powered engine. Two great examples from this era, a Mercedes-Benz SL and a Porsche 911 are currently up for grabs on eBay, begging to be driven by young enthusiasts.
The mini-me automobiles were manufactured by Polish company Alpha, who reportedly built around 2,000 combustion cars for children throughout the ’80s and the ’90s. The R129 generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL and the classic Porsche 911 are two of the most popular examples from the “Junior” series, officially licensed by the respective automakers.
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The Mercedes appears to be in pristine condition, having stood on the shelf for many years – at least according to the seller. The bodywork mimics the lines of the SL although the proportions had to be slightly adjusted to be functional for the little ones.
The pint-sized roadster also has functional headlights and taillights and rides on rubber tires, adding to the realism. In the exposed cabin, we find a single seat, a steering wheel, a shifter, an analog instrument cluster, and a few switches.
manajm0 / eBay
Under the boot lies a 127cc combustion engine sourced from a Briggs & Stratton lawnmower. The mill burns gasoline from the adjacent tank and is mated to a manual transmission. The latter has two forward gears and a reverse, being operated by a clutch pedal. There is also a sprung suspension system so that the driver enjoys a comfortable ride.
The similarly-sized Porsche 911 from 1989 features several improvements as it was designed after the original Mercedes. The body is a more convincing replica of the original, albeit with a roofless, single-seater configuration. Details like the Carrera badging on the tail and the Turbo-style bodykit are a nice touch, although it would be even better if the dummy roof was functional.
The rear-mounted engine is an 83cc Honda G100 unit, which is widely used to power lawnmowers, generators, and other equipment. According to the listing on eBay, the mill is good for a top speed of up to 40 km/h (25 mph), which can be manually limited for younger drivers. As in the Mercedes, power is transmitted to the wheels via a two-speed manual gearbox.
The Porsche also appears to be in great shape both visually and mechanically. The seller suggests that the vehicle spent the past two decades exhibited in a collection and was serviced and repainted three years ago.
Well-preserved examples of the Alpha Junior automobiles can fetch a serious amount of money for their size. The pictured Mercedes is currently listed for €9,600 ($10,400), while the Porsche is more expensive at €10,900 ($11,817). The models are being offered by different sellers, located in the German cities of Nettetal and Wiesbaden respectively.
