The BUBU 505-C, a small replica moped car with a 50cc engine
In the car world, the term ‘replica’ often refers to a reproduction of a famous car of yesteryear, using components from a modern car. It was probably around the mid-1960s that such replicas began to be made more frequently. Well-known replica cars from that period include the American ‘Excalibur SS’, which imitated the Mercedes-Benz ‘SS’, the pioneer of this type of car, and the British ‘Panther J72’, which imitated the Jaguar ‘SS100’.
A lineage of replica cars paying homage to pre-war sports cars
Because the real ‘originals’ from the vintage (1919-1930) and post-vintage (1931-1939) periods of the British era were rare and too expensive, replica cars that could easily enjoy the atmosphere of the vintage period attracted a certain amount of support from enthusiasts all over the world. The replica cars, which could easily enjoy the atmosphere of the original, gained a certain amount of support from enthusiasts all over the world.
Although most of the manufacturers of these replica cars were small workshops, there were some examples, such as the Alfa Romeo Gran Sport Quattroruote, where the manufacturer/carrozzeria itself revived its heritage in the modern age.
Incidentally, 1971 was a time when “classic cars” were in the limelight worldwide, with the exhibition tour of the Hurler’s Automobile Collection of the USA being held in Japan under the title of “World Classic Car Festival”. Such a historical background may have been a distant cause of the birth of many replica cars in this period.
BUBU original of the 80s
Standing in front of the AMW interview team is another kind of replica car. It is clearly based on the SS100, Jaguar’s 1935 debut car, and the Panther J72, which it replicates, but what is different is its size. This was the ‘BUBU 505-C’, a small one-seater moped car measuring around 2.5 m in length. This model was released in 1985 by Mitsuoka Motors, now known as a unique car manufacturer releasing models such as the Viewt and Buddy.
In 1982, Mitsuoka Motors, which had long been developing a safe and economical minimal transporter that could be ridden with a moped license and was easy to operate, released an original moped car named the BUBU Shuttle.
The company’s moped car lineup, which was created under the concept of “easy to ride ‘anytime’, ‘anywhere’ and ‘anyone'”, continued to grow with the BUBU501, 502, 503, and 504. The lineup of moped cars has been continuously expanded with the “BUBU501,” “502,” “503,” and “504. All of them were originally designed as one-seater mopeds with weather-resistant cabins and, depending on the model, even doors.
However, among such a line-up of practical tools, only the 505-C is unique in that it is a hobby open-body car with a motif of an actual classic car.
Mitsuoka’s transitional period from moped cars to classical standard cars
The new Road Traffic Act of 1985 made it necessary to obtain a regular license to drive a moped car, instead of the moped license that had been required until then. As a result, the advantages of the simple moped car were reduced by one, but Mitsuoka Motors took advantage of this 1985 amendment to the law to start developing a replica of the standard car.
In 1987, the company launched the BUBU Classic SSK based on the Volkswagen Beetle, reminiscent of the Mercedes-Benz SSK. This can be said to be the roots of the replica-style standard cars that have led to the Mitsuoka Viewt, the Galue, and the Zero One to this day.
On the other hand, the company gradually withdrew from the moped car market around this time. In other words, the BUBU 505-C, which was born in 1985, can be said to be one of the cars produced at a turning point in the company’s history, when Mitsuoka Motors made the transition from being a “light moped car manufacturer” to becoming a “car manufacturer that releases cars with a classical original design for the enthusiast”.
One of the most difficult of microcars
The owner of the BUBU 505-C is Mr. Yuki Mizuguchi. He says he has loved vehicles in general since he was young, but he is particularly keen on small cars. He is an avid “small car collector” who owns many other mopeds and his day job is as a veterinary doctor.
The BUBU 505-C was born as a high-end moped car for fashion-conscious adults, a complete change from the previous BUBU series cars, and was priced at over one million yen when it was first announced. The number of units produced was announced as a limited edition of 500, but it is said that only a little over 300 were sold.
The BUBU 505-C, a Jaguar SS100-style replica moped car was never a commercial success, but its significance was never small.
“I called Mitsuoka the other day to enquire about the 505-C, but they replied that they had zero documentation and no parts in stock. Even among those who choose microcars, the 505-C is famous for its difficulty (you can’t buy parts, there is no documentation, and there are only a few of them). Even so, there seems to be no doubt that this design still has many fans.”
Mr. Mizuguchi told us. Even now, 505-Cs still appear for sale on the used car market from time to time, and they seem to have a cult-like popularity among enthusiasts.