THE BALDET BLUEBIRD

by Tony Marshall (published in the Isetta Gazette May 1979)

I first heard of Andre Baldet a few months ago when sorting through some old motoring magazines looking for material for the newsletter. His name appeared part way through a report of the 1958 RAC Rally, where it was stated that he and his co-driver, R.E.Field, had entered an Isetta 4 wheeler for the event, and it had been only one of two micro-cars to finish, the other being a Goggomobil.

After that I heard no more apart from a story that Mr Baldet had once been involved in a company in the Midlands dealing in three wheelers, including the Isetta.

Then, when I visited Vic Locke in March, he showed me a letter that he had just received from one of our newer members, Brian Westoby. Brian had included a couple of photo-copies of a page from 'Motor Cycling', featuring a three wheeler based upon an old Isetta which had been written off due to a serious accident, and built by - Andre Baldet! In the letter, Brian also mentioned that the firm which Mr Baldet had set up in the Midlands was still in business, and had several branches, the main one being in Northampton. He had tried to contact Mr Baldet, but had been unsuccessful as Mr Baldet spends a lot of time in his native France every year.

The car Andre Baldet built was named the 'Baldet Bluebird', and utilised the Isetta chassis and engine, but the body was completely different, and rather striking in appearance. The front end was actually the entire front from a Renault Dauphine, front panel, wings and bonnet. To the rear of this, the body comprised a sleek, open topped fibre glass structure, very low and with cut away sides in place of doors. The tail tapered to a finish just to the rear of the single rear wheel. Two small folding windscreens were fitted, one in front of the driver, and one in front of the passenger. The magazine report gives the top speed as over 60mph, and the car was said to weigh only half as much as a complete Isetta, and the frontal area was, of course, much reduced. The low centre of gravity was brought about by converting the car into what was virtually a chassis with hardly any weight on top meant that cornering and handling were much improved. The total cost of the car, including the purchase of the original wrecked Isetta, did not exceed £200, although, of course, that represented a lot more wealth in 1962 than it does now. The main advantages were that spares were so easily available, most of the parts being purchased through Isetta dealers (especially Moto Baldet?), while the front body section was just as easily obtainable from Renault dealers. It was reported that Mr Baldet was working on a mark 2 version, but we are not told how it would have differed from the car described. For the record, the registration number of the Bluebird, and probably the original Isetta, was MVV 262. Does it still exist?

I returned home from my trip, delighted with my gained information, so imagine my surprise when, the very next morning, the postman delivered a letter from club member Ken Slatter, who brought up the name of Andre Baldet again. Ken states that Andre Baldet was the main agent in the Midlands for Isetta's and other Micro-cars, scooters and mopeds. In the 1950's and early '60's Mr Baldet purchased a large number of foof racks and rear luggage racks, designed and manufactured especially for Isetta's by Ken's firm. Who knows, perhaps Ken can renew his acquaintance with Mr Baldet, and at the same time find out the final fate of 'The Baldet Bluebird'.