I’m obviously on a vintage Fiat jag lately. Fiats were re-imagined in just about every way possible by the fertile Italian minds of the time. One of the more memorable (or amusing) was the Michelotti Cane, the solution to hot Italian summers. Now if this cane were organically grown and sustainably harvested, the Cane might well have been way ahead of its time. Just don’t leave it out in the rain too many times, or it will turn into the Michelotti Compost.
Sweet Jesus! Imagine the waffle marks on the legs of the shorts and skirts wearing passengers after they get out of that thing. Not to mension getting a wikker splinter in the rear region while driving.
These remind me of the seat cushions my mother used to buy at K-Mart in the 1960s for use in cars with vinyl seats and no a/c. I remember a woven mesh material with thin coil springs in the middle to create some air circulation space between the driver’s butt and back and that miserable vinyl seat.
These are kind of cool. Want to change the interior color? Some Krylon spray paint will take care of that. 🙂
I recall my aunt and uncle had those cushions in their car when I was about 12. (1964) I thought those cushions were neat, and pestered my Dad to take me to Sun Drug to buy one for myself (with Christmas money). After I got it, I wondered why I wanted it.
Back then, a waste of $ 1.98, big money to a boy back then.
I saw a Fiat at an Indianapolis Concours show in 2006 which had the same seating with cushions added….like patio furniture.
At one time wicker seating was quite common on US trolleys and Interurban vehicles.
Wicker seats were used in aircraft up to the 1930s. If you can use them at -10°c at 120mph and 10,000′ I think a trip to the beach in what looks like a Fiat 850 based runaround should be safe.
Could almost pass as a golf cart…
Just when you think you have seen everything you see something like this. Keep em coming Paul.
Taking it to a basket weaving class to repair the upholstery could be a laugh, I thought Id seen it all too
Seriously, this reminds me of something I’ve wondered: As one who sits in a nylon mesh office chair all day, how long will it be before we see this material used for car seats?
It has the advantages of light weight, thinness, comfort and adequate strength in the better materials; I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before it’s done.
I think Onasis had one of these on his yacht as a dingy. These things were sort of custom made for the wealthy to put around the Riviera in.
indeed ! Are you sure it was called “cane” ?? It means “dog” and hasn’t a very good connotation, I think it was called “spiaggetta” (little beach)…
Wicker? I hardly know ‘er!
A never understood question. My parents had some sort of seat covers for their leather covered Caddies and Lincons. They were wood balled thingies. Not major pain, but bizarre. What were those?
They were supposed to massage while you drove. IMO they did not work.
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There are a lot of cars designed by Michelotti in the DAF car museum in Eindhoven the Netherlands
www. dafmuseum.nl
and there is more
Watch YOUTUBE : the daf siluro rides again.