Balaton (Hungary) - AllCarIndex

Balaton was a Hungarian microcar brand established in 1955 by the Székesfehérvár Motor Repair Company, which operated under the Ministry of Metallurgy and Engineering. The brand was part of a government initiative to produce affordable vehicles in the post-war era. Balaton was named after Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Hungary, and was designed by József Zappel.

The Balaton microcar featured a unique design that distinguished it from its contemporaries. Its suspension system, which utilized rubber tags, was conceived by Ernő Rubik, an aeronautical designer who later became known for inventing the Rubik's Cube. The Balaton shared many mechanical components with another model, the Alba Regia, but it was notable for its distinctive body structure. The car's roof and doors were integrated into a single unit that slid backward to provide access to the cabin, a design reminiscent of aircraft construction.

Despite its innovative features, the Balaton microcar was produced in limited numbers and is now a part of Hungary's automotive history, reflecting the country's efforts in microcar development during the mid-20th century.