Disabled vehicles: auto- motorcycle SMZ – S – 3A. Power – 8 hp. Made in 1959. Moscow transport museum

The SMZ cyclecar was a Soviet microcar, manufactured in Serpukhov, Russia, by Serpukhov Motor Works (Russian: Серпуховский Мотозавод, Serpukhovskiy Motozavod), later known as the now-defunct SeAZ. The most common models were the S-3A (S-Three-A) and S-3D (S-Three-D).

They were specially designed for disabled drivers and were distributed in the USSR free or at a large discount through the Soviet Union’s social welfare system, and were not officially sold to non-disabled people. The S-3A-M was produced between 1958 and 1970. It was powered by a 346 cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine, giving 10 hp (7 kW) and a top speed of 55 km/h (34 mph).

The S-3D, produced between 1970 and 1997, was a twin-seat, four-wheeled cyclecar, 2.6 metres (102.4 in) in length, but rather heavy (≈500 kg) due to all-steel body. It was powered by IZH-P3 air-cooled two-stroke engine (18 DIN hp).

In the USSR the model was commonly known as a “motor-wheelchair” (Russian: инвалидка, invalidka) because they were only leased via the social care system to disabled people for five years without permission to sell (in a similar way to the British Invacars, made by AC, Thundersley and Tippen). After five years of use, a lessee had to return his “motor-wheelchair” to the social care organisations, and was given a new one.

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