The Tin Snail

quite charmed by today's article in the times about a collector of "tin snails," 
or deux cheveaux vapeaurs, little french cars manufactured from 1948-1990.
as the article notes, the cars "were to france what the volkswagen beetle
was to germany and the ford model t to america — 
inexpensive transportation for tough economic times."
perhaps the best part:
 the cars were tested to "be driven across a plowed farm field with a basket of
eggs on the seat, not breaking a single one. 
being easy on eggs meant it would be comfortable for humans, too."
.........