The Gacek prototype

The W65.S65.N65 vehicle was a Polish car prototype intended for disabled people. It received its name “Gacek” after the name of a popular bat when only two prototypes had already been on the road. 

Designing the vehicle and making prototypes was entrusted to the Transport Equipment Factory (WSK) in Świdnik, known mainly for motorcycle and helicopter production. The Cracow University of Technology was also involved in the design process. The W65.S65.N65 microcar was to be a light, four-wheeled car that could accommodate two adults (including one disabled person) and two small children. In 1966, work began on the first mockup of the vehicle. The vehicle used a two-stroke, two-cylinder motorcycle Jawa 572/01 engine, which was used, among the others, in a Czechoslovak vehicle for disabled people – Velorex. However, in the Polish car, the engine was placed above the front wheel axle, and not at the rear of the vehicle.

The future Gacek was originally intended to be a wheelchair vehicle and only after positive results of operational tests the possibility of it becoming a microcar for general use was considered. Especially since another Polish microcar, the Mikrus MR-300, had been out of production since 1960. The W65.S65.N65 microcar was distinguished by its modern solutions, including the front drive, which was not used in small cars at that time. The steering and braking system came from a Trabant car. The body was made of bent sheet metal, and the front hood was made of plastic. 

The first wheelchair vehicle was manufactured in 1969 and could transport two people and 90 kg of cargo. The road tests analysis revealed that it could be useful for ordinary road users, especially in urban traffic, where high manoeuvrability and the ability to park in small spaces were important. The W.65.S65.N.65 microcar, later called “Gacek”, met these conditions, providing two transported people with driving comfort corresponding to midclass passenger cars 

The two-door coupe body of the car had an aesthetic shape with a large straight front windscreen, large side windows and a rear window, which provided the user with excellent visibility both forward, sideways and rearwards from the vehicle. The wheelbase of the car was 1850 mm, and the overall length was only 2970 mm. The vehicle weighs 560 kg. Top speed was 72 km/h. Average fuel consumption was 7.5 litres per 100 km.

 Getting in and out of the car was easy and comfortable thanks to the wide doors and the swivelling driver’s seat. The front seats had longitudinal adjustment and backrest angle adjustment. The position of the driver and passenger was comfortable even during long drives covering many hundreds of kilometres.

 Access to the luggage space was also possible through the opening rear window. Very good visibility was ensured by the large glass surface.

The vehicle was unquestionably suitable for use as a car for the disabled, and it was also ready to be used as a small car, especially in city traffic. The W65.S65.N65 wheelchair vehicle, or “Gacek”, successfully passed a series of tests. The Polish Association of Disabled People also gave a positive opinion about this car. Plans for the development of the car’s structure were prepared at the WSK plant: based on Gacek, the following were planned (mainly in the form of drawings and sketches): delivery van – economy version, version with electric drive, version with a foldable tarpaulin roof, laminate body version without a roof and with the roof in place.

In 1970 the second version of the W65.S65.N65 Gacek mini car received an award from the then Minister of Culture and Art for outstanding achievements in the field of industrial design. In 1971, the vehicle’s designers also received the NOT (Central Technical Organization) award for achievements in the field of technology. Despite successful trial results and positive opinions from experts, engineers and medics, the decision to start the production of the Gacek car for the disabled has not been made.

Acknowledgement

Gacek's vehicle information, added in 2024, is based on the article of Bartosz Zakrzewski: “Vehicles for Disabled People on Tests at the Motor Transport Institute in Warsaw (1945-1990)”. Additional source: “Polish microcars” brochure created by MIT, Cracow. Bolko Rawicz was fascinated with this car, but the information was unavailable at that time.