Canta LX- 1998

Dutch manufacturer Waaijenberg introduced this two-seat microcar, the Canta, in 1995. With its low step-in height and the availability of hand controls, the Canta was specifically created to ensure the independence of people with mobility restrictions. At only 44” wide, this car is narrow enough to be allowed to drive on bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. Advertised as “transport from door to door”, the Canta is classified as a mobility aid; a driver’s license is not required to operate it. One trim level, the Inrij Canta, or Ride-in Canta, is designed so that a wheelchair user can enter by a ramp at the rear and can be driven while seated in their wheelchair. The Canta can legally park anywhere free of charge on the sidewalk, helpful on the congested streets of Amsterdam, where parking is scarce and expensive.

After 22 years of producing the exact same car, Waaijenberg partnered with Dutch design firm Steketee Design to create the second generation, which launched in 2017. While the basic size was kept, the exterior and interior were updated with LED lighting and modern infotainment systems.

In 2012, the Dutch National Ballet premiered a ballet expressly written for dancers and cars for the disabled, and featured the Canta in the piece. All in all, there were 55 Cantas on stage with 50 ballet dancers performing. The centerpiece featured a special guest prima, or chief female dancer: Dutch disabled-rights activist Karin Spaink. Although Spaink has multiple sclerosis, she was able to perform a pas de deux, or dance for two people, with a partner using the Canta. De Canta danst! is possibly the only ballet ever to feature choreography between a dancer and an automobile.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Waaijenberg Mobilitiet B.V.
Country of Origin: The Netherlands
Drivetrain Configuration: Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine: Honda, air-cooled, 160cc, single cylinder, 5.5hp
Transmission: Centrifugal clutch, forward and reverse
Top Speed: Governed to 45 kph (28mph)
Years of Production: 1995-2017 (first generation)
Number Produced: Few hundred a year
Original Cost: €11.500 – €17.000 ($12,755 USD)