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34-484: Messerschmitt, temporarily not allowed to manufacture aircraft, had turned its resources to making other products. In 1952, Fend approached Messerschmitt with the idea of manufacturing small motor vehicles. These were based on his Fend Flitzer invalid carriage . The first of Fend's vehicles to enter production at Messerschmitt's Regensburg factory was the KR175 . The title Kabinenroller means " scooter with cabin". While

68-454: A claimed power output of only 10 PS (7.4 kW; 9.9 hp), 1 more PS than the 175 cc engine from the KR175, reflected the vehicle's light weight and low aerodynamic drag. The KR200, however, was 23 kg heavier than the KR175 it replaced but had a 10 km/h (6 mph) higher top speed. An "Export" package included a two-tone paint scheme, painted hubcaps, a fully trimmed interior,

102-545: A fan at each end of the unit, one to cool each cylinder of the engine. Unlike the KR175 or the KR200, the Tg500 had a reverse gear in its transmission, which was part of a transaxle unit. The controls of the Tg500 were similar to those of the KR200 except for the Tg500's single starting mode for the engine and its H-pattern gearshift with reverse gear and no auxiliary lever. A tachometer was offered as an optional replacement for

136-463: A front wheel that was steered by handlebars and powered by a mechanism actuated by pushing back and forth on the handlebars. Shortly afterward, it was offered with a 38 cc (2.3 cu in) Victoria two-stroke proprietary engine normally used for motorizing bicycles. Fend then designed the Flitzer, a larger, better-enclosed invalid carriage. It was designed from the start to be powered by

170-438: A gasoline engine. Whereas the earlier tricycle was both steered and powered by a single front wheel, the Flitzer had a pair of front wheels linked to the steering mechanism and a powered rear wheel. The Flitzer was made with aluminium panels over a steel frame and was enclosed at the front, sides, and back. It had a hatch at the top that was hinged at the front and tilted forward for the operator to get in. The first version of

204-572: A heater, a clock, and a sunshade for the canopy. In 1956, around a year after West Germany joined NATO , Messerschmitt was allowed to manufacture aircraft again and lost interest in Fend's microcars. Messerschmitt sold the Regensburg works to Fend who, with brake and hub supplier Valentin Knott  [ de ] , formed Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH Regensburg (FMR) to continue production of

238-516: A mass market for a larger, transport-oriented version of the Flitzer. Fend began to design and develop a two-seat vehicle similar in concept to the Flitzer. He also began looking for a manufacturer to mass-produce this vehicle. He came to an agreement with Messerschmitt for them to build Fend vehicles in their factory at Regensburg Part of the agreement was that the cars carried the Messerschmitt name, with Fend's new design being designated

272-410: A practical length. 10 PS (7.4 kW; 9.9 hp) propelled the KR200 to around 105 km/h (65 mph). The claimed fuel consumption of the car was 3.2 L/100 km (87 mpg ‑imp ). The tandem seating also centralized the mass of the car along the longitudinal axis which, combined with the low center of gravity, low weight, and wheel placement at the vehicle's extremes, gave

306-484: A scooter-type saddle was placed above the rear enclosure with footrests on either side of the body. A closed version, on which the hatch had an enclosure that covered the operator, was made available. The enclosure included the windshield and side windows. About 250 Flitzers had been built when production stopped in 1951. Many of these invalid carriages had been bought by able-bodied individuals seeking basic personal transport. This led Fend to believe that there would be

340-518: A secondary lever on it which, when actuated, would put the car in neutral regardless of what gear it had been in before, although the transmission would have to be shifted back to first before the car would be able to move from a standstill. Unlike the KR175, the KR200 had a full set of pedals: clutch, brake, and accelerator. The brake pedal still operated mechanical brakes using cables. de:Messerschmitt Kabinenroller es:Messerschmitt KR175 fi:Messerschmitt KR Fend Flitzer The Fend Flitzer

374-550: A special single-seat low-drag body and a highly modified engine, but the suspension, steering, and braking components were stock. Throttle, brake, and clutch cables were duplicated. The record car was run on 29–30 August 1955 at the Hockenheimring for 24 hours and broke 22 international speed records in its class, including the 24-hour speed record, which it set at 103 km/h (64 mph) Messerschmitt, and subsequently FMR, made factory-converted Service Cars to order for

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408-529: Is known to exist at present. The KR200 incorporated several features unique to the KR line and its four-wheeled derivative, the FMR Tg500 . Externally, the narrow body, the transparent acrylic bubble canopy and low stance were among the more obvious features. The narrow body, and corresponding low frontal area, was achieved with tandem seating, which also allowed the body to taper like an aircraft fuselage, within

442-672: The German economy boomed. A similar situation developed in other parts of Europe, such as in the manufacturer's biggest export destination, the United Kingdom, where sales were particularly affected and the Mini was becoming increasingly popular. A total of 30,286 units of the KR200 were built. In 1955, in order to prove the KR200's durability, Messerschmitt prepared a KR200 to break the 24-hour speed record for three-wheeled vehicles under 250 cc (15.3 cu in). The record car had

476-578: The Messerschmitt KR175 . FMR Tg500 The FMR Tg500 was a sports car built by Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, Regensburg (FMR) from 1958 to 1961. Based on the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller monocoque , which otherwise was a platform for three-wheelers , the Tg500 was a four-wheeled car with a two-stroke straight-two engine. FMR had taken over production of the KR200 from Messerschmitt in 1956. While

510-520: The Flitzer was open, with a hole and a windshield in the hatch for the operator's head and shoulders to stick through and be protected from the wind. Flitzers made from September 1948 into 1950 were powered by a 98 cc (6.0 cu in) Fichtel & Sachs two-stroke engine . Suspension was by rubber springs loaded in torsion. In 1950 the engine was changed to a 100 cc (6.1 cu in) Riedel/Imme engine. By 1951, in response to customer requests for passenger-carrying capability,

544-573: The KR200 and his other vehicles. In 1957 the KR201 Roadster was launched and remained in production until 1964 with very limited numbers produced. It had a frameless windscreen with no window frames, an optional folding cloth roof and removable side curtains made from transparent plastic. In February 1958, the KR200 Kabrio Limousine model was released, featuring a cloth convertible top and fixed side window frames. A Sport model

578-492: The KR200 good handling characteristics A more minor advantage of tandem seating was that it made an export version to countries that drive on the left unnecessary. An "Export" model was built, but this denoted a more luxurious trim level. Entry to most KR models except the KR201 Sport Roadster and a corresponding Tg500 version was through a canopy door hinged on the right side of the vehicle. The door included all

612-533: The KR200 still used the Messerschmitt name and logo, the Tg500 was badged as an FMR. "Tg" unofficially stood for Tiger. The "Tiger" name was claimed in Germany by Krupp , who used it on one of their trucks. There was also a Panhard Dyna Z Tiger at the same time. The Tg500 incorporated several features from the Kabinenroller platform on which it was based, including the narrow body with tandem seating,

646-443: The Messerschmitt name and insignia were used on the car, a separate company, incorporated as Regensburger Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH, was created to manufacture and market the vehicle. The KR200 replaced the KR175 in 1955. While using the same basic frame as the KR175, the KR200 was otherwise an almost total redesign, with changes to the bodywork (notably including wheel cutouts in the front fenders), and an improved canopy design, while

680-463: The Tg500 was through a canopy door hinged on the right side of the vehicle. The door included both the windows (windshield, window frames on all but the Roadster models, folding top on Roadster and Kabrio models, and acrylic bubble on other versions) and the frame in which it was set, extending from the right side of the monocoque tub to the left. On Sport Roadster models, the canopy was fixed and there

714-624: The automobile service industry. Similar in concept to the Harley-Davidson Servi-Car and the Indian Dispatch Tow, the Service Car had a detachable tow bar and clamp, a revised front suspension to accommodate the tow bar when in use, and a storage system inside the car to accommodate the tow bar when not in use. The service technician would drive the Service Car to the customer's car and, if the customer's car

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748-418: The clock. Apart from the use of 4.40 x 10 tires all around and an increase in front track from 108 cm (43 in) to 111 cm (44 in), the front suspension and steering were the same as that on the KR200. The rear suspension was fully independent, with universal joints at both ends of each halfshaft, located by lower wishbones and coil springs with concentrically mounted shock absorbers. Unlike

782-529: The dual-mode ignition, the KR200 had a steering bar reminiscent of that of an aircraft. To steer the KR200, the driver would swivel the steering bar about its axis from the horizontal (straight-ahead) position instead of rotating it as with a conventional steering wheel. The mechanism was connected directly to the track rods of the front wheels, providing an extremely direct response best suited to small amounts of movement, unlike other common steering mechanisms which involved reduction gearing . The gearshift lever had

816-411: The rear suspension and engine mounting were reworked, and hydraulic shock absorbers were installed at all three wheels. Tire sizes were enlarged to 4.00×8. Retailing for around DM 2,500, the KR200 was considered an instant success with almost 12,000 built during its first year, which was the highest annual production for Kabinenroller models. A maximum speed in excess of 90 km/h (56 mph) despite

850-472: The rear wheel, just behind the passenger's seat. The engine had two sets of contact breaker points and, to reverse, the engine was stopped and then restarted, going backwards. This was effected by pushing the key further in the ignition switch than normal, whether intentionally or not. One result of this was that the KR200's sequential, positive-stop transmission provided the car with the same four gear ratios available in reverse as in forward movement. Apart from

884-487: The three-wheeled Kabinenrollers , which had cable-operated mechanical brakes, the Tg500 had hydraulic brakes. In stock form, the Tg500 accelerated from rest to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 28 seconds and went on to a top speed of 78 mph (126 km/h). At a similar price, the first series of the Austin-Healey Sprite accelerated from rest to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 21 seconds and went on to

918-428: The transparent acrylic bubble canopy , the low stance, and the direct steering. The narrow body, and corresponding low frontal area, was achieved with tandem seating, which also allowed the body to taper like an aircraft fuselage, within a practical length. The tandem seating also centralized the mass of the car along the longitudinal axis which, combined with the low center of gravity, low weight, and wheel placement at

952-486: The vehicle's extremes, gave the Tg500 good handling characteristics. A more minor advantage of tandem seating was that it made a mirrored export version to countries that drive on the left superfluous. The center of gravity of the car was at the rear seat, which meant that the presence or absence of a passenger did not change the handling characteristics of the car. Except for the Sports Roadster model, entry to

986-401: The windows (windshield, window frames on all but the Roadster models, folding top on Roadster and Kabrio models, and acrylic bubble on other versions) and the frame in which it was set, extending from the right side of the monocoque tub to the left. On Sport Roadster models, the canopy was fixed and there was neither a top nor any windows at all, only a tonneau cover. The bubble top on the KR200

1020-528: Was a three-wheeled invalid carriage designed and built by Fritz Fend . The Flitzer established many of the basic concepts on which Fend's later Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars were developed. In 1948, Fend, a former aeronautical engineer and technical officer in the Luftwaffe , began production of a tricycle invalid carriage in his workshop in Rosenheim , Germany . The tricycle had

1054-402: Was drivable, attach the tow bar to the front of the Service Car, clamp the other end of the tow bar to the bumper of the customer's car, and drive the customer's car to the garage. When the service was complete, he would drive the car back to the customer while towing the Service Car, detach the Service Car from the customer's car, and drive back to the garage. Approximately 12 were built; only one

Messerschmitt KR200 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-527: Was later offered with a cut down plexiglas windscreen with no roof and with fixed side panels so that the driver would have to climb in and out at the top of the car. Production of the Sport was extremely limited and, apart from the KR200 'Super' (see below) it is the rarest type of KR200. Production of the KR200 was heavily reduced in 1962 and ceased in 1964. Sales had been dropping for a few years, as demand for basic economical transport in Germany diminished while

1122-411: Was neither a top nor any windows at all, only a tonneau cover. The bubble top on the Tg500 was the same as the one used on the KR200. The Tg500 ran on a 494 cc (30.1 cu in) air-cooled two-cylinder two-stroke engine positioned transversely over the rear wheels. The engine, designed by Fichtel & Sachs , was built by FMR. The Dynastart starter/generator unit was belt driven, and had

1156-510: Was simplified over that of the KR175 by the use of a larger curved glass windshield that formed A-pillars with the side window frames. This allowed the bubble to be simpler and more compact than the KR175 bubble, and it was consequently easier and less expensive to produce. The windshield wiper, manual on the KR175, was electric on the KR200. The KR200 ran on a 191 cc (11.7 cu in) Fichtel & Sachs forced-air (fan) cooled single cylinder two-stroke engine positioned in front of

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