1958 MESSERSCHMITT KR200

Best known for war-plane construction under the Nazi Regime, Messerschmitt in the post-war years began production of a series of microcars, designed for a recovering German economy. There was a ban on German fighter plane production, leaving Messerschmitt without a product to sell. A German engineer called Fritz Fend penned the design and found a company capable of producing it in Messerschmitt.

IMG_4243.jpeg
IMG_4242.jpeg
IMG_4241.jpeg
IMG_4240.jpeg
IMG_4239.jpeg
IMG_4237.jpeg
IMG_4236.jpeg
IMG_4235.jpeg
IMG_4234.jpeg

The KR200 is powered by a Fichtel & Sachs single cylinder 191cc engine, producing a mighty 10 horsepower. Surprisingly, this is enough to propel the 230kg three-wheeler to a top speed more than 90km/h! The KR200 was a mainstay of the ‘Bubble Car’ craze that swept across Europe in the 1950s, a competitor to cars such as BMW’s Isetta, Heinkel’s Kabine and the Peel P50. Today, these cars remain highly collectable amongst enthusiasts.