Messerschmitt KR200
| Messerschmitt KR200 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt |
| Also called | Kabinenroller, Karo |
| Production |
|
| Designer | Fritz Fend |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Microcar |
| Body style | 1-door coupé 1-door convertible 1-door roadster |
| Layout | Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
| Platform | Messerschmitt Kabinenroller |
| Related |
Messerschmitt KR175 Messerschmitt KR201 (roadster) FMR Tg500 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 191 cc Fichtel & Sachs two-stroke single cylinder, operable in both directions of crankshaft rotation |
| Transmission | Four speeds forward or reverse (depending on engine rotation), sequential, unsynchronized. |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 202.9 cm (79.9 in) |
| Length | 281.9 cm (111.0 in) |
| Width | 121.9 cm (48.0 in) |
| Height | 119.9 cm (47.2 in) |
| Curb weight | 230 kg (507 lb) (curb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Messerschmitt KR175 |
The Messerschmitt KR200, or Kabinenroller (Cabin Scooter), was a three-wheeled bubble car designed by the aircraft engineer Fritz Fend and produced in the factory of the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt from 1955 to 1964.
Messerschmitt, temporarily not allowed to manufacture aircraft, had turned its resources to producing other commodities. 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 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 with changes to the bodywork (notably including wheel cutouts in the front fenders) and an improved canopy design, the KR200 was otherwise an almost total redesign. 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 a claimed power output of only 10 PS (7.4 kW; 9.9 hp) reflected the vehicle's light weight and low aerodynamic drag. An "Export" package included a two-tone paint scheme, painted hubcaps, a fully trimmed interior, 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, formed Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH Regensburg (FMR) to continue production of the KR200 and his other vehicles.
In 1957, the KR200 Kabrio model was released, featuring a cloth convertible top and fixed side window frames. This was followed by the KR201 Roadster without window frames, using a folding cloth top, a windscreen, and removable side curtains. A Sport Roadster was later offered with no top and with the canopy fixed into place so that the driver would have to climb in and out at the top of the car.
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Wikipedia