Highlights

Beautifully presented original dome-top Kabinenroller
Comprehensive recent service including new electronic ignition
Bare metal respray 2 years ago
Exceedingly rare with just 30,286 sold in total with very few remaining
Original UK car
Previous owners include the world-famous Bruce Weiner collection and the Sakibo Castle Carnegie Club

The Appeal

After World War Two, Messerschmitt were effectively forbidden from producing anything that was intended to go into the air and/or offer a military capability to the heavily sanctioned German economy. The result is that everything the factory provided for a decade was kept ground-level - and none more so than the Fend Microcars.

Designed off the back of Fritz Fend's 'Invalid carriages', the Kabinenroller was a steadily developing titan of the new, quirky microcar market, with their tiny wheelbase and equally tiny weight offering an impressive prospect for leisure and sports as readily as it did a cheap, accessible and low-tax daily driver.

By 1956, Messerschmitt was returning to aerospace - and they had gotten rather unimpressed with their factory floors being dominated by little bubble cars. As a result, later cars such as this one, despite being known as the Messerschmidt colloquially, were actually built by Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, Regensburg.

This fine 1961 example is one of the second-generation KR200s, which offered a larger 191cc engine - offering effortless 60mph cruising. If you reversed the electric starter you could even do it backwards, which could well have been a candidate for one of the most terrifying experiences of mid-century European motoring!

With nimble performance and excellent road holding, this is one of the sportiest budget microcars of the era—and it is exceedingly rare to market. As it was part of the legendary Bruce Weiner collection and boasts a distinctive snakeskin and cream cabin, we have no doubt it'll garner plenty of interest.

The History and Paperwork

Built in 1961 for the UK-market with British spec wings and 'Torpedo' headlights
Purchased new in the UK and later moved to the USA to join the Bruce Weiner microcar collection in Madison, Georgia
Professionally restored in America, including the engine being sent back to England for rebuilding by a marque specialist
Replacement original steel body panels used as necessary, and exterior fittings renewed or refurbished
Refinished in the original colour, and the interior reupholstered in cream vinyl and snakeskin trim
Shipped back to the UK in 1997 and entered in the Bruce Weiner microcar auction at Christie's London, purchased by Peter de Savary for his microcar collection at the Sakibo Castle Carnegie club in Dornoch
Here it offered a shuttle service for members arriving in helicopter or private jet
Offered for sale at Bonham Goodwood Festival of Speed auction in July 2009 and sold to a private collector
Resprayed in 2022
Comprehensive recent service including new electronic ignition
MOT exempt and last tested in 2009

The Condition

Highly original example with lovely fresh paintwork
Although no real restoration work was needed, the current owner in 2022 decided on a high-quality bare metal respray
During this work, he reportedly found the body to be rust-free
Indeed, we can't spot any signs of corrosion
Distinctive aerospace-style 'dome top' in good order
Brightwork is well presented
Wheels and underside in good condition
New rubber floor mat recently fitted
Cabin is nicely presented with a very striking cream and snakeskin colour scheme
This has been very nicely carried out, and we can't spot any rips or tears
The distinctive steering 'handlebar' is in good order
All instruments appear clean and legible

The Mechanics

2-stroke 191cc Sachs engine producing 10HP
Manual transmission with four sequential gears forwards and four gears backwards, depending on engine rotation
Engine bay appears in good order with no issues we can discern
Recently fitted with electronic ignition
Subject to a comprehensive full service only 10 miles ago
The car is running well, although it occasionally jumps out of 2nd gear
We've no other reports of any mechanical issues

BEFORE YOU BUY

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