Description
Details:
Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale a 1958 Messerschmitt KR200 Cabriolet.
The early history of this car is not known. The current owner acquired it through the Classic Throttle Shop in Sydney in August 2003 and at that time the odometer read 35, 741 miles. The car was then best described as a ‘nice driver’ and that is exactly what its owner did. He used and enjoyed the car, driving it regularly to car shows, microcar club events and to pick up the milk!
After having used the car for a few years the owner decided to have the car resprayed. This task was given to Cummins Classic Cars in Mortlake, NSW. Prior to the respray the car was given a full check over and what needed to be repaired was repaired or replaced. This was completed in 2007.
In 2008 the car was serviced by Cummins Classic Cars and at that time the odometer read 35, 921 miles. The car was then used sporadically through until 2010 when it was then parked up in long term storage. Its owner had accepted an international work opportunity and it wasn’t practical to take the Messerschmitt overseas.
The car was stored through until 2018. The owner was keen to rekindle his love affair with his beloved Messerschmitt, however, the car would not start when it came out of storage. The car was returned to Cummins Classic Car to investigate a non-starting issue. It turned out the engine was seized, the ignition switch was burned out, some of the wiring harness had been damaged and the voltage regulator & fuse box were damaged. With great effort all these issues were rectified. Nearly $15, 000 was spent on the car to get it back on the road.
Over the next six years the car has been used from time to time and today the odometer reads 36, 626 miles.
Today this car is best described as a nice driver quality car. It presents well from a meter or so away but upon closer inspection you will notice a few defects in the paint. The condition of the paint is ‘fair’. There are small humidity blisters on most panels and there are a few spots around the edges and on the hinges where it has peeled off. You can see evidence of that in the photos. There are also a few small dents on the nose and on the right front guard. Both front guards also have a small split on the edge.
The wheels are in good condition and are shod with Deestone tyres, size 4. 80/ 4. 00-8.
All the brightwork on the car is in reasonably good condition. The lights and lenses are all good with no cracks in the lenses.
The condition of the interior is consistent with the condition of the exterior. It is presentable and the seats are in good condition with no cracks or tears to the upholstery. They are comfortable and firm. The simple dashboard presents well and the only instrument, the speedometer, works. The steering wheel probably lets the interior down a little bit but this can be easily reconditioned. The ignition switch was replaced in 2018 and is not original.
The soft top (and bows) are with the car and in a good condition with no tears in the fabric and no damage to the window.
Many people keep Messerschmitts as a static display or conversation starter in their collection. They most certainly look cool, but they are actually great fun to drive.
You need full choke to start a Messerschmitt and with the turn of the key after a few ‘chug chugs’ the 191cc Fichtel & Sachs air cooled, single cylinder, two-stroke engine bursts into life. It is important to keep the revs up as you quickly back the choke off. This car starts easily even from cold and quickly settles into a smooth idle. The driving experience is totally unique and the motorcycle style gear change is controlled with a lever on your right hand side.
This car runs and drives well. It is surprisingly ‘zippy’ and will easily keep up with modern traffic. On our test drive we felt comfortable at about 60 km/ hr but it will probably exceed 80 km/ hr if you take your brave pills. Just watch out for the trucks!
Messerschmitts have a front and rear frame number and on this car they both match the car’s ID plate. Similarly, the stamped engine number matches the engine ID plate. This is not the case for most Messerschmitts.
Accompanying the car is a reasonable history file with receipts of the work done to the car in recent years and a spare wheel.
This car can be used and enjoyed as is or its new owner may choose to take it to the next level by repainting it, possibly put a trim kit through it and refurbishing the steering wheel. The trim kits are available ex Europe and are relatively inexpensive.
Messerschmitts are getting harder and harder to find in Australia and they are the best fun you can have on three wheels. You get great value ‘smile per mile’ in a Messerschmitt . . . a unique opportunity!
Highlights:
- A ‘very cool’ Messerschmitt KR200 cabriolet.
- Engine rebuilt less than 1, 000 miles ago.
- Use and enjoy as is or take to the next level.
Price AUD $39, 950
Background:
The history of Messerschmitt goes back as far as 1916 when a south German engineering company MAN-AG together with several banks purchased the struggling aircraft builder Otto-Flugzeugwerke. A new company was established, Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG (BFW). Due to the immediate need for aircraft during World War I there was no time to design and develop their own aircraft, instead BFW manufactured aircraft under licence from Albatros Flugzeugwerke.
When World War I ended BFW was hit hard as the demand for military aircraft collapsed. The company resorted to making furniture and fitted kitchens to survive. From 1921 onward the company also produced motorcycles under the names Flink and Helios.
In 1922 the company was acquired by the Austrian financier Camillo Castiglioni and in 1927 Willy Messerschmitt joined the company as a chief designer and engineer. In 1938 Messerschmitt took over the company and it was renamed “Messerschmitt AG” on 11th July 1938.
During World War II Messerschmitt became the main supplier of fighter aircraft for Germany.
Following the Second World War much of the Messerschmitt factory had been destroyed and the company was no longer allowed to manufacture aircraft. In order to survive, they turned their hand to manufacturing other commodities including scooters. Fritz Fend, the designer and manufacturer of the Fend Flizer three wheel invalid carriage, approached Messerschmitt with the ideas of building a kabinroller or “scooter” with a cabin.
This idea soon became reality and the Messerschmitt KR175 was born. Around, 15, 000 cars were built before the KR175 evolved into the KR200 in 1955. Whilst a very similar car in many ways the KR200 had many improvements over its predecessor and it was a great success.
The KR200 was powered by a 191cc Fichtel & Sachs air cooled, single cylinder, two-stroke engine positioned in front of the rear wheel, immediately behind the passenger’s seat. This provided a marginal increase in power from the KR175’s 174cc engine.
The aircraft-inspired design is both unique and very clever and the side opening canopy to allow access to and from the cabin is just brilliant!
Another unique feature of these little cars was that they had no reverse gear as such. By pushing and turning the ignition key (rather than just turning to start) in fact started the car with the engine running backwards. This meant the car could in theory travel as fast backwards as it could forwards!
In 1956 Messerschmitt was allowed to manufacture aircraft again and they lost interest in the microcars. Fend subsequently purchased Messerschmitt’s Regensburg works and the rights to continue to build the little cars. The cars were subsequently known as FMR Messerschmitts. Subsequently, a KR200 convertible model and later a KR201 Roadster were also built, however, it was the four-wheel FMR TG500 (or Tiger) that was the ultimate version.
Some 40, 000 of these cars were built in ten years of production through until 1964.
