1959 Messerschmitt KR200

Best known for manufacturing sports air-craft and the fabled Me109 fighter planes of WWII, aeronautical design company Messerschmitt responded to an emerging European market with a thirst for compact sports cars in the 50’s and 60’s with what became the most recognisable microcar of all time.

Out of this purple patch of automotive design, miniature character oozing obscurities were born and they took the world by storm. Economical, affordable, totally enjoyable and best of all funky, microcars have today become one of the most collectable classic car variations- after all, their square meterage footprint is tiny!

Typically scaled-down versions of larger motoring brethren, some companies took a radically different approach to microcar design and Messerschmitt was among the very best using an innovative methodology combining aeronautical engineering with price savvy automotive tech to create a bespoke, lightweight and top-tier microcar.

Launched in 1953, Messerschmitt’s first foray into microcars was the Kabinenroller (cabin scooter). It featured 3 wheels (useful as it could be taxed as a motorcycle), a rear mounted engine, fighter cock-pit style tandem seating, 4 speed manual trans, Plexiglas bubble canopy, manual windscreen wiper, electric lights and chrome bicycle bars for steering.

There was no reverse gear, however the engine could be restarted running backward - a neat two-stroke trait - giving you four speeds in that direction if you were brave enough… It must have seemed out of this world in 1953!

Initially fitted with a 148cc engine, Messerschmitt’s second generation microcar was the KR200 first shown in 1955. Using the same basic underpinnings but now more powerful and “luxurious”, the new KR200 featured an uprated 191cc motor with rubber mountings, a wider track, redesigned rubber-in-torsion-suspension and Ivory acrylic painted steering bars. The height of luxury for microcar motoring- a section of the rear seat could even be neatly folded away to house a briefcase.

The car offered is a very original 1959 Messerschmitt KR200, recently released from an extraordinary microcar collection and owned by the same enthusiast for over 40 years.

In excellent running and driving condition and presented in the period colour of Elfenbein over Red vinyl trim this quirky and exceedingly collectable obscurity still features hard to find original fittings like the correct Sekurit windscreen, Hella front and rear light lenses, VDO gauges (the same found in Porsche), even the correct Albert wing mounted rear vision mirror is present as well as the correct Messerschmitt embossed rubber floor mats. All subtle nuances of a cherished car.

Full of surprises, it’s easy to fall in love with the Messerschmitt’s oddball looks but what’s more influential is its combination of pace and space- the original SmartCar.

Perfect for weekend escapes for two and even the cars and coffee run on a Sunday morning, owning, driving and investing in a Messerschmitt KR200 will appeal to your eccentricities and get your belly shaking with laughter.

Ready to drive off the showroom floor and incredibly hard to find in such original condition, this brilliant little charmer is a must have for any classic gear head.