Dream achieved! Yes, I drive a Messerschmitt KR200, borrowed at the National Microcar Rally 2018. The KR200 has a single-cylinder aircooled engine of 191cc driving the rear wheel through a sequential gearbox. It has tiny wheels.
Wunderbar! At age 17, a 1959 KR200 was my very first 'car', bought used in Nottingham. I can vouch for the engineering and build quality - it felt very solid. The brakes were something else, as you noticed. They're cable-operated and getting all three to work simultaneously - or at all - was an art I never mastered. It was in this car that I passed that milestone which all new drivers must experience, i.e., overturning it. I did this on a misjudged hairpin bend (those brakes!) in front of a crowd of Yorkshire pub patrons, who were vastly amused when I coolly stepped out, lifted it back on its wheels, and drove on. Happy days?
My way of adjusting the brakes was to partially apply the handbrake (which worked all three wheels), jack the front up and rotate each wheel by hand to judge which cable needed twiddling. Finally release the handbrake to check the brakes weren't binding. Extra fine adjustment could be judged by braking gently, hands off on a flat surface. The back brake didn't do much and got left to it's own devices. It did have a tendency to lift a front wheel as a prelude to overturning but I found that hurtling across the cockpit and hitting the side with my shoulder knocked it back on the road again. Ah! Happy days!
Ahh memories of "riding" pillion in my cousins come flooding back. The cold sweat and white nuckles... And in his case yes it was a Fokker ... Christ you are brave Ian, first an Invacar now this.
The little lever on the gearstick is a neutral selector; when changing down pull the lever for a neutral below the gear you are in then it will go down smoothly into the next lower gear. Think of it as double de-clutching made easy.
Nicely done, I thought you handled that well for a first drive, it looked to me like a bit of a sensory overload. I'd be tempted to pop a 500cc Yamaha scooter engine in it though. Just for fun mind you.
Very interesting, I'd always wondered how practical and driveable they were. The answer seems to be 'fairly', but also quite fun, judging from this video. The beardcam adds extra wierdness! Cousin Itt from the Addams family, also quite furry, drove a Messerschmitt KR175. An orange one, I think.
This video literally made my day! What a fabulous, bonkers vehicle. Seeing a red one on the way to school every day in the early 60's has left a lasting impression on me :)
Passed one of these a few weeks ago, tackling the fearsome Westerham Hill at a steady single digit pace... I on the other hand, carried down hill at speed attempting not to cook my Land Rover's drum brakes..
I owned two of these but could never get either one running properly. No mechanics have any idea how to work on them or where to get parts. These cars now go for a small fortune and are almost impossible to obtain since no-one who has one wants to part with it. Parts are available from the owner's clubs in the UK or Germany, but you have to be your own mechanic.
Way back in the mid 1980's a friend was demonstrating his FAC Webley Vulcan 0.22" (5.56mm.) air rifle by firing a Prometheus stainless steel nylon sleeved shot through a very large empty paint can hung on the inside of his garage door. He shot the can and it went into the can..... through the other side and through the thick steel door. Looking through the holes they lined up with a parked KR200 over 150 yards away parked against the kerb in the road. We sauntered over and walked past. In the right rear flank was non-OEM 0.22" additional hole. Now my friend was from Yorkshire so once in a while, years later, he'd come out with, in a Yorkshire accent, "Lemme tell you about t'time I shot t' Messerschmitt with t'air rifle". Listeners would imagine a Yorkshire AA battery armed with an air rifle shooting at German aircraft (Plus the customary Yorkshireman, "Cos times t'were hard back then we were so poor that we didn't have t'anti-aircraft guns in them days", etc.). They were usually underwhelmed by the fact that he's only shot a KR200 by accident. If whoever has this KR200 has always wondered where the bullet hole in the right side came from, the mystery has been solved.
Had a ride to London as passenger in one of these once Ian. I was at agricultural engineering college at Thame and a friend had one. Drove it around the car park though.
A pal of mine had one of these. These only needed a provisional motorcycle licence if memory serves, the motor was a single of 200cc capacity made by Sachs in Germany. It was attached to a thing called a Siba Dynastart which took care of the forward/reverse engine rotation and generated battery charging.. with three track lines on the road it was near impossible to steer past/over potholes. The engine was essentially a motorcycle unit, a crude piston ported two stroke single running on petroil mix, and was accordingly a smokey little lump. And full of vibration, and gearbox whines and graunches These were tiring to drive over more than a few miles and not good for your hearing because of high cabin noise. Having shit brakes was unofficially seen as a sort-of safety feature. Kind of like how ABS wasn't, because knowing your ABS brakes were highly efficient it encouraged over fast fast driving: And therefore, more accidents. Crap brakes? Just the opposite. Bubble cars occupied a diminutive sector of the post-WW2 motorcycle market because they could driven on a provisional Qbike driving licence. The more serious end of this market was occupied by Isettas, Bonds, Reliants.
I was driving a van towards Ashbourne in Derbyshire and ended up following 4 of these, quite painful on those lovely, hilly, windy roads but beautiful to see.
What do you mean "wait for the motorbike" it is a motorbike but with 3 wheels. Yup, Sachs 200 2T, sod all engine braking as you found out. 1st to 2nd straight through, just be positive. Glad the owner explained the reversing techique to you, 3 point turns are entertaining, for on lookers anyway. My mates party trick (in the early 70's) was baiting Porsche owners by telling them his German car was faster than their's and then challenging them to prove it for a 5ver. How they laughed when they saw the Me, they weren't laughing for long as he passed them going backwards when they topped out about 25mph and he passed them. Going backwards at speed was proper scary though.
~ Well, it was missing on my '64 Bond (197cc twin)... it had a reverse dyno-start (don't tell Plod) and would go like f... backwards. Made it into 3rd a few times but with the weight coming off the front wheel it was toooooooo tricky for a lil sixteen yr old to keep in a straight line. Those Were the days. :))
My info comes from my friend who was apprenticed to Villiers and worked for them 'til the end. If it was a twin it was 246cc. The fuel consumption of the twins was horrifying, I'm told 40mpg and my motor bike never got more then 60.
@@martinpook5707 The Bajaj autorickshaw, of which many millions have been made, also has four gears in either forward or reverse. Not done by reversing the engine; it has a gearbox originally from a scooter and the reverse mechanism and the differential have been added on in their own separate compartment.
Outstanding fun and enjoyment with less than 10 bhp, as a motorcyclist I'm used to a sequencial gearbox that does not mean I could drive the Messerschmitt though . ( my motorcycle has 6 times the capacity and 9 times the bhp but I get wet when it rains)
Thank you Ian, I've never driven one of these, did have an Isetta bought second hand about 1967. Had the 300cc engine bored out to maximum, not sure what size it ended up. The Isetta is almost a practical car. The two wheels at the front is so much more stable than the one at the front arrangement.
I could handle a Eutopian society that has those in production, no big highway wrecks just a few bumps and a whole lot of apologizing, I can imagine the canopy is pricey to replace, and thanks of dispelling the myth about the dual use canopy.
I don't have to ride this thing and already got the feel of it, it feel like i was riding with you in that little cabin, your report is spot on and real time, the sound of shifting, engine exhaust, mechanical all there, but its hard to believe that this little three wheeler actually made from the factory which also produced the almighty ME109 and Me262, good job mate.
I don't think it's too bad. Near as I can read, the top mark on the voltmeter is 14. Modern cars tend to be set up to 14.4V. Granted, modern ones have temperature sensors and so have lower voltages in the summer. But old-style mechanical voltage regulators for generators tend to be set for a higher endpoint voltage when they're not charging at all, so that they still have reasonable voltage when they're under heavy load. I base this on my 1972 VW which has its original 30A generator and original mechanical voltage regulator. When driving at highway speeds without any of the lights on, the generator runs at about 14.9V. On the other hand, when that these cars were new, people had flooded batteries that they regularly checked the levels in and added fluid. So perhaps then mild overvolting wasn't as bad, because you regularly replenished the water. But as you say, a system like that with a modern sealed battery might well shorten its life. So--good point. I don't know that the battery is cooking but it might well be shortening its life (as compared to a more modern car).
Nice one hubnut. I had a heinkel Ireland 200 which I got up to 60 mph with a carb from a Honda cd 185 benley fitted. Couldn’t afford a kr200 back in the early 80’s.
All I can say is ,,,,,,,,,, the little car is very interesting,,,,,,,and what great journalism surrounding the car, It was as if you just "took us all out in it". Many Thanks "Hub Nut",,,,,,,, that was just very "relaxing" and nostalgic to watch.
Mid 60's, Sheerness Technical High School for Boys, Mr Milliken, a sort of technology teacher, drove one of these. I loved it then and do so still. Thanks for the memories Ian!
Now that was cool, you lucky man! I would love to have a go at driving one. What a clever idea with the seat. I've always like the myth about the canopies and the hope that one may of come from a WW2 fighter! Great video 👍
I first saw one of these during a Wheeler Dealer episode when Edd did a beautiful job restoring it. I wouldn't have the balls to drive one of them on the public roads as you have little to no protection if someone else hit you. Awesome drive along!
A cool blast going down the road with you Ian. Best look I ever seen Of a fascinating auto. I was always curious about them. How I wish they sold them here. I guess the insurance compines saw to many dangers to their companies. I have seen a few adverts for classic collectable Messershimts. Also its the car of choice for Cousin "IT" in the Adams family movies and tv shows. Great to enjoy such a close up look at one, Brilliant Video! Your fans Richard&Sue-way Cat. From LA.USA. 🇺🇸
Ian ...time to learn to ride a motorcycle...the modern equivalent to messerschmitt ...is a can-am spyder. two wheels at front one at rear...happy motoring from dave
I really really want one of these. Here in Toronto Canada are used to work with an old gentleman who was just a boy during World War II and when he immigrated to Canada he had one of these in Canada having had it shipped from Germany. I just can't imagine. But I still want one!!
Joking aside, I think there's a lot to be said for driving a vehicle that requires your attention. No, of course it's not relaxing, but that's the whole point: being alert and focused is a good thing. When you have to concentrate on what you're doing just to make progress, your mind is fixed firmly on the job of DRIVING. No gigantic touch-screen distractions, no whizzy electric adjustable toys to play with, no seat massage settings, no phone calls to make or take, no texts, no radio, no lane-departure sensors, no cruise control, no voice-activated climate control nonsense... Heck, you've even got to master changing gear. Your mind is on driving, on the road, where it should be. If you have to think ahead every time you approach a hill and can't just waft up it effortlessly, you've got to be prepared. It's shocking how detached modern drivers are from what they're supposed to be doing. I can only afford to ride a bicycle these days, but I think it would be excellent training if every car driver had to spend a day riding a motorbike - preferably in bad weather - to give them a better understanding of what 40 mph actually feels like when you're not snug and comfy in a quiet, cosy, air-conditioned cabin. I'm sure road manners would improve all round. People may sneer at oddball things like bubble cars, but I bet their drivers don't fall asleep at the wheel and plough into queues of people waiting at bus stops.
German engeneering created so many(most of them shortlived) microcars from the late 1940s to mid 1950s, Zündapp Janus, Kleinschnittger, Gutbrod, Maico, Gogo Mobil just to mention a few.
I used to own two Messerschmitts which I was restoring. Unfortunately neither ever made it on to the roads. I still have the owners manual and workshop manual. In the 1960s they were still being used as daily drivers and you could pick one up for very little money. Nowadays, they are sought-after collectors items and worth as much as a used Rolls-Royce.
My auntie drove one of these. A huge, fat guy on a bike pulled out in front of her. She never stood a chance. Of course the b******* fled leaving only his bicycle clips. R.I.P. Aunt Maureen, you and your Messerschmitt KR 200 will never be forgotten.
My friend had one of these in 1972. He had a motorcycle licence and could drive one of these. I am afraid I laughed to my chagrin. His normal mode of transport was a Honda Cub 90 so he was prepared for the semi motorcycle experience
I remember following one of these years back and tinking it would be fun to drive one.Then it hit a slightly sunken drain grid,bounced up and only became contollable again seconds before heading into oncoming traffic.At that point,i changed my mind
This looks terrifying, even more lethal than Twc! Noticed a base spec Dacia Sandero parked by some tents, can I annoyingly request a review and comparison to the Mighty Dacia please?
If it is a standard motorcycle style gearbox it should pass neutral in one firm action and find neutral with a softer press . If it is finding neutral when you don't desire neutral ,it probably has a dragging clutch or some other misadjustment.
Back in the early 60s there was still a shortage of affordable and economical-to-run cars. Motorcycles were not so good for regular trips to work if you didn't want to get cold and wet, or ride over ice and snow - so these little three wheelers found a niche in the UK for a few years until more modern used small cars like the Mini came along.
@@HubNut If you want to be safe, buy a Challenger 2 tank! Bring back small city cars, proper micro cars, with modern brakes and engines and weighing 300kg. Similar to the Renault Twizzy, but with a tiny, two cylinder petrol engine like the Fiat Twinair.
Of the three "iconic" microcars, the Messerschmitt, the Heinkel, and the Isetta, the Messerschmitt is easily the best in my view. Tandem seating ensures much more stability. Lovely little things. Wish I had one...
10 foot crumple zone powered by a Moulinex blender motor …… No chance pal !!! No way should that thing be allowed on the public highway !!! If not for your safety !! I'm imaging the grief and personal anguish of the Ford Fiesta driver would have if they , or you hit them and you were put in a wheelchair for the rest off your life would have . An interesting machine but totally inadequate on all safety levels , you yourself question the brakes and the handling ….. Time for such pieces to be put in a museum !!! I love and admire such old machines but you have to question the safety aspect , especially when there's no shortage of arsehole tailgating BMW/ Audi / Mini etc drivers whom think they're invincible out there and have no sympathy or idea how flimsy that thing is yet alone allowing for its fragility !
I'm pleased that we're allowed to make our own judgements. My Invacar and 2CV fail on safety grounds. I will still drive them for as long as I am able.
I see you made it to Alderley Edge, where on any day you can see a parade of expensive sports cars posing on the high street. You turned around just before the village - shame, it would have been fun to see the Messerschmitt parked next to an Aston Martin or Tesla.
2022,.....Great video! Thoroughly enjoyable. I've wanted one for years,....I drove a Honda 150cc, scooter for 33 years,...a 1985 Honda Elite 150cc,...referred to as "twist and go", no shifting and it was a blast, it had a water cooled engine and was capable of going 65 MPH. With its tiny wheels, it was rather terrifying to drive it on the highway, but I did try it a few times when it was brand new, in 1985 and I was only 30 years old. I'm 68 now, and (they) stopped making the repair parts, and it finally pooped out in 2019. The young kids on the Internet are repairing them from salvaged parts, found at swap meets. At age 68,...I'm not sure I want to buy another one,..though even in 2022, new versions are available. Still fairly inexpensive,...I think my 1985 model cost around $2,000.00, brand new. Newer ones today cost more,...Between $2,500.00 to $4,000.00. I'm in the USA. Very well,..thanks.
