Messerschmitt KR175
Encyclopedia
The Messerschmitt KR175 bubble car
(1953–1955) was the first vehicle built by Messerschmitt
under its 1952 agreement with Fritz Fend
. In concept, although not in actual design, it was an extended version of the Fend Flitzer
invalid carriage. Approximately 15,000 were built before it was replaced by the Messerschmitt KR200
in 1956.
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.
There were several problems with the first KR175s to be built, resulting in 70 design modifications between the beginning of production in February 1953 and June of the same year.
The KR200 was developed from the KR175 and replaced it in 1955.
and low stance were among the more obvious features.
The bubble went completely around the cockpit with cutouts for window frames at the sides and a small, flat glass windshield at the front. The windshield wiper was manually operated.
air-cooled single cylinder
two-stroke engine positioned in front of the rear wheel, just behind the passenger's seat. The engine was started with a pull rope as standard, but there was an option of an electric starter. The transmission was a sequential, positive-stop type with four speeds and no synchronization nor reverse gear.
Italian motorcycle manufacturer Metalmeccanica Italiana Valtrompio s.p.a., makers of the brand Mi-Val, assembled KR175s in Brescia
, Italy
, using components imported from Messerschmitt but with their own 172 cc two-stroke engine installed. These cars were sold as the Mi-Val Mivalino.
Bubble car
Bubble car is a subjective term used for some small, economical automobiles, usually produced in the 1950s and 1960s.- Varieties :The Messerschmitt KR175 and KR200, and the FMR Tg500, had aircraft-style bubble canopies, giving rise to the term bubble car to refer to all these post-war microcars...
(1953–1955) was the first vehicle built by Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG was a famous German aircraft manufacturing corporation named for its chief designer, Willy Messerschmitt, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, notably the Bf 109 and Me 262...
under its 1952 agreement with Fritz Fend
Fritz Fend
Fritz Fend : was an aeronautical engineer. He worked for Messerschmitt and designed the famous Kabinenroller KR175 / KR200.Fend was a technical officer with the Luftwaffe during World War II....
. In concept, although not in actual design, it was an extended version of the Fend Flitzer
Fend Flitzer
The Fend Flitzer was a three-wheeled invalid carriage designed and built by Fritz Fend. The Flitzer established many of the basic concepts on which Fend's later Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars were developed....
invalid carriage. Approximately 15,000 were built before it was replaced by the Messerschmitt KR200
Messerschmitt KR200
The Messerschmitt KR200, or Kabinenroller , 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.-History:...
in 1956.
History
Messerschmitt, temporarily not allowed to manufacture aircraft, had turned its resources to producing other products. In 1952, Fend approached Messerschmitt with the idea of manufacturing small motor vehicles. These were based on his Fend FlitzerFend Flitzer
The Fend Flitzer was a three-wheeled invalid carriage designed and built by Fritz Fend. The Flitzer established many of the basic concepts on which Fend's later Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars were developed....
invalid carriage.
The first of Fend's vehicles to enter production at Messerschmitt's Regensburg factory was the KR175. The title Kabinenroller means "scooter
Scooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
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.
There were several problems with the first KR175s to be built, resulting in 70 design modifications between the beginning of production in February 1953 and June of the same year.
The KR200 was developed from the KR175 and replaced it in 1955.
Features
The KR175 established several features unique to the Kabinenroller platform. Externally, the narrow body, the transparent acrylic bubble canopyVehicle canopy
A vehicle canopy is a rarely used type of door for cars. It has no official name so it is also known as an articulated canopy, bubble canopy, cockpit canopy, canopy door, or simply a canopy. A canopy is a type of door which sits on top of a car and lifts up in some way, to provide access for...
and low stance were among the more obvious features.
Tandem seating
The narrow body, and corresponding low frontal area, was achieved with tandem seating, which also allowed the body to taper like an aircraft fuselage, within a practical length. The front fenders did not have wheel cutouts.Bubble canopy
Entry to the KR175 was through a canopy door hinged on the right side of the vehicle. The door included all the windows (windshield on both models, window frames and acrylic bubble on closed version) and the frame in which they were set, extending from the right side of the monocoque tub to the left.The bubble went completely around the cockpit with cutouts for window frames at the sides and a small, flat glass windshield at the front. The windshield wiper was manually operated.
Engine and transmission
The KR175 ran on a 173 cc Fichtel & SachsZF Sachs
ZF Sachs AG is a German manufacturer of automotive parts, producing powertrain and suspension components. It was formerly known as Fichtel & Sachs, Mannesmann Sachs and Sachs...
air-cooled single cylinder
Single cylinder engine
A single-cylinder engine is a basic piston engine configuration of an internal combustion engine. It is often seen on motorcycles, auto rickshaws, motor scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, go-karts, radio-controlled models and has many uses in portable tools and garden machinery...
two-stroke engine positioned in front of the rear wheel, just behind the passenger's seat. The engine was started with a pull rope as standard, but there was an option of an electric starter. The transmission was a sequential, positive-stop type with four speeds and no synchronization nor reverse gear.
Controls
The KR175 was steered with tubular steel handlebars. Operated by pushing rather than by turning, the steering bar was connected directly to the track rods of the front wheels, providing an extremely direct response best suited to small, measured inputs. The gearshift lever, on the right side of the cockpit, had a secondary lever on it which operated the clutch.. The throttle was operated by a twist-grip on the left handlebar. The footbrake pedal, which was the only pedal in the car, operated brakes on all three wheels mechanically, using cables. The handbrake lever operated similarly..Mi-Val Mivalino
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, using components imported from Messerschmitt but with their own 172 cc two-stroke engine installed. These cars were sold as the Mi-Val Mivalino.
Data
- Configuration: mid (rear) engine, rear drive
- Seating, front/rear: 1/1
- Weather protection: bubble canopyVehicle canopyA vehicle canopy is a rarely used type of door for cars. It has no official name so it is also known as an articulated canopy, bubble canopy, cockpit canopy, canopy door, or simply a canopy. A canopy is a type of door which sits on top of a car and lifts up in some way, to provide access for...
coupe, convertible or open roadster - Heating/air conditioning: none/none
- Engine type: Fichtel & Sachs, 1 cylinder, 2 stroke
- Displacement: 174 cc
- Bore x stroke— 62 x 58 mm
- Compression: 6.8:1
- Power: 6.7 kW @ 5,250 rpm
- Cooling: air, with fan
- Starter: kick starter, later Dynastart
- Drive: 4 speed and chain to single rear wheel
- Brakes: 3 wheel
- Wheel size: 4.00 by 8 in
- Dimensions (length/width/height) (m): 2.82 m (111 in)/1.22 m (48 in)/1.2 m (47.2 in)
- Wheelbase: 2.03 m (79.9 in)
- Track, front/rear: 0.92 m (36.2 in)/0 m.
- Weight, empty/full load: 210 kg (463 lb)/360 kg (793.7 lb).
- Fuel consumption: 3.7 L/100 km
- Top speed: 80 km/h (49.7 mph)
- Years built: 1953 to 1955
- Number built: 15,000 (19,668 from another source)
- Price : DM 2,100.00