The Messerschmitt KR175microcar (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, in principle, a development of the Fend Flitzerinvalid carriage. Approximately 15,000 were built before it was replaced by the Messerschmitt KR200 in 1955.[4]
History
Messerschmitt KR175
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.[5] These were based on his Fend Flitzer invalid carriage.[6]
The first of Fend's vehicles to enter production at Messerschmitt's Regensburg factory was the KR175 (prototypes had been designated FK150 - Fend Kabinenroller 150 - with a 150cc F&S engine) .[3] The title Kabinenroller means "scooter with cabin".[7] While the Messerschmitt name and insignia were used on the car, a separate company, incorporated as Regensburger Stahl- und Metallbau GmbH (RSM), was created to manufacture and market the vehicle.[3]
There were several problems with the first KR175s to be built, resulting in 70 design modifications between the beginning of production in February and June 1953.[4] The KR200, although superficially very similar was developed from the KR175 but with many fundamental changes, replaced it in 1955.[3]
Being based on the Kabinenroller platform, the KR175 had tandem seating accessed by a hatch that opened upward and to the right. The standard version of the KR175's hatch had a canopy made from a large Plexiglas dome with a cutout at the front for a small, flat glass windshield and a cutout on either side for the frames for the sliding windows.[2] A "sportster" model was available without the dome or the windows, with only the windshield attached.[6] On early models, the windshield wiper was manually operated.[6]
The KR175 ran on a 173 cc (10.6 cu in) Fichtel & Sachs air-cooled single cylindertwo-stroke engine centrally positioned in front of the rear wheel,[2] just behind the passenger's seat.[6] The engine was started with a pull rope as standard, but there was an option of an electric starter.[2] The electric starter became standard in 1954.[3] The transmission was a sequential, positive-stop type with four speeds and no synchronization nor reverse gear.[2]
Controls
Mivalino controls, similar to those of the KR175
The KR175 used the standard Kabinenroller steering system, with a steering bar connected directly to the track rods of the front wheels, providing an extremely direct response best suited to small, measured inputs.[3] The KR175's steering bar was made from tubular steel. The gearshift lever, on the right side of the cockpit, had a secondary lever on it which operated the clutch.[2] The throttle was operated by a twist-grip on the left handlebar.[3] The foot brake pedal, which was the only pedal in the car, operated brakes on all three wheels mechanically, using cables. The handbrake lever operated similarly.[2]
In 1954, the clutch lever was replaced by a pedal.[3]
MI-VAL Mivalino
MI-VAL Mivalino
Italian motorcycle manufacturer Metalmeccanica Italiana Valtrompia s.p.a., makers of the brand MI-VAL [it], assembled KR175s in Brescia, Italy, using components imported from Messerschmitt but with their own 172 cc (10.5 cu in) two-stroke engine installed. These cars were sold as the MI-VAL Mivalino.[1]
Wagner, Carl (Second Quarter 1973). ""Ist das nicht ein Kabinenroller?" "Ja! das ist ein Kabinenroller!" Carl Wagner takes off on Messerschmitt". Automobile Quarterly. 11 (2). New York: Automobile Quarterly Inc.: 162–171. LCCN62004005.
