• Source: Messerschmitt KR175

The Messerschmitt KR175 microcar (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 Flitzer invalid carriage. Approximately 15,000 were built before it was replaced by the Messerschmitt KR200 in 1955.




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 Flitzer invalid carriage.
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) . 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 (RSM), 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 and June 1953. The KR200, although superficially very similar was developed from the KR175 but with many fundamental changes, replaced it in 1955.




Features



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. A "sportster" model was available without the dome or the windows, with only the windshield attached. On early models, the windshield wiper was manually operated.
The front fenders did not have wheel cutouts.




= Engine and transmission

=
The KR175 ran on a 173 cc (10.6 cu in) Fichtel & Sachs air-cooled single cylinder two-stroke engine centrally 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 electric starter became standard in 1954. The transmission was a sequential, positive-stop type with four speeds and no synchronization nor reverse gear.




= Controls

=

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. 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. The throttle was operated by a twist-grip on the left handlebar. 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.
In 1954, the clutch lever was replaced by a pedal.




MI-VAL Mivalino



Italian motorcycle manufacturer Metalmeccanica Italiana Valtrompia 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 (10.5 cu in) 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 canopy coupe
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 (9.0 hp) @ 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): 2.820 m (111.0 in)/1.220 m (48.0 in)/1.200 m (47.2 in)
Wheelbase: 2.030 m (79.9 in)
Track, front/rear: 0.920 m (36.2 in)/0 m.
Weight, empty/full load: 210 kg (460 lb)/360 kg (790 lb).
Fuel consumption: 3.7 L/100 km (76.3 mpg‑imp; 63.6 mpg‑US)
Top speed: 80 km/h (50 mph)
Years built: 1953 to 1955
Number built: 15,000 (19,668 from another source)
Price : DM 2,100.00




See also


Canopy door
List of motorized trikes




Notes






References


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. LCCN 62004005.
"Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum: 1954 Mivalino". The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Inc. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
"Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum: 1954 Messerschmitt 175". The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum Inc. 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2008.




External links

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Messerschmitt
• Messerschmitt KR175
• Messerschmitt KR200
• Messerschmitt
• Messerschmitt Kabinenroller
• Vehicle canopy
• Fritz Fend
• Microcar
• Fend Flitzer
• Automotive industry in Germany
• Three-wheeler