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Micro Find: 1956 Messerschmitt KR-175

1956 Messerschmitt KR-175

It’s a car! No, it’s a motorcycle! No, it’s a Messerschmitt! We haven’t featured one of these unique microcars in while so when this project showed up here on eBay, I knew we needed to give it a mention. Messerschmitt was a German manufacturer who was known for their aircraft, but for a while there they tried their hand at automobile manufacturing too. Well, sort of. The KR-175 was a three-wheeler that was powered by an air-cooled engine, so it may have seemed more like a motorcycle than a car. With tandem seating and a top though it offered cheap transportation to those who wanted a little more protection from the elements. This early example is going to need a full restoration, but it does look complete. Thanks goes to Robert R for the tip!

Comments

  1. Avatar Grr

    The only thing more forlorn than a rusty old German bubblecar is one with a broken canopy and no wheels….

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Doug M. (West Coast)

    Amazing!!! Can you believe, only has a 9 horse power motor, and yet it has logged 100k miles! Wonder if you can get a replacement shell for it? The rest looks quite restorable. I still remember driving up hill coming out of S.F. on the freeway only to be passed by one of these streaking past everyone! …Obviously had done a motor transplant of some kind.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Rob

    Had one of these once.. drove it in HS back in ’61.. It was registered as a Cabin Motorscooter. The bubble top was it’s only downfall, hotter than Hades in the summertime. Ended up having it tinted a dark green.. problem solved. :)

    Like 0
  4. Avatar DT

    Too bad its on the ground,but its in suprising condition,and yes the canopies were available , not sure if they still are

    Like 0
  5. Avatar MikeH

    These were still on the road when I was stationed in Germany in the late 60s. I was fascinated with them then and I still am.

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Horse Radish

    With the take over of “off-the-rack-rice-rockets” and the extinction of Cadillac land-yachts, one might actually live to tell about driving one of these on the open road, …almost.
    These really are only garage ornaments, aren’t they?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Rick Norman

      NO!!!! They are alive and well all over the world, be it in small numbers ……

      Like 0
  7. Avatar Jeff Hamilton

    Evidently we’ve just witnessed the price of “crack” addiction…..oh well….

    cheers…..JeffH

    Like 0
  8. Avatar ron daily

    I hope someone buys this and saves it, but Haggerty’s puts a daily driver at about $18,K, so $10K for this maybe a little excessive.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

    I remember seeing several of these in decent condition for sale in Germany in the mid 1970s, typical asking price was DM 100 to DM 200 [$35 to $75]. Nobody wanted them. Even running & driving Tigers were for sale at around DM 500 [$175]

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Dustin

    Messerschmitt! I LOVE these cars! In my opinion one of the coolest bubble cara ever!

    Like 3

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