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Messerschmitt may have started out building aircraft, but after the war they needed to come up with another way to make money. They tried their hand at a few different things including microcars. What they came up was a motorcycle-powered three-wheeler with a bubble top. Find this project package deal including a 1955 KR175 and a KR200 on Monterey’s craigslist.
There is rust and only one car is claimed to be complete, but these are such unique cars that it would be a shame to see them scraped. The seller is asking $20k which seems high considering that a clean drivable one we featured a while back went for $17k. It was a later model though. We want to thank reader Michael for sending these in.
Priced to high… both require major restoration work meaning the buyer will end upside down when finished
Axel Caravias
Speaking of motorcycle powered cars.
Hey Barn Finds, Why dont you include motorcycle powered motorcycles?!
It’s fun to see old bikes being pulled out of barns as well.
Like on American Pickers
Next!
There are cars like this in Monterey ?
My Dad took me to a race at Ascot Park in L.A. back in the 1950’s and they had a bunch of Messerschmitts race for entertainment in between the real races.
knew of a guy who had one of these for years just sitting in his shed , wouldnt sell it . one day it was gone never to be seen again !!
$20,000 ?????? Must be some good drugs!!!!
I think we are in more trouble than I ever thought (inflation ??),
IF THIS is all that $20,000 will buy you these days.
Besides that these are mostly passed around in sorry, basket case condition.
Part of description:
” call for more details..key words fiat jolly freeway bmw isetta crosley small car playboy mini three wheel…more pics on request ”
I am still laughing.
He forgot **hilarious** and there is [bold] no phone number[/bold]
Not at all worth the time or trouble, let alone the asking price….insane!!
sold …
Didn’t Wayne Carini restore one of these with a flathead V8 in it a few years back on his show?
Actually, Messerschmitts are great little cars, extremely reliable and a blast to drive. I have several of them including the early KR175 models and these KR200 Kabinenroller (enclosed scooter) models, as well as a TG500 Tiger. Although these two cars will require a whole lot of work, they are extrmely rare and the values have recently become very high, with properly restored cars fetching $28,000 to $40,000, and presentable original examples in the high teens to low twenties. These seem a bit overpriced to me, especially with the extent of rust evident, but generally, a complete basket case Messerschmitt is worth close to $10,000 nowadays. These are getting very tough to find in any condition, and a restoration is relatively easy, as they are so small and simple and almost all parts are readily available except for gear sets and crankshafts, which are a bit tougher to find. Once up and running, these cars provide more smiles per dollar than almost anything else that you can buy, and crowds of people at car shows will leave Ferrartis and Maseratis to come and look at these tiny bubblecars. They handle like a little go Kart!
I HAVE HAD 5 MESSERSCHMITTS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS &
I AM WORKING ON BUILDING # 6 . ( IT’s A TIGER ! )
CHARLES IS RIGHT ABOUT THE FUN FACTOR .
EVERY TIME YOU TAKE ONE OUT IS AN ADVENTURE AND THEY ARE AN ABSOLUTE HIT AT A CAR SHOW .
CARE & FEEDING IS SIMPLE & ECONOMICAL .
THEY GET 75 MPG AND THE TAKE UP ONLY A SMALL SPACE
IN THE GARAGE .
THERE IS GREAT CLUB SUPPORT AND A WONDERFUL ONLINE COMMUNITY .
MY ONLY REGRET IS WHEN I HAVE SOLD THEM .
THE WORST THING ABOUT THEM IS THAT THEY HAVE GOTTEN
SO RARE & EXPENSIVE .