 |
| By Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
After World War II, the occupying nations in Germany strongly discouraged the Messerschmitt company from producing aircraft. In 1953, as one alternative, Messerschmitt started manufacturing a super-miniature bubbletop automobile. It had bicycle handlebars instead of a steering wheel. The massive 10.6 cubic inch (0.17 liter) engine was located behind the rear seat and was started with a pull cord like on a lawnmower, unless the owner purchased the optional electric starter feature. The car had only three wheels but was still very stable due to its low center of gravity.
Messershmitt was allowed to build airplanes again in 1956 and promptly thereafter sold its car business to another company, who continued to make the vehicles until 1964. By then, the booming German economy had greatly reduced the consumer lust for ultra-cheap cars.
There purportedly was one Cadillac dealer in the late 1950s who offered a free Messerschmitt with each new Cadillac. The Messerschmitt allegedly would be placed in the Caddy's trunk and would be available as a spare car in the event of a breakdown. While I can readily accept the premise that there probably was a Cadillac dealership who would throw in a Messerschmitt in a deal, I somehow doubt that it would actually put a 450-pound (205 kilogram) car into the trunk of the larger vehicle.
As would be expected, both Messerchmitt fighter planes and Messerschmitt automobiles are highly prized by collectors today.
No comments:
Post a Comment