In the Microcar world, the successful FMR Messerschmitt is up there amongst the best. It’s quirky aviation inspired charm was also a practical proposition for many in the 1950’s and ’60’s due to it’s tricycle taxation class, great fuel economy, and low centre of gravity handling.
Amazingly, the ’Electramatic’ system enables the engine to be quickly restarted to run in the opposite direction by pushing the key further into the ignition, enabling it to drive with four gears as fast backwards, as forward!.
This highly desirable Messerschmitt, or Kabinenroller (Cabin Scooter), is indeed a 3-wheeled rarity and appears to have been well cared for with a degree of refurbishment in more recent years. Featuring the all-weather ‘Kabrio’ folding soft-top. WHE21 has spent most of its life with its original owner, who bought it from the agent he worked for.
This little gem originally lived in the Sheffield and Barnsley areas before travelling south to Bournemouth in 2013 where we believe it was restored by the third owner. Checking out the accompanying paperwork, we see that some service items, electrical parts (including a complete new wiring harness), and a few cosmetic items were purchased from the Messerschmitt Owner’s Club from 2013 to 2015 (see photos). The body looks as though it may have been repainted at this time too, although we don’t have a record of this. Since then it has moved to its 4th owner whom had a considerable collection of cars and used the Messerschmitt sparingly.