Messerschmitt KR - 201

Manufacturer: Regensburger Stahl- u. Maschinenbau, Regensburg, Germany

Messerschmitt cabin scooters were built by RSM under the watchful eye of Professor Willy himself and proudly carried the Messerschmitt symbol, the Augsburg eagle, on the nose and throughout the car.

From late 1955 through 1956 clouds gathered and the relationship with Messerschmitt cooled, as they were again allowed to build airplanes. The little Ka-ros were becoming a nuisance. During these troubled times, resulting in the sale of the plant to the Bavarian state at the end of the year, the Roadster was developed and finally introduced on June 24, 1957.

Mechanically unchanged, it featured a folding roof, signal red paint, snakeskin trim, and lamp, mirror and hubcap changes. A weak point was the flexible clear plastic side curtains, which were awkward to use and didn't work well. Further development on these lines resulted in the Cabriolet in late 1958.

Very elegant and now extremely sought after, only 300 Roadsters were built.