Check out the “official” Ripley’s video below.
They talk about how rare it is and how it gets great gas milage but that “this one is electric”.
I am pretty sure this car is a replica that was built for a TV show last year (no, not the blue one that was on Top Gear)
another film crew “needed” one that could be driven indoors and the original 2-stroke motor threw out too much smoke, making it electric drive solved that problem. I am waiting for confirmation from the person that provided the car before posting my speculations but I am pretty sure this is the car they used.
Update: the car was purpose-built for Ripleys Museum.
“A Prize of Gold” starring Richard Widmark was released in October of 1955
He manages to get his Jeep stolen and has to rent a Messerschmitt KR175
to get around post WWII Germany.
This film has never been released on VHS or DVD that I can find, but it does very occasionally pop up on TV, on the TCM (Turner Classic Movies) channel on Cable. Horray for TIVO. It found this and automatically recorded it for me.
Here are ALL the segments that feature the KR175 driving around.
What “Roman Holiday” was for the Vespa, this film was for the Messerschmitt.
Watch how he handles opening and closing the canopy *OUCH*!
Also- listen for his references to the KR175: “I’ve got a car here …well, its sort of a car”,“We’re really too young to die like this” and “OK, more thrill rides!”
I have no more anecdotes about this, if you spot something worth noting,
please leave a comment below.
Ralf demonstrates how to use the Reverse button on a Goggomobil Transporter equipped with the electric Pre-select gearbox.
Jim tries to help but sort of fails.
The same info should apply to any Goggomobil with the Electric Pre-select gearbox.
This video is a very short segment from the Störy 2002 Video which can be found on DVD HERE
For many years there has been quiet talk and rumors of a Microcar Collector in Thailand. It seems the rumors were true!
Jesada Dejkulrit is the collector who has a large Private Collection of all sorts of vehicles under the name “Jesada Technik Museum”. He appears to have a special interest in Microcars and Bubblecars of all sorts.
His first Microcar was a Messerschmitt, purchased in 1997 at an auction, since then the collection has grown quite a bit. Rumor has it that a number of the cars sold at the recent BubbleCar Museum Auction in the UK will be going to this collection in Thailand.
as shown by David Raab who makes very high quality reproductions in panelboard that is as close to the original as possible. (Watch in High Quality if possible, it looks much better)
EMMA Peel that is. From the old AVENGERS TV show.
Specifically the episode “The Girl from Auntie” originally broadcast in 1966.
The Avengers was distributed in over 120 countries aside from the UK and was dubbed into several languages. What language are they speaking in this clip?
The 2008 Hilton Head Island Concours D’elegance featured a MICROCARS specific class this year
In attendance were examples of Messerschmitt Tg500, Messerschmitt KR200, Mochet Velocar, IOTA, Peel P50, Zündapp Janus, FIAT Jolly, Vespa 400, BMW Isetta 250, Berkeley and Scootacar MK2.
There were also a pair of Crosleys in another catagory: Outstanding Orphans. (This was primarily because the “Microcars” class was featuring European Microcars and the Orphans class was featuring American Orphans, otherwise they would have been in the Microcars class)
David Anspach's Crosey HotShot won an award in another catagory.
Palmetto Awards went to Janice & Larry Newberry’s FIAT Jolly and to Kerry and Linda Erendson’s Scootacar MK 2. Best of Class went to Jim Garbo’s Messerschmitt KR200.
Although NORMALLY exhibitors are required to stay until 4pm for the benefit of those who paid to get in to see the cars, the weather turned to light rain in mid-afternoon and anyone who wanted to leave the grounds around 2pm did not get any resistance from officials. Otherwise it was a gorgeous event.
Because the turnout was so good, it is possible that the Microcars Class will become a regular class at this Concours D’elegance.
More info on this and other Concours events around the country in a future issue of MICROCAR NEWS magazine.
[UPDATE] Hilton Head Island Concours has posted a GALLERY of the winners this year.
Click the MICROCARS section to view the 3 winners, also click the ORPHANS section to see the winning Crosley.
Looking for the 2009 Hilton Head Island Concours winners for Microcars Class?Click Here
David Brower demonstrates how to properly push-start your Isetta if you find yourself stranded with a dead battery. (this method only works with the Sliding Window style Isetta because you can easily access the gear shift lever).
1: Ignition ON
2: Parking Brake OFF
3: Hand on Gear Lever ready to put it into THIRD Gear
4: Get car rolling
5: Push Gear Lever into Third, this will crank over the engine, once it starts, IMMEDIATELY pull the Gear Lever back to Neutral or you will be chasing your car.
Check out the “official” Ripley’s video below.
