Messerschmitt 1960 back on the road

norbsa48503

Joined
Apr 7, 2004
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I was asked to help get this Messerschmitt restored and running based on my work doing the same on motorcycles. Many hours of careful work and it goes well. There are 4 videos to see just done with my digital camera. The car uses a 180cc single cylinder Sachs motor as stock form this one had somewhat less that 10,000 miles on it but a 1960 little used still needed primary chain, clutch springs and gaskets some love. Paint and interior are renewed. Here is one video that will lead you to the other three if you like. http://www.youtube.com/user/norbsa48503 ... 6EMPVXTrQE
It was good the customer had a lot of patience I had to borrow service tools and call in favors from all over. Greg
 
Nice work, norbsa,
Looks good, great colour.
Messerschmitt, is that German for.. Mr Schmitt. The builder.??
Would a Combat motor fit ?
 
They have come a long ways when you look at the present day offerings from Germany compared to that tiny people mover.

How are the brakes :?: You did a great job, it looks like a museum piece.

Jean
 
looks amazing, great job.... I'd be scared to drive it though. So small and low, I can just see some SUV rolling over it at a light like a bigfoot truck. :shock:
 
Messer is German for knife and Schmitt is the word for smith, so Messerscmitt originally was a "job name" for someone who made cutlery.

The car appeared in Europe after the 1956 Suez "war" when the Egyptian government closed the Suez Canal. It took several years to get it reopened and oil tankgers from the Persian Gulf to Europe had to go round the tip of Africa. The shortage of oil led to major gasoline rationing. Most of them had the 180 single cylinder engine, but a small number were made with a 500cc 4-stroke, which had dual rear wheels instead of the single one. The two-stroke had no reverse gear in the transmission, but had a second ignition contact breaker which allowed the engine to run backwards, but at a lower power output, giving 4 reverse gears.

Messerscmitt had the only tandem seat configuration BMW (Isetta) and Heinkel both went for an opening front for access and side-by-side seating. There were a lot of weird cars trying to cash in on very high gas mileage. Goggomobil made a rear engine front wheel drive configuration. Peel made a single-place fiberglas vehicle with a 50cc two stroke engine.

I was considering a Messerschmitt as a dinghy for our motorhome. I only found one on eBay. It was in Seattle and the seller wanted $15K for it!
 
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