1959 FMR TG 500

The 'Fend' was introduced in 1953 and named after its co-designer Fritz Fend. When the original 148cc Fichtel & Sachs engine was replaced by a 174cc unit, the name was changed to the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcar after its manufacturer's name. The single-cylinder two-stroke engine produced a modest nine horsepower and was positioned at the rear, giving the KR175 a top speed of around 55 mph. Its unique Plexiglas canopy hinged sideways, reminiscent of those of Messerschmitt's wartime aircraft, allowing access for the two occupants who sat one behind the other, tandem style. Through the 1,91cc KR200 of 1955, the Messerschmitt used tandem seating and handlebar controls. The KR200 introduced updated bodywork, a floor-mounted accelerator and clutch, and an improved turning circle. When the electric starter was operated in reverse, the KR200's engine could be made to run backward, resulting in four reverse gears. Examples built during the later 1950s wore the diamond-shaped FMR badge, standing for Fahrzeug und Maschienenbau GmbH Regensburg. FMR took over production of the KR200 from Messerschmitt in 1956.

The FMR Tg500 was produced from 1958 to 1961, and a total of 320 examples were constructed. TG unofficially represented 'Tiger.'

Mechanical Specification
The FMR Tg500 used many features of the Kabinenroller platform, including tandem seating, a narrow body, direct steering, and the transparent acrylic bubble canopy. It had a 74.2-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 118.1 inches, stood 49 inches tall, and was 50 inches wide. The controls were similar to the ones employed by the KR200 except the Tg500 an H-pattern gearshift with reverse gear and no auxiliary lever. Additionally, it had a single starting mode for the engine.

The steering and front suspension were the same as that on the KR200, while the rear suspension was fully independent, with coil springs with concentrically mounted shock absorbers and universal joints on either end of the half shaft, located by lower wishbones. Hydraulic brakes provided the stopping (unlike the cable-operated mechanical brakes of the three-wheeled Kabinenrollers The tires measured 4.40 x 10.

Engine and Transmission
The Tg500 was powered by a 494cc air-cooled two-cylinder, two-stroke engine mounted transversely over the rear wheels. It was designed by Fichtel & Sachs and constructed by FMR. It had a 67mm cylinder bore, a 70mm piston stroke, 6.5:1 compression, and piston-ported two-stroke valvetrain. The belt-driven Dynastart starter/generator unit had a fan at each end of the unit (each fan cooling an engine cylinder). There was a Bing downdraft 28 mm carburetor, and output was rated at approximately 19.2 horsepower at 5,000 RPM and 24.5 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 RPM.

The transmission had its reverse gear in its transmission, which was part of a transaxle unit.

The Tg500 was manufactured in hardtop and open Roaster/Cabriolet variants. The top speed was a frightening 78 mph, and the hydraulic brakes were certainly an improvement over the previous mechanical stoppers.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2023