1957 Kleinschnittger F-125

The microcar market did rather well in the immediate post-World War II era. Automobiles were scarce, and so were the materials required for their construction. The minimalistic microcars provided utilitarian transportation through the use of minimal materials, were inexpensive, easy to maintain and service, and had a very small footprint. They offered the practicality of a motorcycle with several attractive features such as a top, windows, and a higher degree of safety.

In the 1930s, Paul Kleinschnittger emigrated from Russia to Arnsberg, Germany and that is where he built his Kleinschnittger microcar, beginning in 1950. Using recycled and salvaged materials, his lightweight microcar weighed a mere 150 kilograms (330 pounds). It had a steel tubular Wachtendord & Schmidt chassis that measured nearly 9 feet in length and three-feet, nine-inches wide. The hand-hammered body panels were formed from aluminum, but with the scarcity of materials, it was not uncommon to use whatever was available, including ex-army cooking pots, which provided the molds for the front fender curve.

The ILO two-stroke engine was air-cooled and displaced 123 cubic centimeters. It had a three-speed gearbox which sent the power to the front wheels. Although the 1.5-gallon fuel tank is small by most means of transportation standards, the Kleinschnittger was able to travel around 113 miles on a single gallon of fuel. The suspension was a fully independent rubber band set up and there were four-wheel cable brakes. Most examples had an under-dash rope pull-starter, but for those seeking an easier starting solution, Kleinschnittger offered an electric starter for an additional price.

Unlike most other microcars which usually had a 'unique' (odd or unusual) appearance, the Kleinschnittger resembles a full-size car.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020