Every classic car is technically a piece of history, but this 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 Deluxe literally is. After being displayed at a museum for quite some time, this unique car recently showed up at an auction.
You’re probably wondering: What am I even looking at? Well, this is a microcar with three wheels — part car, part motorcycle — from a carmaker that once built World War II German fighter planes. Its rotund yet aerodynamic body and bubble windshield make it look more like a toy than a full-fledged vehicle.
And if you look at the stats, they only support this viewpoint. Its Fichtel & Sachs 191 cc single-cylinder, two-stroke engine gets a whopping 9.9 horsepower. This helps you reach a top speed of 65 miles per hour, which honestly seems terrifying in this thing, which only weighs 506 pounds.
About 40,000 KR200 were sold in the United States, so you’ll be forgiven if you’ve never seen this strange little guy on the road. However, even Elvis Presley owned one at one point.
This 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 Deluxe is special, but not for the reason you’d expect
The Messerschmitt KR200 Deluxe in question just sold on Bring a Trailer for $33,000. It’s about what the previous owner expected, although many believe it could have fetched a lot more.
This is not just any little bubble microcar bike thing. This specific model spent time in the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum until it closed in 2013. It was then purchased by a previous owner that year before it was sold to the seller in 2021. The seller had apparently spent years looking for a KR200, showing there is definitely a niche community for every car. Over the five years he owned it, he drove it, enjoyed it, and maintained it.
He wrote: “It runs strong, presents beautifully, and everywhere it goes it turns head and starts conversations.”
Some of the work the seller did to the KR200 include replacing the tires, clutch, brakes, and suspension. He also rebuilt the carburetor and added an electronic ignition. Even without the upgrades, the interior would be enough of a marvel. You can only get in to the cabin via a side-hinged canopy and you steer the KR200 with an aircraft-style steering yoke. And shockingly enough, you can fit three people inside.
I’d really like to see that be attempted.
When the KR200 Deluxe sold, the auction was flooded with comments that felt the purchase was a “steal” at $33,000. Said one car enthusiast: “Whoever get this amazing Messerschmitt at this price, needs to wear a mask for stealing it!”
The overall sentiment is that this model was worth more than usual because it spent some time on display in a museum (similar to the reaction to low mileage models). While having a vehicle in a museum can give the model a bit of prestige, pristine condition, and documentation, it’s not always a good thing to be from a museum. A lot of museums don’t have the time to maintain and drive their entire collection, leaving some vehicles in worse condition than you’d think. A car that’s been sitting around for a long time is probably going to need some love and care.
In general, I’d say that being in a museum didn’t really hurt or help this particular KR200. What did help, however, is the elbow grease and love that the seller put into the car over the past five years. That’s what truly made this particular 1955 Messerschmitt KR200 Deluxe special.
“First time selling on BAT and that was super exciting! The buyer got a SUPER deal but I need the car out of my garage so I can begin a renovation so it’s a win/win,” he wrote. “Hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I have over these last few years. I’m truly gonna miss this car. Thanks to everyone for your bids and comments.”
Technical Specs