Tandem seating

Rear view of Tg500s

The narrow body, and corresponding low frontal area, was achieved with tandem seating, which also allowed the body to taper like an aircraft fuselage, within a practical length. The tandem seating also centralized the mass of the car along the longitudinal axis which, combined with the low center of gravity, low weight, and wheel placement at the vehicle's extremes, gave the Tg500 good handling characteristics. A more minor advantage of tandem seating was that it made a mirrored export version to countries that drive on the left superfluous.

The center of gravity of the car was at the rear seat, which meant that the presence or absence of a passenger did not change the handling characteristics of the car.^[4]

Bubble canopy

Except for the Sports Roadster model, entry to the Tg500 was through a canopy door hinged on the right side of the vehicle. The door included both the windows (windshield, window frames on all but the Roadster models, folding top on Roadster and Kabrio models, and acrylic bubble on other versions) and the frame in which it was set, extending from the right side of the monocoque tub to the left. On Sport Roadster models, the canopy was fixed and there was neither a top nor any windows at all, only a tonneau cover. The bubble top on the Tg500 was the same as the one used on the KR200.^[4]

Engine and transmission

The Tg500 ran on a 494 cc (30.1 cu in) air-cooled two-cylinder two-stroke engine positioned transversely over the rear wheels. The engine, designed by Fichtel & Sachs, was built by FMR.^[1] The Dynastart starter/generator unit was belt driven, and had a fan at each end of the unit, one to cool each cylinder of the engine. Unlike the KR175 or the KR200, the Tg500 had a reverse gear in its transmission, which was part of a transaxle unit.^[4]

Controls

The controls of the Tg500 were similar to those of the KR200 except for the Tg500's single starting mode for the engine and its H-pattern gearshift with reverse gear and no auxiliary lever. A tachometer was offered as an optional replacement for the clock.^[4]

Suspension and brakes

Apart from the use of 4.40 x 10 tires all around and an increase in front track from 108 cm (43 in) to 111 cm (44 in), the front suspension and steering were the same as that on the KR200. The rear suspension was fully independent, with universal joints at both ends of each halfshaft, located by lower wishbones and coil springs with concentrically mounted shock absorbers.^[4]

Unlike the three-wheeled Kabinenrollers, which had cable-operated mechanical brakes, the Tg500 had hydraulic brakes.^[4][6]

Citations

Sources

• von Mende, Hans–Ulrich; Dietz, Matthias (1994). Kleinwagen, Small Cars, Petites Voitures. Taschen.
• "The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum - 1959 F. M. R. Tg-500". The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum. 2007. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
• Wagner, Carl (1973). Vorderman, Don (ed.). ""Ist das nicht ein Kabinenroller?" "Ja! das ist ein Kabinenroller!" Carl Wagner takes off on Messerschmitt". Automobile Quarterly. New York: Automobile Quarterly Inc. 11 (2 – Second Quarter): 162–171. ISSN 0005-1438. LCCN 62004005.
• Vance, Bill (2003-04-19). "Canadian Driver: Messerschmitt, 1953-1962". Canadian Driver. CanadianDriver Communications. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
• "Motorbase - Messerschmitt TG500 Tiger". http://www.motorbase.com/. Classic Vehicles. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2008-09-01. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
• "Motorbase - Messerschmitt FMR Tiger 500". http://www.motorbase.com/. Classic Vehicles. Archived from the original on 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2008-09-01. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
• "Motorbase - Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I (Frogeye)". http://www.motorbase.com/. Classic Vehicles. Archived from the original on 2010-01-31. Retrieved 2008-09-01. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)