To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$150,000 - $250,000
- The ultimate and most valuable vintage microcar
- Among the fastest microcars ever built; capable of 78 mph
- One of about 150 known survivors; very rarely offered for
sale
- Presented in enjoyable overall condition
The ultimate variant of the famous Messerschmitt Kabinenroller, the
Tg 500, was produced independently by Fritz Fend at his own firm,
F.M.R. Fend gave the Kabinenroller design four wheels for better
balance and outfitted a 494 cc, two-stroke, twin-cylinder engine
built by F.M.R. to a Fichtel & Sachs design, mated to a four-speed
gearbox with reserve on a Formula 1-inspired subframe,
incorporating fully adjustable rear suspension. The wheels and
front suspension arms were increased in size, as were the headlamps
and brakes-the latter now modern hydraulic units. Even the interior
was modified, with a larger, plusher seat to better hold the driver
at the speeds of which the 'Tiger' was capable.
A powerful microcar? No-the Tg 500 was developed to be a legitimate
competitor to the other post-war European sports cars. Few took
them seriously, but they should have: The model was reported to
accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 28 seconds and had a top speed of 78
mph. Only 320 examples of the 'Tiger' were produced, and only 150
of these survive. They are treasured by microcar enthusiasts the
world over as the most developed, potent, and valuable of the
breed, and seldom become available for sale.
The Tg 500 offered here was formerly owned by E. E. Swigart of
South Bend, Indiana, for whom it was restored some years ago by
Duwayne Bennett of Mishawaka, Indiana. The restoration is older
now, with patina to its finishes, but still very charming in its
bumblebee-like yellow livery, overseen by the classic "cheese dish"
glass bubble roof. The interior features F.M.R. and VDO gauges in a
simple white dashboard, as well as the original serial-number tag
and frame stamping. At the time of cataloguing, the car recorded
7,765 km, with many more undoubtedly to come.To view this car and
others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.
