Fend Flitzer
The Fend Flitzer was a three-wheeled invalid carriage designed and built by Fritz Fend. The Flitzer established many of the basic concepts on which Fend's later Messerschmitt Kabinenroller microcars were developed.
BackgroundEdit
In 1948, Fend, a former aeronautical engineer and technical officer in the Luftwaffe,Template:Sfn began production of a tricycle invalid carriage in his workshop in Rosenheim, Germany.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn The tricycle had a front wheel that was steered by handlebars and powered by a mechanism actuated by pushing back and forth on the handlebars. Shortly afterward, it was offered with a Template:Convert Victoria two-stroke proprietary engine normally used for motorizing bicycles.Template:Sfn
Fend then designed the Flitzer, a larger, better-enclosed invalid carriage. It was designed from the start to be powered by a gasoline engine. Whereas the earlier tricycle was both steered and powered by a single front wheel, the Flitzer had a pair of front wheels linked to the steering mechanism and a powered rear wheel.Template:Sfn
Specifications and developmentEdit
The Flitzer was made with aluminium panels over a steel frameTemplate:Sfn and was enclosed at the front, sides, and back.Template:Citation needed It had a hatch at the top that was hinged at the front and tilted forward for the operator to get in.Template:Sfn The first version of the Flitzer was open, with a hole and a windshield in the hatch for the operator's head and shoulders to stick through and be protected from the wind.Template:Citation needed Flitzers made from September 1948 into 1950Template:Sfn were powered by a Template:Convert Fichtel & Sachs two-stroke engine.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Suspension was by rubber springs loaded in torsion.Template:Sfn
In 1950 the engine was changed to a Template:Convert Riedel/Imme engine.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn By 1951, in response to customer requests for passenger-carrying capability, a scooter-type saddle was placed above the rear enclosure with footrests on either side of the body.Template:Sfn A closed version, on which the hatch had an enclosure that covered the operator, was made available. The enclosure included the windshield and side windows.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Reception and legacyEdit
About 250 Flitzers had been built when production stopped in 1951. Many of these invalid carriages had been bought by able-bodied individuals seeking basic personal transport.Template:Sfn This led Fend to believe that there would be a mass market for a larger, transport-oriented version of the Flitzer.Template:Sfn Fend began to design and develop a two-seat vehicle similar in concept to the Flitzer.Template:Sfn He also began looking for a manufacturer to mass-produce this vehicle. He came to an agreement with Messerschmitt for them to build Fend vehicles in their factory at RegensburgTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn Part of the agreement was that the cars carried the Messerschmitt name, with Fend's new design being designated the Messerschmitt KR175.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}
External linksEdit
- Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum - 1950 Fend Flitzer 101
- Template:YouTube – video showing a Fend Flitzer 101 being driven on the road and arriving at a destination.