Is This America's Future Transportation?

ChicoER Gate ^ | 5/3/10 | Chuck Wolk

[Korah]

With everyone pumping oil out of the Gulf of Mexico except for America, it would seem like the environmental wackos are getting their wish. Many Americans are finding it more and more difficult to pay for the high price of gasoline forced upon us by a government caused lack of oil supply. What we may soon be forced to drive is something similar to a vehicle I saw in a museum when I was stationed in Germany back in the mid "70"s as a soldier. It was a funny looking three wheeled vehicle produced by the Messerschmitt Company.

The Messerschmitt Aircraft Company went into business in 1923, but because they produced the popular Bf-109 fighter plane for the Nazis during WWII, the German democratic government disallowed them from manufacturing any aircraft after the war was over. So from the end of the war until the 1960's, it was limited to producing sewing machines, pre-fab housing, automobile parts, and by the 1950's they began manufacturing an automobile.

The car that the Messerschmitt company is mostly remembered for is the Messerschmitt KR-200 three-wheeler, which had a distinctive bubble canopy. The vehicle was designed by the famous aircraft engineer Fritz Fend, and it was manufactured at Messerschmitt's aircraft factory. This fuel efficient vehicle was powered byan air-cooled 199cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke that developed 10 bhp at 5250 RPM. From February 1955 to December 1966, there were a total of 16,000 Messerschmitt KR-200's produced.

These three-wheeled vehicles retailed for around 2,500 DM's which made the KR-200 a considerable success when you consider the way Europe was still the economically struggling from the ravages of the war. Eventually the demand for basic economical transportation in Germany and other European nations began to diminish with the economic recovery that took place in the 1960's. When sales drastically dropped, the company was forced to cease production of their economical three-wheeling KR-200. Soon it became nothing more than a collectors item or museum exhibit.

44 years later the commuters of the world are again struggling economically as they try to get the biggest bang for their buck. Along with the current financial struggles, we in America are also stuck with a political regime that has bought into the Great Global Warming Swindle hook line and sinker. With the Obama regime and his anti capitalist Democrat friends in congress refusal to allow for proper oil drilling in areas like ANWR where we know it exists is just adding to the fuel shortage and higher prices at the pumps. So like it or not, American commuters are being forced to buy more unsafe, yet economically sound vehicles, or go broke driving around to do their business.

The New Volkswagen Spartan

Which brings me to the new Volkswagen Spartan. A vehicle that was designed to get the the maximum amount of mileage from a liter of gasoline. The Spartan could very well be the prototype for the type of vehicle the American commuters will be driving in the future. For a low price tag of $600, the Chinese people will be able to purchase a Spartan.This little car is no toy, and it's.....

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[Korah]

While I do not think we should ever be forced to buy things we disagree with, I do find this car to be a bit cute.

[FormerACLUmember]

From IowaHawk, who apparently has ESP, creating this 2 years ago!

[death2tyrants]

Introducing...The Obama Mobile!

[70times7]

This fuel efficient vehicle was powered byan air-cooled 199cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke

Polluter! Polluter! Someone contact Algore right away. 2-strokes are evil and are melting the ice caps.

[Korah]

Nice duds dudes........ NOT!

[70times7]

Those guys look like they are only interested in the tail pipe.

[Korah]

2-stroke

Polluter! Polluter! Someone contact Algore right away. 2-strokes are evil and are melting the ice caps.

Good eye, I missed that.

[FormerACLUmember]

For some serious LOL at the the PelosiMobile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAqPMJFaEdY&feature=player_embedded

[BansheeBill]

In the late 70s - early 80s the US based HM Company made the FREEWAY, a 100 mpg 3 wheel car, similar to the Messerschmidt. They sold about 700 of them before they went out of business. More info here: http://www.3wheelers.com/freeway.html

[ArmyTeach]

Yes, but how does it handle on icy roads at 40 below? :-) Would it survive a collision with a four-door pick-m-up?

[grey_whiskers]

That looks like one of the futuristic ground cars from Woody Allen's Sleeper.

Cheers!

[stilloftyhenight]

My neighbor owns a Messerschmitt. He takes it out on the road occasionally. It has no power. Looks like a toy.

[familyop]

Our personal transportation in the near future will be the old kind, repaired many times over. Many country people will continue driving their old “gas hogs” (especially those of us in the mountains), or many city people will starve.

[null and void]

Obamao's vision:

[skr]

Pickup truck fodder.

[Seven plus One]

Here's yer obamamobile right here!

[blackbart.223]

"Many country people will continue driving their old “gas hogs” (especially those of us in the mountains)"

I still drive a 1989 Dodge Ram 4x4. It's good for running over "Smart Cars" and the low life turds that drive them.

[Cobra64]

[Korah]

I really like the one with the OX.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

I thought that model was known as a BMW “Isetta”, but I suppose several mfrs made similar form-factor “cars”.

I remember a buddy of mine who used to do tree/yard work *and* loved to work on weird vehicles found one of those completely covered with vegetation on a job he was working on. He went back with 3 burly dudes and they picked it up and put it in the back of his pickup! (With permission, of course) I never found out if he got it running, much less CA street legal.