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.....

(Excerpt) Continue reading more at ChicoER Gate.com ...

[count-your-change]

VW Spartan.. buy two and strap one to each foot.

[JSteff]

“powered byan air-cooled 199cc 1-cylinder, 2-stroke “

That probably sinks it right there. Aren't 2-stroke engines prohibited now in the U.S.?

They are usually great engines. Lots of bang for the buck and size.

When I was younger and braver, I had a Kawasaki 3 cylinder 2-stroke that ran like a drill. Power as long as you had the courage not to release the throttle.

The downfall was it had the cylinders beside each other and would warp the head and the center cylinder.

But it would still run, just not quite as fast!

What a blast when it ran though!

[JSteff]

Do you get a tax credit? What I mean is when you prepay your burial plots you would buy it?

[trailboss800]

I’d rather be dead.

[familyop]

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

I'm rebuilding an early 70s Power Wagon (360). ;-)

[2ndDivisionVet]

[maddog55]

It's already here in a newer version:

[gogeo]

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...

Shades of Havana...

[Neidermeyer]

Nissan Glider

[rockinqsranch]

bflr

[Beckwith]

I wouldn't get into to one of those deat traps.

[familyop]

"Shades of Havana..."

Heh. The thought did occur.

[Moltke]

Some more reliable information on the VW:

1-litre-car