1958 Messerschmitt TG500 Bubble Car, Original 4pg Brochure
This is an rare original 4pg. sales brochure for the Messerschmitt TG500 bubble sports car. It was built from 1958 to 1961. Only 320 were produced. 150 are still known to exist. After World War II, the Messerschmitt company was not allowed to produce aircraft. Their alternative was a three wheeled motorcycle/bubble car called the Kabinenroller (cabinscooter). Their first model, KR175, was produced from 1953 to 1955. It resembled the midsection of an aircraft including a canopy top, tandem seating positions, and fuselage. It had only a single cylinder. The KR175 was followed by the KR200 and KR201 which also had 3 wheels. None of these cars had a reverse gear. Instead, you turned the car off, then turned the key the other direction. This started the engine in reverse, giving you four-forward and four-reverse gears! In 1958 the company produced their high performance sports car; the TG500. The TG500. "Tg" unofficially stood for Tiger. It was built built by Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, Regensburg, or "FMR". Unlike its predecessors, the TG500 had 4 wheels, two cylinders, and a reverse gear. The company tried to name the car "TG500". The Messerschmidtt name was intentionally not included in the brochure. The TG500 had a 19.5 hp engine, could do zero to 60mph in 28 seconds, and had a top speed of 78 mph. A tachometer was offered as an optional replacement for the clock. It also weighed less than half a ton and got 30 miles to the gallon. It was not a commercial success and was discontinued in 1961. Production of the Messerschmitt ceased in August, 1964. The brochure for the TG500 is 4 pages long. That is, two, double sides pages measuring 23½" wide when unfolded. It was printed with black and white, and color illustrations showing such profound characteristics as "climbing performance, feather-like steering (check out the steering wheel on the upper right corner of the third page), and a panoramic windscreen." However, it also had bucket seats, easily accessible engine, hydraulic brakes, independent rear-wheel suspension, and a tubular steel frame. Four black and white photographs were printed onto the last page. They are indescribable! The pages are presented in order. The name of the original car dealership, Brown & Edwards, Gulfport, MS, was stamped onto the first and last pages. After some long research I believe that the Astro Lincoln Mercury dealer in Gulfport, MS is the "descendant" of Brown & Edwards. I purchased this from the original owner, who, 50 years ago decided not to buy the car. Size: 11-5/8" x 8-3/16" Date Sold: Aug. 2009
Price Sold: $ 56
