Milestones of the Kabinenroller

Messerschmitt microcar historical timeline

1. 1948

   Fritz Fend creates the Fend Flitzer

   In Rosenheim, technical designer Fritz Fend develops the Fend Flitzer, a single-seat invalid carriage with an aircraft-style control column — the direct ancestor of the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller.

2. 1952

   Partnership with Willy Messerschmitt

   Fend establishes a partnership with Professor Willy Messerschmitt in Regensburg. With the aircraft factory turned to peacetime production, the Fend designs are developed under the Messerschmitt name.

3. 1953

   Launch of the KR175 Kabinenroller

   The KR175 enters production — a compact cabin scooter with tandem seating, a 175cc Fichtel & Sachs two-stroke engine, and a side-hinged acrylic canopy inspired by the cockpit of a fighter.

4. 1955

   Debut of the updated KR200

   The KR200 arrives with an enlarged 191cc Fichtel & Sachs engine and an improved, independent front suspension — delivering higher output and a markedly better ride over its predecessor.

5. 1958

   Production peak & the ME 200

   Production peaks as demand for affordable mobility soars. From this era comes our featured exhibit, ME 200 — a 1958 KR200 in original specification, its patina preserved by the Foundation.

6. Today

   The Foundation today

   The Messerschmitt Foundation of Great Britain carries on Fritz Fend's legacy across the country — preserving surviving Kabinenroller, verifying provenance and chassis numbers against our archive, and helping owners keep their two-strokes on the road through restoration guidance, events, and the community registry.