Spatz Victoria

1956—1958

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Interactive articles about design and creative thinking.

Stuttgart engineer Egon Brütsch, a longtime developer of microcars, failed in his one attempt to mass produce one of his designs. Industrialist Harald Friedrich, who had bought the rights to manufacture the Brütsch 200, a pretty three-wheeled plastic microcar, arranged with Hans Ledwinka, the great engineer-designer, to bring the project up to speed. As it turned out, Ledwinka remodelled everything, and Friedrich then refused to pay Brütsch, claiming that the car was now distinctly different from the Brütsch design. They went to court over the matter, and the court sided with Friedrich. The car, very similar to the Messerschmitt, was produced during the years 1956–1958, a chic sporty convertible.

Max Speed

Weight

97

425

km/h

 

kg

© Corbis / East News

1/2

Darin Schnabel © 2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Darin Schnabel © 2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Darin Schnabel © 2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Vespa 400

1957—1961

© Darin Schnabel

Courtesy of RM Auctions

Zündapp Janus

1957—1958

© Darin Schnabel

Courtesy of RM Auctions

Zündapp Janus

1957—1958

Created with Sketch.
Interactive articles about design and creative thinking.

Zündapp, a solid old German motorcycle manufacturer, began production of one of the strangest cars in history in 1957. This microcar was completely symmetrical, with one front door, like the Isetta, and one rear door. The engine was in the center of the car’s body. Production began in 1957 and ended in 1958. In all, 6,902 cars were produced.

Max Speed

Weight

80

425

km/h

 

kg

1/2

Darin Schnabel © 2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

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