For a handful of years in the 1950s, Germany made some of the goofiest people movers ever devised. Eager to show the world that they could make something other than bombs and tanks, the Germans made things like this Tg500 and the three-wheeled Messerschmitt it was based on.
In 1956, Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH, Regensberg (FMR) gained ownership of the Messerschmitt Kabinenroller monocoque (which means “scooter with a one-piece cabin”) to continue its manufacture. That three-wheeler was used as a basis for a new FMR vehicle, this one on four wheels, called the Tg500. “Tg” stood for “Tiger,” but since that name was already claimed by both a former tank and a Krupp truck, FMR had to settle for Tg instead.
From 1958 to 1961, FMR made about 320 of these little tigers. If you’re familiar with the Kabinenroller, you’ll see a lot of it in this Tg500. The shape, chassis, glass cover, etc. are almost identical. But four wheels meant better stability for the tiny, skinny little vehicle. Or so the logic went.
In the back of the little Tg500 was a 494cc air-cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission. With a reverse gear–something many other microcars often lack. Plus you could opt for a tachometer in the Tg500. It replaced the tiny dashboard’s clock.
Tires on the little FMR Tiger were 4.40 x 10, giving the car a 44-inch track. A fully independent rear suspension underneath the engine was its best claim to stability and comfort. Hydraulic brakes made it stop.
All of this tiny packaged high tech meant that the Tg500 accelerated from 0-60 mph in a mere 23 seconds and reached a top speed of a whopping 78 mph. That’s some pretty high speed death trapping right there.
By the sales numbers, the FMR Tg500 was clearly not a terribly popular vehicle. But neither was the Messerschmitt it was based upon. By the time these were at market, other options like the Austin Healy Sprite, Fiat 500, and Nash Metropolitan were already available. And generally cheaper.
Today, the little Tiger is a popular collectible and car show spotlight in Europe. Not many came to the states, but a few are in collector’s hands to wow American car shows.
