How a German engineer began to make cars for the disabled instead of fighters (6 photos)

They looked pretty funny, but were inexpensive and practical.





During World War II, Fritz Fend developed the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter.



Messerschmitt Bf 109

And after the defeat of Germany, he remained out of work. Germans then banned the production of military equipment and an experienced engineer quickly switched on cars. He estimated that after the war there were many disabled people, for them he invented his car. The first model was quite unsightly:





Fritz Fend driving his brainchild

They were produced at the Messerschmitt factory, which quickly redirected to peaceful needs. And soon 250 of these babies were released. It is noteworthy that they were bought not by disabled people, but by ordinary drivers - from many were tight with money and they couldn’t afford anything better than this could.

Fend then developed the Messerschmitt KR200:



Messerschmitt KR200

It was already more expensive - about $ 7,000 in today's money.

This kid accelerated to 65 km/ h and took into account the interests disabled: it was possible to drive a car completely on manual control. So over time, Fend's machines became popular and even began to imitate him. For example, BMW released the Isetta model.



BMW Isetta

But Fend's success was short-lived: when Messerschmitt AG again allowed to make airplanes, the company immediately abandoned production cars. And in 1964 their production ceased.

Then the engineer began to earn a living by allowing others use your inventions. He has over 50 patents including seat belt structure, helicopter carrying system and foldable boat.

He also did not forget about cars and created the F200 prototype:



F200

But he did not have time to finish it - in 2000 he died of a stroke. The famous engineer was 80 years old.