Hundreds of mini cars from the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum fetched top prices at a sale arranged by RM Auctions in Madison, Georgia.
A special auction of historic mini cars from the break up of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum fetched top prices for the mostly post-War European microcars. A 1958 FMR Messerschmitt fetched the highest bid at $322,000. The tenth highest price, which was achieved by three cars, was still an impressive $103,500. Three Messerschmitt, three Goggomobile, and two Peel cars were amongst the top twelve bids. The sale on February 15 and 16, 2013 saw RM Auctions selling 200 cars and 284 related lots from the fabulous collection of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum to raise over $9 million. The auction was the last opportunity to see these magnificent small cars together.
All photos of microcars on this page are by Darin Schnabel ©2012 Courtesy of RM Auctions.
Top Ten Bids for Microcars at RM Auction
RM Auctions – The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum top 12 sales:
- 1958 F.M.R Tg 500 “Tiger” – $322,000
- 1951 Reyonnah – $184,000
- 1958 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter “PEZ” – $172,500
- 1955 Inter 175A Berline – $161,000
- 1959 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter Pickup “Coca-Cola” – $138,000
- 1963 Goggomobil TL-250 Transporter “Dubble Bubble” – $132,250
- 1955 Fuji Cabin – $126,500
- 1964 Peel P50 – $120,750
- 1955 Messerschmitt KR 200 “Vic Hyde” – $115,000
- 1957 Messerschmitt KR 201 Roadster – $103,500
- 1966 Peel Trident – $103, 500
- 1957 Jurisch Motoplan Prototype – $103,500
1958 F.M.R. Tg 500 ‘Tiger’
The F.M.R. Tg 500 ‘Tiger’ is considered the fastest and most desirable of the Messerschmitts produced in Germany in the 1950s. This four-wheel model, as opposed to the more familiar three-wheel Kabinenrollers produced by Messerschmitt, could accelerate to 60 mph in 28 seconds and achieved a top speed of 78 mph.
Officially, the Tg was for Tourenfahrzeug-Geländesport, or touring vehicle cross-country sports, as Krupp owned the right to the name Tiger in Germany. Of the 320 Tigers produced, 150 have survived. This example is considered to be the only one produced in rose.
The 1958 F.M.R. Tg 500 ‘Tiger’ achieved $322,000 at the RM Auction – the highest price ever paid at auction for a microcar.
1951 Reyonnah
A 1951 Reyonnah surprised by achieving the second highest bid at the RM Auction of $184,000. This very rare microcar was produced by Robert Hannoyer in Levallois-Perret in Paris, France. The car’s party trick was tucking its wheels underneath for parking in small spaces. Only around 17 cars were ever produced.
1958 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter “PEZ”
Three Goggomobils, including two TL-400 transporters, made it on the list of the top twelve most expensive microcars sold by RM Auction due to the break up of the Bruce Wiener collection. Hans Glas developed the TL-400 transporter for the German post office (Deutsches Bundespost) – it was produced from 1958 to 1965. In total, 3,655 Goggomobil TL-400s were made.
The 1958 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter “PEZ” achieved $172,500 at the RM Auction.
1955 Inter 175A Berline
The rare 1955 Inter 175A Berline resembles an airplane even more than the Messerschmitt Kabinenrollers. It was appropriately produced by an aviation company – the Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Nord. Fewer than 300 cars were ever built.
1955 Inter 175A Berline achieved $161,000 – four times the pre-auction estimate.
1959 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter Pickup “Coca-Cola”
The second most expensive Goggomobil at the auction was a 1959 TL-400 Transporter Pickup “Coca-Cola” in the less common semi-open pickup configuration.
The 1959 Goggomobil TL-400 Transporter Pickup “Coca-Cola” achieved $138,000 at RM Auctions, probably helped by the collectability of the Coca Cola brand.
1963 Goggomobil TL-250 Transporter “Dubble Bubble”
The third Goggomobile on the top twelve list was a newer model – a Goggomobil TL-250 Transporter “Dubble Bubble”. The 250 indicates a smaller 245 cc engine as opposed to the 398 cc engine of the 400.
Two thirds of the Goggomobile Transporters were sold to the German post office – private buyers generally preferred a similarly priced secondhand VW van, although few of these will achieve $132,250 at auction nowadays.
1955 Fuji Cabin
The 1955 Fuji Cabin is the only non-European car on the top ten list. It is an exceptionally rare example of a three-wheeled microcar produced in Japan after the Second World War.
The Fuji Cabin was produced by the Fuji Toshuda Motors Corporation, which had its origins in the aviation industry. Production of 400 to 500 cars per month was planned but only 85 Fuji Cabins were ever built.
The Japanese 1955 Fuji Cabin achieved $126,500 at the RM Auction of microcars.
1964 Peel P50
The Peel P50, branded as the smallest production car ever built, would probably have been known only to true enthusiasts if not used in a BBC Top Gear program. This microcar, of which fewer than 50 have been built, was produced on the Isle of Man, a small island between Britain and Ireland.
Only 26 of the Peel P50 survived. In addition to being small, the car is famous for not having a reverse gear but rather a handle at the back “to remedy any directional irregularities”.
The 1964 Peel P50 fetched $120,750 at the RM Auction. Apparently, even reproductions can fetch over $20,000.
1955 Messerschmitt KR 200 “Vic Hyde”
The Messerschmitt Kabinenroller (KR) is probably the most famous of the microcars produced in Germany in the 1950s. Over 30,000 of these three-wheel cars were built.
This 1955 Messerschmitt KR 200 was owned by artist Vic Hyde, who used it extensively in both Europa and the USA. It was one of the first KR 200s built and adapted to carry the artist’s instruments.
The 1955 Messerschmitt KR 200 “Vic Hyde” fetched $115,000 at the RM Auction.
1957 Messerschmitt KR 201 Roadster
The third Messerschmitt on the list of highest prices achieved at the RM Auctions sale of Bruce Weiner microcars was a KR201 Roadster. Only 300 vehicles of this specification were ever produced.
The 1957 Messerschmitt KR 201 Roadster was sold for $103,500 – two other cars achieved the same tenth-highest bid.
1966 Peel Trident
A second car from the Peel factory in the Isle of Man made it onto the top twelve list. The 1966 Peel Trident was one of the last of the 82 Tridents ever built.
The 1966 Peel Trident sold for $103, 500.
1957 Jurisch Motoplan Prototype – $103,500
The single-seater Jurisch Motoplan was one of only three prototypes ever built by Carl Jurisch. He was convinced the future of mobility lay in single-seat vehicles but few shared his vision. The car was once owned by Vic Hyde.
The 1957 Jurisch Motoplan Prototype sold for $103,500 by RM Auctions.