TG500 Model History

The Tg 500:  After the KR200 model variants were introduced, tests on the first four wheeled KaRo- the “Tiger” began in September 1957. The sales were aimed at existing KR 200 owners who had developed a faithful following in Germany with the many Karo Clubs. For legal reasons, the “Tiger” could only be called the “Tg” Only 198 examples can be traced of which 160 are known to exist today. The most sought after of Messerschmitts, (though it never bore that name – it was normally registered as an FMR). Sports-car handling and high top speed brought many rally successes in the early sixties, particularly at the hands of Ken Piper. It was so good that the Rally organisers sought to exclude it from competition events where it took on all comers, including the most exotic sports-cars. It has a 460cc air-cooled twin 2-stroke engine, nominally of 26bhp though most have been up-rated now. A Fichtel & Sachs design with four forward and a reverse gearbox with integral differential.

It was seen in all four body variants available on the KR200. With only 26 examples in the U.K. prices are extremely high and around three times that of a KR200.  It’s great but somewhat unreliable compared to a KR200.