Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: April 13th, 2007
My New Car, Arcadia, CA 1958
A forward thinking new car owner poses with pride sporting a buttoned-all-the –way-up blouse, shoulder-riding cardigan and lady-like-length full skirt. She is as prim as she is proper; as proper as she is progressive. Few Americans were buying foreign cars in 1958 unless they were sports cars. And this is definitely foreign but it’s not a sports car.
We have Germany to thank for this wee marvel of mid-century modernity.
It’s the all-new 1958 Messerschmitt KR200. KR is short for Kabinenroller. 200 is long for 2 – as in two cylinders. The little two-toned, three wheeler is cuter than it is ugly and uglier than it is cute. If a scooter and a car had a bug-eyed baby this would be it. And that clear Plexiglas bubbletop roof is perfect for getting sun stroke on a scorching hot summer day. Air conditioning is not an option. There is no door that opens. To get in she must reach down to the handle in front of her knee and lift the whole roof and rubber outlined portion of the body up and over. The roof and door are one big heavy piece hinged on the other side. Then crawl in, sit down gingerly and hope she doesn’t slam her finger when it comes crashing down on top of her.
Cousin Itt, on The Addams Family, drove a white one on the show. And of all people Elvis had a red one. But did he ever give one a way?
The last Messerschmitt KR200 was manufactured in 1964. They never caught on with car buyers in the USA unlike its rival the, the all-time darling of all foreign cars, the VW Bug, which was the first foreign car to sell in mass numbers in the US.
Here’s to the Messerschmitt Kabinerollers, the lady who bought one and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
April 2007
10 Comments on “My New Car, Arcadia, CA 1958”
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April 13th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Great slide!
If it looks like an aircraft fuselage on wheels, that because Messerschmitt was an airplane builder before they got into the business of making “cars”, if you can call this cool little rolling freakshow a car…
April 13th, 2007 at 9:28 am
This is my all time favorite slide of the week!
Thank you for the story wih it. That adds to my appreciation. Thank you, Charles Phoenix.
Gawd, what a weird crazy cool car and driver in observation and analysis.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Did you notice how she keeps her sweater on her shoulders? The invention of the ages, the sweater guard! Look closely at the little gold chain with clips holding that cardigan securely in place. I had one in silver and the clips were little graceful “hands”. Wish I still had it on windy days. Edie
April 13th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
Imagine driving a Messerschmitt in LA traffic amongst all the Detroit land yachts of the day! Yikes!
April 13th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I’m going to the Curtis Theatre (Brea, CA) tonight to see “Charles Phoenix in LA LA Land - A Krazy Kaleidoscope of Southern California Kulture in Kodachrome” and wanted to know a little more about you. The KR200 Slide of the Week is hysterical. Now, I’m REALLY looking forward to the show tonight. Thanks for providing such fun (and clean) levity is this age of Michael Richards and Don Imus.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
In Brazil Terry Gilliam used several Messerschmitts to stand in for “The Car of The FUTURE!!! God Bless FutuRetroGERMANIANA!
April 14th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Great slide Charles. A similar concept was done by BMW and Italy’s Isetta. The entire front of those 3-wheelers opened up
in a similar way. Saw 2 Isettas at the Portland Swap meet. A cheap all-weather alternative to the Prius.
April 14th, 2007 at 10:58 am
haha, awesome. my mind has been opened.
April 15th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Does it double as a butter dish?
April 16th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Charles, my wife & I saw this slide Friday in Brea, the 2nd time we’ve seen you, and we continue to be amazed at your un-covering the hilarity of mid-century shenanigans. Bomb shelters, 3 wheeled cars built by airplane manufacturers, trailer culture, the De Groats, et al. May you never grow up. Your enthusiasm is infectious in a land where innocence is long lost. Do you have any shots of drunken adults playing twister circa ‘65? That would be a hoot. Long live King Charles (Peter Pan) Phoenix, keeper of the fun.