The Spatz, later renamed the Victoria 250, was a microcar built between 1956 and 1958. Originally designed as a three-wheeled vehicle, the car's engineering proved unsound and led to severe cracks in the bodywork. The license to build the car was acquired by Harald Friedrich, who asked Hans Ledwinka to design a robust chassis. The result was a central tube frame and four wheels. The fiberglass bodywork resembled a sports car, and it had an engine size of 250 cc. A total of 1,588 were built between 1956 and 1958, 859 as "Spatz" and 729 as "Victoria 250".
History
The Spatz, later renamed the Victoria 250, is a microcar that was manufactured between 1956 and 1958. Initially designed by Egon Brütsch as a three-wheeled car, it proved to be mechanically unsound. Harald Friedrich acquired the license to build the car, founded the Bayerische Autowerke (BAG), and commissioned former Tatra engineer, Hans Ledwinka, to design a robust chassis for the car. The resulting four-wheeled car had a fiberglass bodywork and a cloth top erected from inside the car. The engine size was increased to 250cc, but the car only had 10 horsepower, making it underpowered for a sports car. The car was mechanically similar to the Messerschmitt KR200 and had a single bench seat for two or three people. A total of 1,588 cars were built between 1956 and 1958, with 859 as "Spatz" and 729 as "Victoria 250".
