THE LOWDOWN

PRICES Expect to pay from £10,000 for a project car. Usable KR200 three-wheelers range from £22,500 to £40,000 for concours examples. Rarities such as the Roadster command a premium, while TG500s are desperately sought after – as per that record $322,000. LOOK OUT FOR… Messerschmitts are simply engineered, but all will have worked hard and been maintained on a budget until restored. Few project cars now exist. Most parts are available through the Messerschmitt Owners Club, so restoration or repair shouldn’t be a problem. Corrosion can eat floorpans and the front wings are vulnerable to dents. The engines are two-stroke, so are easily removed and rebuilt. Electrical systems need detail maintenance to ensure correct operation of the ‘Dynastart’ combined dynamo and starter motor. The club recommends renovation as modern commutator varnish is more durable than the original. The gearbox should be set-up carefully to avoid jumping out of gear; it’s sequential, so demands accuracy when finding neutral. Interior trim is simple but the canopy needs gentle cleaning to avoid scratching. Exterior trim, where fitted, can be easily damaged and is harder to obtain than mechanical parts. The best news is that almost any job, save for fitting the canopy, can be undertaken easily by one person in a single-car garage. The club website offers a wide variety of technical articles to support owners.