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Maico 500 - Microcar from the motorcycle specialist

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Created on May 27, 2020

Text:

Daniel Koch

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

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Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv

33

Maico 500 (1957) - compact sedan with a surprising amount of space

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Maico 500 (1957) - Rear-hinged doors

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Maico 500 (1957) - Elegant appearance

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Maico 500 (1957) - Summer, camping and Maico 500 - three things that absolutely belong together (according to the advertising at the time

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Maico 500 (1957) - for the mobilization of the people

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Maico 500 (1957) - Off on vacation

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Maico 500 (1958) - space for four people

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Maico 500 (1958) - Independent single-wheel suspension with swing arms and hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers

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Maico 500 (1956) - for a romantic ride for two

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Maico 500 (1957) - Off on a skiing vacation

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Maico 500 (1957) - Even suitable for winter use

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Maico 500 (1957) - Practical small car

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Maico 500 (1957) - with room for four adults and 500 cm3 engine - Geneva Motor Show 1957

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Maico 500 (1957) - four-seater with rear engine - at the 1957 Geneva Motor Show

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Maico 500 (1957) - small car with four seats

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Maico 500 (1958) - Elegant two-door car

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Maico 500 (1958) - Two-door four-seater

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Maico 500 (1957) - 95 km/h fast

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Maico 500 (1957) - rear tank and engine

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Maico 500 (1957) - Central tube frame with cross beams

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Maico 500 (1958) - 343 cm long and 147 cm wide

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Maico 500 (1958) - Chassis

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Maico 500 (1957) - 452 cc engine

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Maico 500 (1958) - Elaborate chassis

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Maico 500 (1957) - Front and rear wheel suspensions

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Maico 500 (1957) - The engine was installed in the rear

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Maico 500 (1958) - rear engine

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Maico Coupé (1958) - prototype with bodywork by Beutler

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Maico Sport (1958) - Elegant convertible from Swiss coachbuilder Beutler

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Maico Sport (1958) - Rare convertible

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Maico Sport (1958) - Open version

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Maico 500 Sport (1958) - generous lines on a short wheelbase, elegant and sporty to look at - Geneva Motor Show 1958

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Maico Sport (1958) - Probably only four of the Cabriolet were built

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Maico 500 Sport (1956) - twice in the small car depot - Museum PS.Speicher

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Maico 500 (1957) - Hinten angeschlagene Türen

Maico 500 (1957) - Elegante Erscheinung

Maico 500 (1957) - Sommer, Camping und Maico 500 - Drei, die unbedingt zusammengehören (so die damalige Werbung

Maico 500 (1957) - für die Mobilisierung des Volkes

Maico 500 (1957) - Ab in die Ferien

Maico 500 (1958) - Platz für vier Personen

Summary

After the Second World War, in addition to cabin scooters such as the Isetta or the Messerschmitt, microcars with four wheels were also very popular in Germany - the Maico 500 could have been a great success but, like so many other products, was unable to establish itself in time. This report tells the story of the Maico 500 and its attractive sporty brother, the 500 Sport, illustrated with lots of historical pictures and the sales literature of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

The beginning of the four-wheeler models
Convinced trade press
But also criticism
Modern technology
Advertising from back then
Sports model
More than enough ideas, but empty coffers
Court ruling
Return to the motorcycles
A rare sight

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The family business Maico was founded in 1926 in Pfäffingen, Swabia, by Ulrich Maisch and initially manufactured bicycles and accessories under the name Maisch & Compagnon. Ulrich's sons Otto and Wilhelm took over the company in 1931 and began producing light motorcycles. After production almost came to a standstill during the Second World War, Maico started building scooters and motorcycles again shortly after the end of the war. The first automobile was built in 1955 with the small Champion , which is considered the ancestor of the two-door four-seater 500 introduced in 1956. Maico was known for its reliable and fast motorcycles, which produced ten national racing champions in 1956. The press department proudly announced: "With the rising standard of living, many people who had previously ridden a two-wheeler or were thinking of buying one will now prefer the greater comfort of a four-seater vehicle. It is therefore in the course of development that a motorcycle factory also thinks about offering its friends this great comfort in addition to its existing two-wheeler program."

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Images of this article

Maico 500 (1957) - Hinten angeschlagene Türen

Maico 500 (1957) - Elegante Erscheinung

Maico 500 (1957) - Sommer, Camping und Maico 500 - Drei, die unbedingt zusammengehören (so die damalige Werbung

Maico 500 (1957) - für die Mobilisierung des Volkes

Maico 500 (1957) - Ab in die Ferien

Maico 500 (1958) - Platz für vier Personen

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