Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Spassvogel - the career of the sparrow

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on March 1, 1984

Text:

HJS

Photos:

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions 2012

2

Archiv

15

Darin Schnabel - Courtesy RM Auctions 2012

2

Archiv

15

Spatz 200 (1956) - open three-seater, thanks to wide bench seat, Sachs 191 cc engine

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Victoria Auto (1900) - over 50 years before the Spatz, the Victora company was already building automobiles

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1955) - Presentation as a novelty at the IAA in 1955

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1955) - Presentation at the IAA 1955, DM 2975 expensive small car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1955) - Chassis as shown at the IAA 1955

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1955) - Chassis

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1956) - room for three (slim) passengers thanks to the wide bench seat

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Victoria Spatz (1956) - the plastics pioneer had no chance against the growing competition

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz (1956) - plastic car without doors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1957) - from Victora, with hinged door hardtop

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1956) - with gullwing doors, like the 300 SL from Mercedes-Benz

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1957) - front view with closed roof

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1957) - rear view

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Burgfalke FB 250 (1959) - successor to the Victoria Spatz 200

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

B.A.G. Spatz (1956) - offered at the auction of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum by RM Auction on February 15 and 16, 2013

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Burgfalke FB250 (1958) - offered at the auction of the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum by RM Auction on February 15 and 16, 2013

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Spatz 200 (1957) - with Sachsmotor 75 km/h fast

You have only

1 out of 17

images seen in high resolution

Summary

The Spatz actually held all the aces. It was cheap, looked smart and looked like a sports car. But there were also problems, including a poorly constructed sales system and an acute fire hazard if something went wrong in the engine compartment. As a result, the Spatz (and later the Burgfalke) remained an exotic car with a plastic body. This report tells the story of the Victora Spatz and shows it in historical photographs and in the sales literature of the time (5 brochures).

This article contains the following chapters

Highly praised
From Brütsch to the Victoria Spatz
Improved version
Not easy to drive
Lack of sales power
From sparrow to castle falcon

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Spatz's career began in 1955 - and ended just three years later. A pity, because the concept was not so bad, despite many shortcomings in detail: plastic body, central tube frame, independent suspension, mid-engine, folding top. Young people in particular were infatuated with the original vehicle at the time. "Better a bird in the hand than a pigeon on the roof" - in 1957, this old saying would have been an excellent way to advertise a vehicle that was setting completely new trends at the time - the Victoria Spatz. But the advertising copywriters immediately reached for the stars: "The dream of owning your own sports car is fulfilled if you buy a Spatz for 2975 marks. Some advantages: completely modern plastic bodywork, easy to repair if there is a scratch or a hole. And it is so lightweight that even the 200cc engine delivers an incredible amount of power to the wheels."

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: