Post World War II, Europe was in a terrible state. Industries were destroyed along with most of the infrastructure essential to supporting civilization. Municipal power, potable water and sewage were usually nonexistent as well as transportation and employment. Both Allied and Axis powers needed to create a new peacetime existence for their citizens.

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As you can imagine, Axis aviation was particularly devastated but needed to become a contributor to the rebirth of their nations. BMW, Heinkel and Messerschmitt of Germany saw their opportunity to rebuild not through aviation, which was restricted, but by entering new avenues - ground transportation for their citizens and even exports to raise much needed capital. 

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Although the post war destruction was great, there were many essentials available. Yes, the physical plants, the factories, were mostly destroyed there were the other essentials needed for commercial success. There was an unemployed, skilled work force. There was no public transportation, very little employment and cold cash was almost nonexistent. 

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The remedy? Put the people back to work building essential vehicles that would generate employment, payrolls, mobility and even capital for growth.

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Clearly, you are not going to offer up something like a BMW 6 series sedan into this market. That would be entirely inappropriate. It was time to address basic transportation needs. These solutions took the form of mopeds, scooters, small displacement motorbikes and scooters. 

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Heinkel, the builder of bombers for the WWII Luftwaffe, entered the post war economy as a manufacturer of mopeds, scooters and microcars (bubble cars).

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My example of those Heinkel engineering capabilities is this 1960 Tourist scooter model #103-A1. Built between 1954 and 1965, the Tourist was extremely popular in Europe with tens of thousands produced and sold. The story over here in the U. S. of A was different. Heinkel never succeeded in building a distribution and retail network. It was a tough sell too. Vespa and Lambretta created the golden age of scooters here. Cheap transportation, light, hip, well marketed and colorful. Heinkels were designed and manufactured as you would expect a German aviation company to build. When war surplus Harley WLAs were selling for less than a C note, the ask for a Tourist was $625, retail.The result was that only about 350 units were sold in the Lower 48. Today, the North American registry of all Heinkels barely exceeds the century mark.

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What would a German aircraft company build for scooter enthusiasts? Here are a few details:

• Air cooled, 4 stroke, O.H.V single of 9.2 hp, 12volt DC, electric start

• 4 speed gearbox, front and rear brakes, 4x10” tires, 330 lbs

• Fuel consumption - 3 liters per 100 km

• Top speed - 57mph, two up

 

Today, the Tourist is well supported by the enthusiast in Germany and here in the U.S. We have Heinkel Club Deutschland

https://heinkel-club.de/ and our North American Registry in Colorado City, CO https://www.heinkeltourist.com/

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I chose my scooter because it is a 15K mile original that has been well maintained mechanically. Yes, the cosmetics are a bit dumpy but there ya have it. It holds its own riding with those wheezy two strokes and in 2022, the previous owner rode it up Pikes Peak to 14,115’.

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Chrome don’t get you home, but my Heinkel will!