Three wheels, 87 miles per gallon

The Messerschmitt KR200 will be one of the wildest cars on display this Sunday

By Christian Gaston

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 16, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (3 Reader comments)

Alison Gene Smith / News-Times

Mark Hatten of Portland towers over his tiny Messerschmitt KR200. He’s bringing the unusual car to Concours d’Elegance.

At this Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance, motorheads will be able to gawk at a panoply of rare and exotic cars, but none are quite as strange as Mark Hatten’s Messerschmitt KR200.

Built in 1962 by a German aircraft manufacturer, the Messerschmitt isn’t the usual classic car.

It weighs 506 pounds, it gets 87 miles to a gallon of gas, and it rolls around on three boat trailer wheels.

The frog-eyed oddity is a far cry from the classic muscle of a Jaguar E Type or a Porsche Targa.

“There’s no car that draws attention like that one,” Hatten said.

All eyes where on Hatten in his Messerschmitt last Saturday when he took it for a joyride down Alberta Street in Portland.

A passing bicyclist gave an approving “I want one.” Pedestrians stood and stared.

“You have to be careful because other drivers will start rubbernecking,” Hatten said.

Concours de Elegance

Campus of Pacific University, Forest Grove

Tickets

Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce

www.fgchamber.org

Portland Area: 503-357-3006

Others: 1-800-359-2510

•Advance Purchase

Adults - $12

Youth (6-16) - $5

•Day of Show Purchase

Adults - $15

Youth (6-16) - $7

Other Concours Information:

P.O. Box 387

Forest Grove, OR 97116

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