Professor Ernst Heinkel would have probably never dreamed that he would have to accept the construction of the simplest vehicles after the Second World War. He had a huge career as an aircraft manufacturer behind him, in the thirties built the fastest passenger aircraft in the world.

In his workshops Hans von Ohain has designed the first jet engine. He is considered the father of the rocket airplane. Under the Nazis, he played an important role during the armament as leader of the war economy. However, probably as his main concern is to consider the advancement of technology similar to Ferdinand Porsche.

Before the idea was born with the cabin, the Heinkel factories in Stuttgart already built body parts for Veritas and two-stroke engines for Saab. Very important for the technical realization of the Heinkel Cabin was the Heinkel Tourist, a very robust scooter which was manufactured from 1953 in large quantities.



Look at the arrangement of the engine and drive at the Tourist and you have the complete rear wheel drive of the Heinkel Cabin. Of course, the body was inspired by ISO, only that Heinkel did not use their patent such as BMW with the Isetta. Steering wheel and pedals remained opposed to this in place when opening the front door, so did not swivel with.

Amazingly, Heinkel has achieved a peaceful coexistence with BMW. And if you e.g. empty weight and performance compare, the Cabin as a declared product of an aircraft manufacturer do particularly well. Where are already equal kerb weight and payload in a weather-protected, multi-lane vehicle? And in spite of 2 kW (3 HP) less, the Heinkel tricycle was as fast.

As one already knows in the automotive technology, the lightweight construction has advantages and disadvantages. It creates with less engine torque a better acceleration and lower consumption. On the other hand, such constructions tend to twisting and then also to leaks. It is said the spare wheel in its recess to swim again and again in water.

However, later was no more necessary a spare tyre in the four-wheeled version, because you could also drive with three wheels. At about the same retail price, the Cabin was actually inside something larger and more comfortable arranged as the Isetta. It was in the end that one has even tried to give her a rear seat bench.

In the development of the drive both upgraded with the times, while they choosed exactly opposite ways in the undercarriage. The Isetta lost e.g. in the UK because of special driving licence rules a rear wheel, while the Cabin obtained one wheel in addition in the rest of the market.

The production in Germany ended in 1958 due to higher claims of the buyers on a car, at Trojan in Croydon (UK) yet produced until 1966. A total of about 12,000 Heinkel Cabins have been built, additional 2,000 under license in Argentina. 09/14