The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has unveiled a rare 1937 Tempo E200, a three-wheeled utility truck from pre-war Germany, now on display as part of the museum's Ron Sturgeon Collection. Painted in classic green, the vehicle is a testament to the eccentric engineering of its era and a rare survivor among the approximately 9,600 units produced between 1936 and 1937 by Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werke of Hamburg.
The Tempo E200 was designed to be small, nimble, and practical for urban work, featuring a unique front-wheel drive layout powered by a 197cc water-cooled, two-stroke single-cylinder engine that produces a modest seven horsepower. Its most remarkable feature is the entire front wheel, engine, transmission, and chain drive system mounted as a single pivoting sub-assembly, allowing for surprisingly agile maneuvering in tight spaces. The vehicle rides on a central tube frame with a single coil spring at the front and a swing axle with twin volute springs at the rear, and includes mechanical rear drum brakes, reverse-hinged doors, B-pillar trafficators, a drop-down tailgate, and a functional cargo bed.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, noted, "The Tempo E200 is a rare survivor that showcases the ingenuity of pre-war utility design. It's strange, it's clever, and it's got more personality than vehicles ten times its size." The interior features a spartan dash with vintage essentials such as a starter button, trafficator switch, ignition key, and warning lamps, along with a three-spoke steering wheel and a centrally mounted gear shifter.
The DFW Car & Toy Museum, located at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth, houses over 200 rare cars and 3,000 collectibles, with free admission and parking. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com or the original toy museum site at DFW Elite Toy Museum.
This rare Tempo E200 offers a glimpse into pre-war German engineering and the innovative solutions developed for urban transportation. Its unusual design and historical significance make it a must-see for enthusiasts of vintage vehicles and automotive oddities alike.
