Project Tempo: 2013

Oskar Vidal and Sohn founded Tempo Werkes of Hamburg in 1924 to build motorised triporters. These little three-wheeled delivery vehicles proved to be extremely popular and became the foundation of the company's success. The initial series were a very basic, motorcycle-like construction, but by the 1930s were more substantial vehicles, with a fully enclosed drivers cab and powered by a 200 or 400cc Jlo propriertory two-stroke engine mounted over the front wheel. These were popular selling vehicles as they could be driven without a driver's license and did not pay road tax.

In the mid-1930s, Tempo introduced a new four-wheeled light truck, the Tempo A600. These were powered by a 600cc twin-cylinder two-stroke motor. These sold well but not in the same numbers as their three-wheelers due to their increased road tax and licensing obligations.

In 1936 Tempo-werke responded to a Landwehr (army) contract for a four-wheel drive light utility vehicle and their response was uniquely unorthodox. The G1200 was based on the earlier A600, but powered by two 600cc Jlo motors, one in the front and one in the rear. Each engine had its own gearbox and separately drove the front and rear independently suspended axles. The engines could be operated together for full four-wheel drive or they could be run independently for either front-wheel or rear-wheel drive operation.

The car had high ground clearance and with the body floating over its independent suspension it was able to comfortably traverse even the roughest ground. Top speed was 70 kilometres per hour. Fuel economy was a reasonable 12 litres per hundred kilometres, which could be reduced further by running on one engine alone.

Despite the versatility of the vehicle, the Landwehr were prejudiced against two-stroke engines in both cars and motorcycles, even refusing DKW, then Germany's biggest motorcycle manufacturer, an army contract, so it came as little surprise that they showed no interest in Tempo's offering. Tempo however were not disheartened and successfully shopped the G1200 to other European armies, including Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Croatia, Czechoslovakia and Romania. The G1200 was even sold as far afield as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. See this link for a multilingual advertising for the G1200. http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/1939-tempo-g1200-review.html

Contemporary off-road trials footage.

The Second World War put an end to Tempo's export market. The German army seized some of those in foreign service and pressed them into army service. They were mainly used as auxiliary vehicles by police and home defense forces, rather than entering front-line service, despite the fact they would have been extremely well suited to service on the Russian Front. Production ceased in 1943 after only 1335 were built.

After the war Tempo reverted to its trusty three-wheeled product which revived the company's fortunes. The Hanseat tricycle continued in production until 1956 until it was replaced with a modern, four wheeled van called the Matador. After a turbulent history Tempo would be absorbed by Mercedes-Benz in the 1970s.
http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/the-history-of-vidal-sons-tempo-werkes.html

Few German Tempo G1200s survived the War but several Scandinavian and Eastern European examples survived. This example is in the German Sinshiem Technik museum. It has been posed in a position that highlights its ability to handle rough terrain.

Here are some links
http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/1939-tempo-g1200-review.html
http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/tempo-g1200-review-military-machines.html
https://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2020/06/1938-tempo-g1200-gelandewagen.html
https://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2014/03/1941-tempo-g1200-user-manual.html
http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/17180
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=88508
http://www.autobild.de/artikel/tempo-g-1200-47968.html
http://www.armyvehicles.dk/tempog1200.htm
http://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/tempo-g1200-1937
http://offroadmachine.com/snowcat/tempovidal.htm

The company Vidal and Son was founded in Hamburg in 1883 to provide harbour-side fire fighting services for the coal importing industry. In 1927, with the German economy crushed under the weight of Versailles reparations, the German coal importing industry fell into recession and Vidal and Son faced an uncertain future. Looking for a new opportunity, Max Vidal and his son, Oskar, decided to move into the auto industry. They saw an opportunity to develop a simple commercial vehicle, similar to Goliath's popular Blitzkarren. The result was the Tempo T1, a tricycle delivery cart powered by a single cylinder 198cc two-stoke motor. Alongside the T1, a larger version was offered with a 400cc motor.

However, both the T1 and T2 proved to be poorly built copies of contemporary delivery tricycles built by a plethora of other companies, such as Goliath, Phanomen and Rollfix. Both models performed so poorly that Tempo was forced to provide customers with a full-time mobile service mechanic to keep them on the road.

Such an inauspicious start could have been fatal to the company, but Tempo obtained a lifeline when their competitor, Rollfix, went bankrupt in the 1929 Stock Market Collapse. Tempo snapped up Rollfix's chief designer Otto Daus, and set him to work addressing the problems of the Tempo T1 and 2. The result was the Tempo T6, which although superficially similar to its predecessors, was in fact a completely redesigned vehicle. Powered by a reliable Jlo 198cc two stroke engine, the T6 sold so well - over 3500 units - that Tempo relocated to larger premises in Hamburg.

A restored Tempo T10 owned by "Tempo Christian"

Tempo also produced a 350cc engine version, the T10, but as this sized engine required users to have a drivers license and pay road tax, it did not sell well. Less than a 1000 were built.
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/can-anyone-help-laurie-with-information.html

The Pony

Tempo's first series of delivery tricycles were steered by a steering wheel, which turned the front wheel via chain and series of articulated levers. In an attempt to simplify things, Tempo's new Pony model, introduced in 1932 abandoned the steering wheel in place of a pinion at the base of the delivery tray. The driver controlled the tricycle via an handlebar mounted on the back of the tray. To steer, the driver simply pointed the tray in the direction of travel. This simplification of the design allowed Tempo to slash the price of the new Pony to only 675RM. Although the Pony was the cheapest vehicle on the road at the time, it did not appeal to customers and barely 500 were sold.

Tricycle Trucks

In 1933, Tempo's main competitor, Goliath, released their new commercial tricycle, the Goliath F400, with fully enclosed cab and multiple body styles. This was a quantum improvement over contemporary delivery tricycles, which were to all intents and purposes were little more than a motorcycle with a tray mounted forward. Tempo responded immediately with their own imitation, the Tempo Front 6. While the Goliath was powered by an engine mounted under the seat and driving the rear wheels via a conventional drive shaft, the Tempo Front used a simple chain drive. Front wheel drive necessitated mounting the engine atop the front axle so it could pivot with the front wheel as it turned. The chain case then became a structural member of the vehicle and becoming a distinctive feature of the Tempo tricycle.

A Hanseat without its bonnet showing its unique front wheel drive chain-case. Despite its tiny engine, Tempo tricycles were capable of hauling a lot of weight - if slowly.

Like similar vehicles of its type, the Front's cabin was constructed of wood-framed with plywood panels covered in leatherette for waterproofing. The new Front models received the designation D200 with the Jlo 200cc engine and the D400 with the 400cc engine. The Tempo factory provided a wide variety of customized body styles, from simple flatbed tray, to high sided delivery van, to refrigerated van, and even a passenger sedan version.

Tempo's weren't always sold as commercial vehicles. Some were sold as passenger cars, like this three door kombination-wagen. https://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2013/01/1936-tempo-brochure.html

At the same time, Tempo unveiled the V600, the company’s first four-wheeled vehicle. The V600 was powered by a 598cc Jlo two-stroke engine generating 18 horse power, with a carrying capacity of 1000 kilos. Power was delivered by chain drive to the front wheels. Swing rear axles provided good suspension, regardless of load.

The reliability of Tempo’s vehicles was conclusively demonstrated on 5 November 1934 when three Tempo D200’s competed in a 1000 kilometre speed and endurance trial at the Berlin AVUS, motor racing circuit. Although the vehicles didn't set any speed records, they successfully demonstrated their well-known qualities of endurance and economy, completing the 1000 km course in 18:44:48 hours at an average speed of 53.333 kilometres per hour. Average fuel consumption was 7 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/10/tempo-boy-the-other-tempo-three-wheeled-truck-200cc-and-world-speed-record-holder/

Tempo range at an exhibition

All of these vehicles were popular sellers in their class, but demand for the D400, the company's best-selling model, outstripped factory capacity. In 1935, Goliath sold its factory in Harburg-Bostelbeck and Vidal and Son jumped to secure their 60,000 m2 facility, selling up their plant in Warbeck in turn. That year Tempo celebrated the production of their 10,000th vehicle.

In 1936 Tempo released the ‘E’ range of tricycles. The E range were substantially more solid vehicles than their predecessors, featuring steel bodywork and a fully enclosed steel cab. Engines sizes remained the same. Sales surged and Vidal and Sohn were again forced to expand their new factory. With sales in excess of 14,000 per annum, Tempo finally overtook rival Goliath in the ‘kleinlaster’ small truck market.

In 1938, the National Socialist government regulated the auto industry as part of the Schell Plan. 'Surplus' types were removed from the market in favor of a smaller number of standardized models. Controls were imposed over what vehicles companies were permitted to build. Tempo and Goliath were granted a duopoly in the commercial tricycle market, but Tempo were instructed to cease production of the four-wheeled V600.

Tempo Gelanderwagen G1200

In 1936 Tempo-werke responded to a Landwehr (army) contract for a four-wheel drive light utility vehicle. Otto Daus' design was uniquely unorthodox. The G1200 was powered by two 600cc Jlo two-stroke motors, one mounted in the front and one in the rear, each separately driving the front and rear independently suspended axles. Each engine had its own gearbox and could be operated separately for economy driving, or linked together in four-wheel drive mode. In addition, the car had four-wheel steering, giving it exceptional maneuverability. However, as the drivers manual notes, driving with four-wheel steering enable requires some considerable skill. The G1200 had high ground clearance and with the body floating over its independent suspension it was able to comfortably traverse even the roughest ground. Top speed was 70 kilometres per hour. Fuel economy was a reasonable 12 litres per hundred kilometres, which could be reduced further by running on one engine alone. http://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2013/03/1939-tempo-g1200-review.html

The German army however did not favour two-stroke engines and the G1200 was rejected in favor of the Stoewer LEPKW. Tempo therefore looked for export contracts. 1,335 G1200's were sold to countries such as Sweden,which placed the largest single order of 400 vehicles, Finland, Latvia, Denmark, Romania, Hungary Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and even Thailand. At least two were shipped to Australia for trials according to the company's promotional literature. Nevertheless, despite their earlier dismissal of the G1200, the German army did use many seized G1200s in secondary roles during War. http://justacarguy.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/1939-tempo-galaendewagen.html

A modified G1200 staff car. Note the scoops on the rear bodywork. To cool the rear engine a side mounted, fan cooled radiator was installed. http://www.heinkelscooter.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/tempos-mungas-and-haflingers.html

Post War
Tempo continued to build its ubiquitous tricycles throughout the Second World War. They were used by the Luftwaffe as airfield transports but were too slow for use on the front. Most served in auxiliary functions, such as with the German Red Cross as ambulances. As the War progressed Vidal and Sohn Tempo factories were increasingly given over to war production and consequently suffered extensive damage from Allied bombing, Hamburg and its surrounds having been virtually destroyed during the war. Perhaps surprisingly, it was this massive destruction that provided Tempo a lifeline after the war. Although the Allies post-war plan for Germany included the total dismantling of all German industry, transport was essential to clear the rubble and restore order. The British Occupation Government granted a permit to Vidal and Sohn to re-open their factory in order to provide service and repairs for those Tempo triporters that survived the war. Over the next two years the Tempowerkes eeked out a meagre existence repairing damaged vehicles and returning them to the road. Although not officially licensed to build motor vehicles, by 1947 the company scrounged enough resources to build 100 tricycles from spare and salvaged parts, which were then exported on a specially chartered train to Holland in exchange for food.

In 1948, the Western Allies implemented a currency form and the Marshall Plan and the German "economic miracle" began. Tempo's cheap and hardy tricycles were just the thing and by the end of the year 3,500 tricycles rolled off the production line. 10,000 followed the next year. The factory at Harburg was now employing 2,000 people and three new construction halls.

In 1950 the old A400 was updated, modernized somewhat and renamed the Hanseat, while the A200 was renamed the Boy. The V600 four-wheeler made a brief return but was soon to be superseded by a whole new range of light commercials. https://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2022/07/tempo-hanseat-models.html

The Matador
Tempo's chief designer Otto Daus retired in 1948 and was succeeded by Dietrich Bergst, who had worked for Tempo since 1930. Bergst immediately set about modernizing Tempo's range. The result was the Tempo Matador, unveiled in 1949. In many ways the Matador was quite different from its predecessors. It featured a forward mounted cab and was powered by a four-cylinder 1131 cc Volkswagen boxer engine mounted beneath the seat and driving the front wheels through a Volkswagen gearbox. However, it still featured the same tube chassis and floating axles of the Hanseat and the cab retained its wooden floor and Spartan fittings.

The first hundred Matadors were pre-production test vehicles, which Tempo contracted out to a transport company to put through their paces. All the pre-production vehicles were driven to death - quite literally all were destroyed in the process and none have survived - and a wide range of improvements were incorporated into the production model.

Tempo's four-wheelers had a uniquely anthropomorphic style. The early Matador was nicknamed "the Bulldog" for obvious reasons.

A nostalgic review of the Matador from DeutscheWelle.

Running out of puff
The Matador proved to be an outstanding success and between 1950 and 1952 more than 13,000 were sold. In 1952 however, Volkswagen threw a spanner in the works when they ceased the supply of engines as they did not want a competitor to their T2 Transporter. Production was stopped while a replacement engine was sought. Jlo, who had supplied Tempo with two-stroke engines since 1929, were contracted to deliver a new three-cylinder two-stroke for the revised Matador 1000. Unfortunately the Jlo engine proved to be a disaster, being low in power and of poor quality. Tempo cast about for another supplier. DKW turned Tempo down as they were barely able to manufacture enough engines for their Schnellaster and Meisterklasse, so Tempo eventually settled on Heinkel Gmbh. Although more famous for the efficient four-stroke engines used in its scooters and microcars, Heinkel had recently obtained the rights to build copies of SAAB's two-stroke engines under license. In mid-1952 Tempo recalled the early Jlo-engined Matador 1000s and re-engined them with the Heinkel three-cylinder 672cc two-stroke engine.

Heinkel engined Matadors can be easily recognized by the low-light headlights.

Unfortunately for Tempo, the Heinkel engines were little better than Jlo's and sales of the Matador 1000 quickly dropped to less than a thousand a year. In September 1952 Tempo introduced the Tempo 1400 powered by a 1092cc four-cylinder four-stroke Heinkel engine. The Tempo 1400 was marketed as a heavy work-horse vehicle with a strengthened chassis and suspension with bodywork and fittings customized according to the customer's requirements. Although the Heinkel four-stroke was a reasonably sound engine, the Matador's reputation had been irretrievably damaged and sales continued to decline. Only some 5,500 thousand were built over three years.

The Viking

Tempo's eccentric and distinctive anthropomorphic styling reached its peak with the Viking's 'fish lipped' radiator grill.

While Tempo persevered with the under-powered Matador, they also decided to try to work within the limitations of the Heinkel engine and in 1955 they released the Viking (or Wiking), a small, budget four-wheeled light commercial powered by Heinkel's two-cylinder 460cc two-stroke, which performed much better than their three-cylinder engine. The Viking was a relative success, some 16,000 being sold between 1955 and 1963, and helped claw back some of Tempo's lost market, but the company was now in trouble. A contract to build Landrovers under license of the British occupation forces was secured, but less than 300 were built. https://tempohanseat.blogspot.com/2021/03/the-tempo-land-rover.html

This Tempo Viking has recently been returned to the road by www.microcarlot.com in the US. It has taken several year to find the necessary spares for the engine.

To keep the company afloat Oscar Vidal sold a 50% stake in Tempo to the Hanomag Group. Hanomag's investment allowed Tempo to modernize its range and both the Matador and Viking received a makeover. Oddly however, Tempo continued building the old models in parallel with the new for some time, which added to the confusion, and all were still powered by their troubled Heinkel engines.

The marketing artwork makes the Viking I and Matador modern and stylish. Unfortunately, neither were particularly speedy if powered by a Heinkel engine.

Microcars
Tempo experimented with micro-cars in the early 1950s. Three and four-wheeled sedan prototypes were unveiled in 1954, but the company had neither the capital nor capacity to advance them into production.

Powered by a 400cc Heinkel engine, the Tempo micro-car was neither better nor worse than its contemporaries, such as the Champion 400 and Maico 400 (with which it shared an engine). But with the Hanseat, Boy, two versions of the Matador, and two versions of the Viking in production simultaneously, there was no way the company could introduce a new range of vehicles.

In 1956 Tempo came to the assistance of Heinkel, manufacturing the bodies of their new Heinkel Kabine microcar. Several thousand were built before Heinkel outsourced construction to Ireland.

Although Otto Daus had officially retired, in 1956 he returned to work with Tempo on a small number of prototype amphibious vehicles for the army. These were just as unorthodox as the earlier G1200, but there wasn't really any market for these unorthodox machines.

Tempo's unique three-wheeled schwimmwagen was another miss with the German army.

A single prototype has survived.

In 1956, after a production run lasting almost 30 years, Tempo retired the Hanseat tricycle. The designs and tooling were sold to the Indian company Bajaj-Tempo, which continued manufacturing the Hanseat virtually unchanged until 2000. The main change Bajaj made was to replace the two-stroke with a Lombardini single-cylinder diesel engine in 1978.

A once common sight in rural India - an overloaded Bajaj-Tempo taxi. They have subsequently been banned from the roads.

The New Matador

Then in 1957 came the game changer. Tempo secured a contract with the English Austin company for their 1497cc four-cylinder four-stroke engines. Sales of the new Matador began to climb again and new export markets were secured. In the UK the Matador was sold via a joint-venture with Jensen as the Jensen-Tempo. The new Viking I Rapid also received the upgraded Austin engine. 21,000 were built until 1963.

In 1963 the Matador was upgraded again as the Matador E. Styling was quite similar to the contemporary East German Barkas van. The Matador E came with an optional Hanomag diesel engine. Some 70,000 of all variants were sold until production ceased in 1966.

A Matador E and Hanomag Courier. The models would be shortly merged together as the Hanomag-Henschel.

The 1969 sale of Hanomag to Daimler-Benz, opened a route to a new engine supply and the Austin engine was retired in favor of Mercedes-Benz engines. From 1967 Tempo's vans were sold under a bewildering variety of brand names, including Hanomag, Hanomag-Henschel, Rheinstahl-Hanomag and Mercedes-Benz. In 1977 Mercedes-Benz wound up all the subsidiary brand names and bought all these variants under the Mercedes-Benz banner.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Tempo G1200 review - Military Machines Magazine

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Tempo G1200 all-terrain vehicle

Tempo G1200 Gelander - 1938 Motor Kritik Review

1939 Tempo G1200 Review

Monday, February 18, 2013

The History of Vidal & Son's Tempo Werkes

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