From very humble beginnings - Tempo Type 1

Vidal and Sohn began the move from being a coal storage and port-side firefighting service to a commercial vehicle manufacturer with the development of their in-house designed Tempo T1 triporter in 1927. The T1 and its larger brother, the T2, were entirely conventional copies of a relatively common motorized delivery tricycle. The T1 was powered by a small proprietary ('off-the-shelf') two-stroke motor, which produced 5 horsepower. Ignition was provided by a magneto with a kick starter. A motorcycle clutch and gearbox provided three forward speeds without reverse. Most importantly for customers of these vehicles, they did not require either a drivers license or payment of road taxes, making them very economical for the small businessman.

Unfortunately for Vidal and Sohn, these vehicles proved to be extremely unreliable. Their engines were cheap and not particularly effective. Build quality was also poor and the company was forced to employ a full-time mobile mechanic to provide a breakdown service to keep the few hundred triporters on the road. The fact that this did not stop people buying them tells you about the desperate demand for motorized transport in Germany at this time. By 1930, a new generation of triporters were on the road, such as the Tempo Pony and T10. Although these looked similar to their predecessors, they were in fact completely redesigned and improved vehicles that proved to be much more reliable and cost effective, setting Vidal and Sohn were now set on the path that would see them become the number one manufacturer of commercial delivery tricycles in Germany by the mid-1930s.

The Tempo Pony was the cheapest vehicle manufactured by Vidal and Sohn. It dispensed with a steering wheel in favour of handlebar steering, like that of a pushbike triporter. Despite its low price, it was not particularly popular.

The T10 represented the pinnacle of the first generation triporters. It offered few comforts but was an efficient commercial vehicle for its time - and it had a proper steering wheel!
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Tempo A400 Pricelist

"How much would you expect to pay for your Tempo A400? Buy now, they're on sale!"

1958 Tempo Viking Mark 2 Brochure

Tempo Wiking brochure

Tempo Hanseat Models

Tempo Wiking French Brochure

The Tempo Wiking (Viking) was Vidal and Son's light commercial vehicle, replacing the Tempo Hanseat tricycle. It was powered by a twin-cylinder 500cc Heinkel two-stroke motor.

The Bajaj Tempo

The Tempo triporter with cab went into production in the late 1920s and became an extremely popular seller in Germany in the light commercial range. Having only three wheels and powered by a sub-500cc two stroke engine, owners did not need either a car license or to pay road tax. They were solid and reliable and could haul payloads far in excess of what their meager horsepower rating would suggest - albeit very slowly.

In the postwar period, Vidal and Sons, upgraded the prewar Tempo triporter and renamed it the Hanseat. These vehicles were an essential feature of the reconstruction period in 1950s Germany. They were however quite old fashioned and in 1949 Tempo introduced the four-wheel light truck, the Tempo Matador, powered by a Volkswagen boxer-engine. While the Matador was a far more practical vehicle, the Hanseat remained as popular a seller as ever due its low running and purchase cost. Nevertheless, it was clear to Vidal and Sons that the Hanseat production run was soon coming to an end.

Rather than simply retire the vehicle, Vidal and Sons sought out a joint venture partner in the Far East, where the little triporter may have a longer future. In 1951, they established a licensed production agreement Bachraj Trading company in India to assemble Hanseats from knock-down kits. These proved to be a just as popular a seller in India as they had been in Germany. Progressively, Bachraj took over full manufacturing until in 1954, Vidal and Son's sold all designs, presses and tooling for the Hanseat. In 1958, Vidal and Sons formed a joint venture with Bachraj as Bajaj Tempo Motors. Bajaj Motors range included the Indian-manufactured Hanseat, Indian-assembled Tempo Matadors and Vikings, and tricycle rickshaws based on the Piaggio Ape design.

The Bajaj Hanseat would remain in production until 2000. Few changes were made except to replace the two cylinder 400cc Heinkel two stoke motor with a single cylinder Lombardi diesel engine.


The Indian Firodia Group bought out Bajaj Motors in 1968, however Vidal and Sohns retained their 25% stake in Bajaj, until Vidal and Sohns were themselves taken over by Daimler-Benz in 1971. Daimler-Benz inheriting their stake in Bajaj until they sold out in the early 2000s. The company is now called Force Motors and continues to manufacture a wide range of commercial vehicles in India.