Thursday, June 22, 2023

1950 Tempo Hanseat Road Test


Motor Rundschau Magazine Nr.21 - 10 November 1950:
https://heinkelscooter.blogspot.com/2023/06/1950-motor-rundschau-nr-twenty-one.html

Translation
"A three-wheeler that has matured over many years and whose widespread use is partly due to the low purchase price and the low tax! A main feature of the Tempo "Hanseat" three-wheeler is the compact drive block, which forms a unit with the driven front wheel. As a result, the car is free of a drive tunnel behind the bulkhead and can be outfitted as required.  Different wheelbases and track-widths require only a small amount of additional design and manufacturing effort. The position of the driver's cab behind the front wheel means that the car is long in relation to its usable area. The wide rear-track means that the three-wheeler has a high degree of stability against tipping.

The "Hanseat" we tested was a low-loader platform with a low, large, loading area that is easy to load and unload.

New features include a well-tuned four-speed gearbox.

Cab: Sufficient for two people, stable and solid. Sufficient foot space next to the central frame member.

Engine: Powerful, smooth two-stroke engine. Engine and drive is noisy. Good accessibility to all important parts of the entire drive block, only the carburetor is somewhat covered (you must swivel the front wheel to the side to remove it). Road holding: Good for tricycles. Solid road holding, especially thanks to the long wheelbase and wide rear track. Fixed cornering. It takes a little getting used to the three-wheel vehicle and the wide rear section (in relation to the narrow front section)! A relatively large turning circle (due to the structural dimensions) must be taken into account!

Suspension: Rear - well-adjusted for different loads. Front - due to the single wheel and the linkage of the drive block, only a short spring travel is possible, therefore hard. Make sure that the front wheel does not go through holes unnecessarily! Brakes: Simple mechanical but adequate brakes. Handbrake lever conveniently placed in the middle.

Lean-free shifting in the dashboard, short shifting paths. A bit stiff on bad roads (gear lever swings with the drive block) and tight corners.

Equipment: Simple but solid. One-piece bench with fixed upholstery and imitation leather cover. The handbrake lever on the central frame tube is annoying when the driver exits to the right. Sufficient view, also through the rear window! Ventilation is poor through two Kurbei windows. Spare wheel at the rear under the platform. Fuses are ready to hand on the inside of the bulkhead. Battery and tools easily accessible under the seat. Tank is under the hood with a three-way tap in the driver's compartment. Safety glass all around.

Small critiques: More supple driving character, particularly a well-tuned front wheel suspension with longer spring travel. A quieter engine and drive. Improved visibility with a wider windscreen. Improved cabin ventilation."