Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
19/01/2026 12:07 pm
1933 Framo Stromer FP 200 was an innovative, three-wheeled German microcar designed for affordable, economical transportation during the Great Depression. It is a rare collector's item today.
Key Specifications and Features
The Framo Stromer FP 200 was notable for its advanced engineering, including independent suspension on all three wheels and a central tubular frame that doubled as the exhaust system.
Engine: Power came from a 198cc single-cylinder, two-stroke DKW engine, producing approximately 6 horsepower at 3,500 rpm. (Note: Some sources mention a 2-cylinder, 1.0-liter, 12 hp engine, but the single-cylinder 198cc details are more specific to the "FP 200" model variant).
- Top Speed: It could reach a top speed of about 37 mph (60 km/h).
- Transmission: The engine was connected to a three-speed manual transmission.
- Weight: The vehicle was extremely lightweight, around 705 pounds (320 kg), due to its construction, which included a magnesium alloy drive block.
- Design: The vehicle had a distinctive, sleek, semi-aerodynamic, three-wheeled coupé design and was a two-seater.
- Legal Status: Due to its small engine displacement, the FP 200 was tax-exempt and license-free in Germany at the time, making it an attractive option for lower-income consumers.
- Production: Only about 350 units were ever built because the innovative design proved too costly to manufacture profitably.
Historical Context
The car was the brainchild of Danish engineer Jørgen Skafte Rasmussen, the founder of the DKW company. Framo was initially a supplier for DKW before manufacturing its own small vehicles and commercial vans. The FP 200 was an early attempt to create an affordable "people's car" (anticipating the later Volkswagen Kdf-car) for the masses during a period of economic hardship.
After World War II, the original Framo factory was dismantled and shipped to the U.S.S.R., and the company later became the core of the Barkas minivan manufacturer in 1957.
Current Status
Today, the 1933 Framo Stromer FP 200 is a rare and highly valued collector's item, cherished for its historical significance and unique design. Examples can be seen in automotive museums, such as the August Horch museum in Zwickau, Germany. Finding original parts is extremely difficult due to the limited production run and age of the vehicle.
John Bono
North Jersey
19/01/2026 1:57 pm
I'll say that's 'different' all right. Who knew so many three-wheeler's existed. Another highly unusual car John, thanks for the education my friend!
19/01/2026 1:59 pm
Interesting...thanks. Man oh man, the things a person learns on this Forum!
19/01/2026 4:09 pm
Thanks for this one John. I have an interest in three wheeled cars going back to my early childhood. I do remember a Framo which I saw about 1950 and some connection to DKW. I don’t think that it was running and it was in a garden shed in Yorkshire. It looked more primitive than the Morgan.Nice to see it suddenly again after all these years.
19/01/2026 4:57 pm
your something different posts always send me off wanting to know and see more of the car John. Interestingly I've pretty much drawn a blank on this one, other than these 2 'on the road' pics. Which only raise my curiosity even more!
19/01/2026 7:20 pm
Another educational post. Reading the specs made me wonder if the frame rusted out would you have to take the car to a muffler shop for replacement?
Topic starter
21/01/2026 6:58 am
Gents, thanks for your responses.
John Bono
North Jersey
Tony Perrone and Steve Jacobs reacted