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Tourist 103A1

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Heinkel Tourist

Heinkel Tourist June 1 1962

HEINKEL TOURIST

Cycle World Scooter Test

ACCORDING to the makers of the Heinkel Tourist, it is a “de-luxe long range scooter with a world famous engineering name ..." If any of our readers were vacationing in Europe somewhere between 1942 to 1946 we are certain they have heard the name before. The Heinkel HE 70 and HE 111 airplanes were some of the most formidable in the air and literally bristled with engineering innovations that were new to aviation.

Heinkel’s current model is another example of an interesting engineering approach surrounded by a handsome body package. As the name “Tourist” implies, the Heinkel was designed for comfortable long distance travel. For this purpose it would be difficult to find a scooter more ideally suited. The smooth, one-cylinder, 4-cycle engine is quiet and the rated 12 hp gives an amazing performance considering the size and weight of the machine. In heavy traffic we easily stayed ahead of the main flow of traffic while thoroughly beating many automobiles in the process.

Quite naturally the weight is an asset to riding comfort, though it usually detracts from handling ability. We objected to the weight and bulk of the Heinkel, but considering that it is primarily designed to haul two people, plus a certain amount of luggage or camping equipment, in comfort and for long distances, our objections were easily over-ridden.

The Heinkel takes a back seat to few two-wheeled vehicles in the performance department; the acceleration from a standstill to average allowable traffic speed is amazing, considering the 175cc engine. Top speed is over 60 mph and it imparts a considerable degree of confidence with its excellent stability at this speed. One of CYCLE WORLD’S staffers, when following another in his automobile behind the Heinkel, remarked how much it looked like a full size motorcycle when being ridden through a series of “S” bends. As with any machine, the success, or failure, of its handling abilities lies in its suspension geometry.

We especially liked the front end arrangement. In place of what has become almost common scooter design, the trailing or leading arm system, the Heinkel employs a type more conventional to motorcycle design, straight telescopic forks. We have to confess to preferring the straight fork arrangement as the degree of rider control is greater and it does not have the “spongy” feeling that the multi-link front end system gives. The Heinkel drives through and over the roughest and deepest troughs on the worst street near our offices in a secure manner. The absence of the typical leaping of most scooters through sharp dips further proved the validity of our preferences.

The Heinkel deserves special praise for its styling; not a member of the staff disagreed with the summary of its design — one of the best looking scooters we have ever seen, decorative and yet quite practical in concept. The overall finish is also excellent.

Several claims of unusual construction are qualified for the Heinkel as well, one being the interesting frame upon which the engine and transmission, suspension systems and body are mounted. It consists of a tubular structure that runs in a conventional motorcycle fashion from the steering head down, and then forks over and under the engine. The upper traverse serves as a firm hanger for the body, the lower portion holds the engine in three rubber-bushed mounts that almost completely absorb engine vibrations. The vibration-free characteristics must be considered another excellent feature of the Heinkel.

A brief technical description includes: 4-stroke, single cylinder, 60mm bore, 61.5mm stroke, 174cc capacity, compression ratio 1:7.4, air-cooled engine that is rated at 12 hp @ 5750 rpm. 4-speed gear box operated by a left hand twistgrip, 4.00 x 10 tires, 329 lbs total weight, fuel consumption approximately 50 mpg, and electric starting; price is $595.00, FOB West Coast. •

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Tourist 103A0

The Tourist 103 A0 was not officially imported into the USA. However a few were imported by travelers and returning soldiers.

Distinguishing Features

The 103 A0 resembles the 102 A1, except that the 103 A0 has the following differences:

• Engine: The A0 is the first model to incorporate four speeds.
• Forks: The A0 is the first model use the front suspension common to all A0s, A1s and early A2s. The suspension is a telescoping front fork with a single shock on the left hand side.
• Frame: The frame was modified to support the updated fork assembly.
• Handlebar Shifter: The A0 uses a different handlebar shifter that allows for the fourth gear.
• Wheels: The A0 is the first model to have 10" wheels.
• Spare tire bracket: The spare tire bracket was updated to support the new wheel rims.

Click here to see known 103 A0s in North America.

Specifications

• Motor: Air-cooled, single cylinder four-stroke engine
• Bore/stroke: 60.0 / 61.5 mm
• Valve type: Over head valve
• Capacity: 174 cm³
• Ignition: Battery ignition system "Siba" 12 V - 90W
• Carburetor: "Pallas" 20/14P
• Starter: E-Starter
• Transmission: Four speed manual transmission via Hand shifter. The gear ratios:
• 1st Gear 18.5 : 1
• 2nd Gear 10.6 : 1
• 3rd Gear 7.1 : 1
• 4th Gear 5.13 : 1
• Drive: Chain enclosed in oil bath chain guard
• Chassis: Steel tube framework, telescoping front fork, one-sided swingarm in the back
• Tires: 4.00 x 10"
• Wheel base: 1370 mm
• Length: 2060 mm
• Width: 710 mm
• Height: 1000 mm
• Dry weight: 152 kg
• Total weight: 350 kg
• Consumption / 100km: 2.81
• Maximum speed: 95 km/h
• Years in production: August 1955 - September 1957
• Number produced: 34,060

The specifications are courtesy of the Heinkel Club Deutschland.

Vielen Danke Heinkel Club Deutschland!

Other Models:

• Tourist 101 A0
• Tourist 102 A1
• Tourist 103 A0
• Tourist 103 A1
• Tourist 103 A2

Updated: September 29, 2022

Cohort Sighting: Heinkel Tourist Scooter with Sidecar – The Mercedes of Scooters

The British called this “The Rolls Royce of Scooters,” but it seems to me that “The Mercedes of Scooters” seems more apt, especially since Cohort Hannes captured it in front of a very lovely Pagoda SL.  A dealer in Massachusetts even advertised the Heinkel as “The Cadillac of Scooters,” its accolades reflecting its high-quality construction, durable four-stroke engine (when two-strokes were the norm), and lofty price tag.  And the name “Tourist” was not over-reaching either; back in the fifties, Germans with more Wunderlust than D-Marks were driving them south for vacations in Italy, Spain, and such (but with their wives, not the family dog).

Heinkel Flugzeugwerke was of course banned from building aircraft after the end of WWII, so it turned its engineers to more earth-bound vehicles: bicycles, mopeds, scooters and the Heinkel bubble car. All of them were built to much higher standards than average, which also affected their price and sales.

The Tourist was capable of touring, with a top speed of 60-70 mph, although presumably not with the side car. Except for the very first batch, Tourists had a 174cc ohv single cylinder engine, with some 9.5 hp. Getting over the steep Alpine passes back then took patience.

But that paid off, as this happy couple in Spain demonstrated with their Maico sidecar rig. Now that’s the way to really see the countryside, puttering along with the balmy ocean breeze in one’s hair.

And here’s a couple of German women touring on their scooter. Who needs men, anyway? Or maybe they lost them in the war. Nothing can stop the German Wanderlust , except maybe a war. Which meant it was very pent up by the early fifties.

These two aren’t likely to head south, but at least they’re out enjoying the ride on their Heinkel.

14 Comments

If that first photograph of a Heinkel, a very tiny sidecar, and its passenger does not bring a smile to someone’s face, that person has something very wrong with them!

I have to wonder how common an accessory the dog-sized sidecar was. Somewhere out there is a Kali sidecar enthusiast who knows the answer.

That’s the regular-person sized side-car. It’s a scooter, not a BMW 🙂 Check out the couple in Spain in the scooter; the sidecar is similarly small. Just big enough to slide the legs into. And folks were generally slim back then.

I thought that the dog’s sidecar looked smaller than the one used by the couple in Spain, but you are right, the one in Spain just has some sort of windshield/tonneau cover that makes it taller. The dog’s sidecar would make an excellent one-man bobsled!

The Heinkel bubble car in the second photo looks quite similar to an Isetta, although I think that the Isetta used the BMW boxer twin engine, which would have given it a substantial engine displacement advantage. A BMW Isetta vs. Heinkel vs. Messerschmitt comparison test would be a fun one; I wonder whether anyone has ever done one?

The BMW Isetta used a one-cylinder engine, a variation of their single cylinder motorcycle engine, with fan cooling. The earliest version (up to 1956) had 250 cc and 12 hp, and a top speed of 53 mph. The later ones had 300cc and 13 hp; top speed stayed the same, but it got to that speed faster.

The Heinkel Kabine used the same engine as the Tourist scooter; initially the 174cc (9.2 hp), and later ones 200cc and about 10 hp. The given top speed for it was 54/56 mph, but probably the Isetta had a better chance of actually attaining it than the Kabine.

The Messerschmitt first had a 175 cc (10 hp) and also listed as 56 mph top speed. The later KR200 supposedly would hit 65mph.

So they all had very similar power levels, but the substantially smaller aerodynamic frontal aspect of the Messerschmitt undoubtedly allowed it to go faster than the two “eggs”. Just like in an airplane.

Single cylinder air cooled bubble cars by former makers of the mainstays of the Luftwaffe … I never knew that the category had so many members!

As a fan of old-fashioned air-cooled motorcycles, I would love to see a comparison of these three bubble cars, plus the BMW 700 and a prewar Morgan three wheeler.

The whole motivation for the Mini was the head (name forgotten while writing) of BMC’s strong dislike for bubble cars. He insisted that Issigonis had to come up with a real car if BMC was to get into the market.

Love eeet !

On closer examination, I also have to ask where and when the color photos were taken. With a Heinkel scooter, a Pagoda SL, a late 60s/early 70s Corvette, and a Porsche 911 Turbo all on the same street, on a cobblestone street in front of an old cathedral, something interesting was happening.

I took these in 2012 in Regensburg, Germany, during the annual classic car rallye. Here are some more photos from that day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotriot/sets/72157630713441064/ I’ve got a couple more I need to upload, but I didn’t have as much time that day as I wished I had. The snapshots of the Heinkel were taken when I was on my way home again.

New information for me. Very interesting scooter. I love the color on that thing – how very late 40s-early 50s.

Great picture and a sweet set of wheels! The bullet-shaped sidecar is excellent, especially with a pooch in it. I actually never knew Heinkel made scooters, I only knew (vaguely) of their bubble car and the airplanes… although looking at these pictures, I think I may have actually seen one or two of them on the street. Manhattan is full of scooters and mopeds, but when it comes to the older ones, if it isn’t some type of Vespa/Piaggio, Lambretta or Puch, I don’t really know what it is. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled now.

The Maico is even cooler looking, that’s really wild!!

Until I read the article, I thought Electrolux made sidecars. 😉

Used to ride 750s. Think this might be more my speed now.

That is a very cool scooter-and-sidecar setup! Since no one else mentioned it, the dog appears to be a Viszla, a European hunting dog. My Uncle Don had them for years; really nice dogs!

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Only One In USA? 1957 Heinkel Tourist W/ Wilmsen Sidecar

With well over 100,000 of these scooters having been made, they aren’t as rare as some other makes but there aren’t many of them in the US. This may be the only one in the United States with this rare sidecar. That’s what the seller says about this 1957 Heinkel Tourist 103 A0 scooter with a very rare Wilmsen sidecar. They have this rare scoot listed here on eBay in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The current bid price is $4,444.44 but the reserve isn’t met.

Information that I found on a couple of Heinkel websites says that Heinkel produced just over 34,000 of their Tourist 103 A0 models, which were made between 1955 and 1957 and are now highly sought after by collectors. They are about as unique of a piece of two-wheeled machinery as there ever was. Or in this case, three-wheeled when you include the rare Wilmsen sidecar , possibly the only one in existence in the US.

Heinkel has an interesting history and most of you probably already know that they’re a German company. They built aircraft during World War II, partially with the use of slave labor, so there’s a very dark history there. A lot of folks won’t own anything from certain countries due to family history in fighting wars and I get that 100%. I just thought I’d mention that as it may have come up in the comments. Ok, back to this scooter.

Barn Finds has shown exactly one Heinkel vehicle in the past and it was their “car”, or microcar: the Kabine 150 as seen here . According to the Heinkel Tourist website, 17 Tourist 103 A0s are known to be in the United States at this time but only one with this sidecar. It’s almost more a case of buying the sidecar and getting a Heinkel Tourist scooter thrown in. The seller thinks that the paint may be original on the Heinkel scooter which would be really outstanding but there are a few issues for the next owner to work out.

The engine is Heinkel’s 173 cc with around 10 horsepower. With a new four-speed gearbox, they were known as the Rolls-Royce of scooters in parts of England given how well-made and solid they were and they were priced above most other scooters of the time. This one runs and drives well but will need new tires at some point. Have any of you owned or even seen a Heinkel Tourist scooter?

Sidecars are cool but at the end of the day it’s still just a scooter.

Nobody frequenting this site is getting in that sidecar!

The reference to alleget slave labor maybe politically correct, is however a historic lie. Heinkel produced some of the most spectaculat fighter planes in history and designed the VTL concept which is used by British Harrier. They also invented the ejection seat which has saved countless pilots lives. In addition Heinkel was one of the jet engine pioneers. As far as their scooter goes, it was a superb machine seconded only by the Bastert Einspurauto or possibly the Röhr Roletta and Zündapp Bella. I have never understood the Vespa madness – a cute ¨scooter¨ but no more, but the Heinkel was a real machine on par with with anything on two wheels and vastly superior to most. The side car I have never heard of, but it looks like a nice design. Anyone who saya, it´s still only a scootter obviously has no idea of what he is talking about.

Do you make the allegation that it is a historically incorrect statement you offered and 0 proof that it is historically incorrect only that they also manufactured other things

“While researching the Sachsenhausen concentration camp that was located just outside of Berlin, I discovered that thousands of slave laborers were forced to work for the Heinkel aircraft manufacturing company. When I began to research the Heinkel company I found a biography of the founder Ernst Heinkel on the website of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. I was somewhat shocked to find that he had been selected for their International Air and Space Hall of Fame.” Must have been another Heinkel you were referring to.

Due to political and social restraints as they (wisely) apply to this forum, I cannot answer in detail. Now take a deep breath, count to ten, go to the fridge and get another Corona, open it, pour it into a glass like a civilized person and enjoy it. Cheers and Beers, Gerard

I have no interest in scooters, but this is one of the coolest items on Barn Finds!

Heinkel Flugzeugwerke used forced Jewish labor, starting in 1941.[7]

And if this is an issue then take down Herr Frederick’s political post.

Its KOOL! Thats really all that needs to be said? Bid or blow by all the irrellevant BS! Just my take.

sorry ppl R so stoooopid. Man’s inhumanity to man knows no bounds (on ALL sides). We need to banish war, prejudice and a bit of anger.

Cool machine (over all and in detail) no matter who made it. I hate what H. Wienstine did, I can enjoy some of his movies (arrest’n prosecute, move on in life). Sorry for the politics & my own preachiness. Back to “our” topic~

Auction update: it didn’t sell the first go-round and was relisted and didn’t sell again at a high bid price of $5,801.56.

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Heinkel Tourist, Prospekt / Sales brochure, selten!

Verkaufsprospekt auf Deutsch / Sales brochure in German

Format / Size : A5

Seiten / Pages : 16

Zustand / Condition : 3-, ordentlich aber mit sichtbaren Gebrauchsspuren / Knickstellen, altersbedingt vergilbt, 2-fach gelocht   (1- neuwertig, 5 - beschädigt) /  (1 - new, 5 - bad, damaged)

Versand in Deutschland nur per Einschreiben, International nur als " Warenpost tracked "! /  Shipment in Germany as registered letter only / international shipment as tracked letter only!

Ich versuche immer eine möglichst genaue Beschreibung zu erstellen, bitte prüfen Sie einfach mein Ebay-Feedback - ich bin sicher, dass auch Sie zufrieden werden. Viel Spaß beim Bieten!!! Bitte beachten Sie auch meine weiteren Auktionen, um Portokosten zu sparen.  Please mention that I always try to give a very detailed description of any item offered, please check my ebay-feedback. I´m sure you´ll be satisfied - so happy bidding!!! Please take a look at my other auctions to save on postage.

INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS WELCOME, please don´t hesitate to ask for more details (we speak English, Polish, Spanish and French).  

• Condition: Gebraucht

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•   Popularity - 0 watchers, 0.0 new watchers per day , 105 days for sale on eBay. 1 sold, 0 available. More

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•   Seller - 5.965+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings. More

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RARE 51 YEAR OLD HEINKEL TOURIST SCOOTER, EUROPEAN 1960's "SCOOTER-CULT"-ICON

1964 other makes heinkel tourist fair reserve free shipping to us.

US AND CANADIAN BIDDERS PLEASE NOTE;BECAUSE OF RECENT UPGRADED SECURITYREGULATIONS I CAN ONLY SHIP VEHICLES TO PERSONS IN THE US OR CANADA WHOARE IN THE POSSESSION OF AN OFFICIAL AND VALID PASSPORT.(AN ID-CARD OR DRIVERS-LICENSE ETC. ARE NOT GETTING ACCEPTED ANYMORE BYAUTHORITIES IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY A RECIPIENT). PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU�RE ABLE TO MEET WITH THIS REQUIREMENT BEFOREBIDDING, R MAKE SURE YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE IN LINE WITH A VALID US ORCANADIAN PASSPORT WHO IS WILLING TO HELP YOU OUT ON THIS.

The crate will safely sail in a sealed container and the shipment is fullyinsured for eventual damage/loss.

I always do the packing myself and will send you a good set of photo's of the process of packing and actual delivery at the Antwerp warehouse of the shipping-company as soon as everything's finished.

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THE 10 CLOSEST Hotels to Tourist Information Center Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Orekhovo-Zuevo

Hotels near tourist information center orekhovo-zuyevo, property types, distance from, traveler rating.

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3. Apelsin Hotel

4. yesenin hotel, 5. hotel berezhki hall, 6. kalipso hotel, 7. areal congress hotel, 8. shaturaholl, 9. apart hotel yantar, 10. wesendorf hotel in ramenskoye, 11. continent hotel, 12. yakor hotel, 13. country club zolotye karasi, 14. park hotel bogorodsk, 15. hotel edem, 16. artiland, 17. piccadilly, 18. yakhonty noginsk, 19. park hotel rayki, 20. business-hotel voskresensk, 21. vorkug sveta hotel, 23. hotel a108 voskresensk, 24. 3a balashikha, 25. kupavna hotel, 26. voskresensk hotel, 27. hotel kornilov, 28. novokosino hotel, 29. sosnovy bor park hotel, 30. kamelot, hotels near tourist information center orekhovo-zuyevo information.

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Moscow metro to be more tourist-friendly

A new floor sign system at the Moscow metro's Pushkinskaya station. Source: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

For many years now, Moscow has lagged behind St. Petersburg when it comes to making life easy for tourists, especially where getting around the city is concerned. Whereas the northern capital installed English-language maps, signs and information points throughout its subway system in the late 2000s, the Russian capital’s metro remained a serious challenge for foreign visitors to navigate.

Recent visitors to Moscow may have noticed some signs that change is afoot, however. In many stations of the Moscow subway, signs have appeared on the floor – with large lettering in Russian and English – indicating the direction to follow in order to change lines. Previously, foreign visitors using the Moscow metro had to rely solely upon deciphering the Russian-language signs hanging from the ceilings.

Student volunteers help tourists find their way in Moscow

However, this new solution has a significant drawback. “The floor navigation is visible only to a small stream of people – fewer than three people per meter. During peak hours, this navigation will simply not be noticed,” said Konstantin Trofimenko, Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Studies.

One of the biggest problems for tourists in the Russian capital remains the absence of English translations of the names of subway stations in the station vestibules and on platforms. The Department of Transportation in Moscow has not commented yet as to when this problem will be solved. However, Latin transliterations of station names can already be found in the subway cars themselves.

Finding the right exit

At four of the central stations – Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Lubyanka and Kuznetsky Most – the city authorities have now installed colorful stands at the exits with schematic diagrams of the station’s concourse and surrounding area, which provide information about the main attractions and infrastructural facilities.

The schematic diagrams are the work of British specialists from the City ID and Billings Jackson Design firms, who have already implemented successful projects in New York and London.

According to Alexei Novichkov, expert at the Design Laboratory at the Higher School of Economics, the design of these information booths raises no objections: The color solutions, font, layout and icons are consistent with international standards.

However, the stands do have some shortcomings. “Many questions are raised about the fact that the developers of these maps did not apply orientation to the north, and have provided layouts of the surrounding areas with respect to the exits,” says Novichkov. “A system like that is used for road navigators, but most of the ‘paper’ guides and maps are oriented strictly to north. The subway map is also oriented to north, so people may become confused.”

Muscovites and foreign visitors are generally positive about these navigation elements, with most of them citing the numbered exits from the subway as the most useful feature.

The fact is that many Moscow subway stations have several exits. One of the busiest central stations of the Moscow subway in particular, Kitay-Gorod, has more than a dozen exits. Previously, these exits were differentiated from each other only with signs in Russian referring to the names of streets and places of interest to which they led – making it easy for tourists and those with poor navigation skills to get confused.

Now, when making an appointment to meet a friend, instead of struggling to find the right spot when they tell you: “I'll meet you at the exit to Solyanka Street,” you can just propose to meet under a specific exit number.

“I’ve lived in Moscow for seven years,” says Angelika, a designer from Voronezh, “but I still don’t always know where to go to find the place I need, so the new schematic diagrams will be very useful. Previously, some subway stations had maps, but not with so much detail.”

Teething problems

Foreigners, meanwhile, focus their attention on other elements. “It is good that the new information boards have QR-codes, which can be ‘read’ by smartphones,” says Florentina, a writer from Vienna. But there are also shortcomings. “The English font of the information on posters and in the captions to theaters and museums is too small – you have to come very close to see it well,” she says.

Pleasant encounters on the streets of Moscow

Florentina was also dissatisfied with the fact that such posters are not provided at all subway stations: “When I was trying to find Tsaritsyno Park (a museum and reserve in the south of Moscow) at a subway station with the same name, it turned out to be quite difficult,” she says.

“There are no maps with landmarks for other areas, such as those already in the city center. There were no clear pointers in the English language, and the passers-by I met did not speak in English, so they could not help me,” she adds.

Officials say that the navigation system is gradually being redeveloped and improved. According to Darya Chuvasheva, a press representative for the Department of Transport of Moscow, the introduction of a unified navigation system will take place in stages.

“By the end of 2014, the system will first appear on the first subway stations on the Circle Line. By the end of 2015, we plan to install the system at all major stopping points, subway stations and transport interchange hubs,” says Chuvasheva.

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