The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added a rare and unconventional vehicle to its display: the 1937 Tempo E200, a three-wheeled utility truck from pre-war Germany. Part of the museum's Ron Sturgeon Collection, this green-painted vehicle is noted for its eccentric engineering and historical significance.
Manufactured by Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werke of Hamburg, the Tempo E200 was produced between 1936 and 1937, with only about 9,600 units ever made. Designed for urban work, it featured a unique front-wheel drive layout powered by a 197cc water-cooled, two-stroke single-cylinder engine that produced seven horsepower. The entire front wheel, engine, transmission, and chain drive system were mounted as a single pivoting sub-assembly, allowing for agile maneuvering in tight spaces.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, said, "From the moment you see it, you know this isn't your average truck. The Tempo E200 is a rare survivor that showcases the ingenuity of pre-war utility design. It's strange, it's clever, and it's got more personality than vehicles ten times its size."
The Tempo rides on a central tube frame with a single coil spring at the front and a swing axle with twin volute springs at the rear. It also features mechanical rear drum brakes, reverse-hinged doors, B-pillar trafficators, a drop-down tailgate, and a functional cargo bed. Inside, the dash includes a starter button, trafficator switch, ignition key, and warning lamps, with a three-spoke steering wheel and centrally mounted gear shifter.
Visitors can see the Tempo E200 as part of the museum's collection of over 200 rare cars and 3,000 collectibles. The museum is located at 2550 McMillan Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76137, and offers free admission and parking. For more information, visit the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
The DFW Car & Toy Museum, formerly known as DFW Elite Toy Museum, was founded by Ron Sturgeon in the 1980s and originally located in Haltom City. The museum's website at DFW Elite Toy Museum remains a resource for toy and car enthusiasts.
