A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured: 1957-1959
Carl Jurisch Fahrwerkbau, Altdorf, near Nuremberg
The unusual Jurisch Motoplan was the dream of the young German engineer Carl Jurisch who had made a name for himself by designing a telescopic rear-suspension system for motorcycles, a solution which was used by many European manufacturers in the early 1950s.
Jurisch thought a single-seat car would sell in the USA and he set about to design one. It used front suspension strongly reminiscent of the Messerschmitt, and the mounting of engine, transmission and rear-drive came from the Heinkel Kabine and sported its 175cc 4-stroke engine, slightly modified and running a different carburettor.
The cabin looked more like a cockpit, and an aviator would feel right at home with the joystick for steering and the gearstick right where you'd expect the flaps to be... but for the aerially challenged the controls may have been a little bewildering at first.
The body of the little cutie was derived from the Steib 250-S side car, which he split down the middle and widened.
Those who drove the machine reported that it handled well that the steering was easy to master.
Only one example is known to exist and this one was restored in Canada, and was displayed at the Bruce Weiner Micro-Car Museum before being sold at auction in 2013.
Notes: Carl Jurisch, a racer/designer of the 1920s, is not believed to be related. Jurisch Motorcycles
Sources: microcarmuseum.com, et al.
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