Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
June 30, 2026
1937 Tempo E200: A Three-Wheeled Marvel Debuts at DFW Museum
TLDR
- The rare 1937 Tempo E200 at DFW Car & Toy Museum offers a unique investment opportunity for collectors of pre-war vehicles.
- The Tempo E200 features a 197cc two-stroke engine, front-wheel drive, and a pivoting front sub-assembly for agile urban maneuvering.
- Preserving the Tempo E200 celebrates pre-war German engineering, enriching public understanding of automotive history.
- The Tempo's entire front wheel, engine, and transmission pivot together, making it an eccentric three-wheeled curiosity.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights the preservation of automotive history, specifically a rare pre-war German utility vehicle that showcases innovative engineering. For car enthusiasts and history buffs, the Tempo E200 offers a tangible link to the past, demonstrating how design constraints led to creative solutions. The inclusion of such a unique vehicle in a public museum allows visitors to experience a piece of automotive evolution firsthand, fostering appreciation for the ingenuity that shaped modern transportation. Additionally, the museum's accessibility (free admission, dog-friendly) encourages community engagement with cultural heritage.
Summary
The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, TX, has added a truly unique vehicle to its collection: the 1937 Tempo E200, a three-wheeled utility truck from pre-war Germany. Painted in classic green, this rare survivor is part of the museum's Ron Sturgeon Collection and is described as a "conversation piece on wheels." Manufactured by Vidal & Sohn Tempo-Werke of Hamburg, only about 9,600 units were produced between 1936 and 1937. The E200 features a front-wheel drive layout powered by a 197cc water-cooled, two-stroke single-cylinder engine producing seven horsepower. Its most remarkable characteristic is that the entire front wheel, engine, transmission, and chain drive system are mounted as a single pivoting sub-assembly, allowing for agile maneuvering in tight spaces.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the museum, emphasizes the vehicle's ingenuity and personality. 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 Spartan dashboard includes vintage essentials like a starter button, trafficator switch, ignition key, and warning lamps, with a centrally mounted gear shifter. The museum, now located in North Fort Worth at 2550 McMillan Parkway, offers free admission and parking, and houses over 200 rare cars and 3,000 collectibles. It also provides secure climate-controlled car storage and event facilities. For more information, visit dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
Ron Sturgeon's passion for automobiles spans over 30 years, starting from his teenage years repairing Volkswagens. He built one of the largest auto salvage operations in the U.S. and now shares his collection at the museum. The museum's website, DFW Elite Toy Museum, remains a resource for enthusiasts worldwide. This Tempo E200 is a must-see for fans of vintage European vehicles and three-wheeled oddities, showcasing pre-war engineering at its quirkiest.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, 1937 Tempo E200: A Three-Wheeled Marvel Debuts at DFW Museum
