Heinkel Tourist

Heinkel Tourist

Company type	Product line
Industry	Motor scooters
Predecessor	Heinkel scooter prototype (1949)
Founded	1953
Defunct	1965
Headquarters	Germany
Products	Motor scooters
Parent	Heinkel Flugzeugwerke

File:Heinkel A1.jpg

Heinkel Tourist 103 A1

The Heinkel Tourist represents a motor scooter manufactured by Heinkel Flugzeugwerke during the period from 1953 until 1965. Over 100,000 units were produced and sold worldwide.

Positioned as a premium scooter, the Tourist was priced higher than competitors such as the Vespa and Lambretta. It was generally recognized for its greater weight, enhanced comfort, and superior stability. Optional features included a speedometer, steering lock, clock, luggage rack, and a spare tire. In the United Kingdom, it earned the nickname "The Rolls-Royce of Scooters," while a Massachusetts dealer marketed it as "The Cadillac of Scooters."

Constructed with a tubular steel frame supporting pressed steel body panels, the Tourist’s engine was integrated within the frame and powered the rear wheel via a chain housed inside the swingarm. This design kept the chain immersed in an oil bath, resulting in extended durability and preventing oil from coming into contact with either the rider or the scooter’s exterior. Unlike most scooters of its era—which typically employed two-stroke engines—the Heinkel Tourist utilized four-stroke engines.

Production

Heinkel developed its initial scooter prototype in 1949, with production of the Tourist commencing in 1953.

The model was produced across five distinct series: 101 A0 (1953–1954), 102 A1 (1954–1955), 103 A0 (1955–1957), 103 A1 (1957–1960), and 103 A2 (1960–1965).

101 A0

The inaugural series, Tourist 101 A0, featured a 149 cc (9.1 cu in) engine—the only series to do so—and was unique in having a kick starter. Production started in April 1953. Its three-speed gearbox was controlled via a twistgrip mounted on tubular steel handlebars.

In June 1954, the electrical system was upgraded from 6 V to 12 V to support the addition of an electric starter introduced at that time. Production of this series concluded two months later, with approximately 6,500 units manufactured.

102 A1

Production of the 102 A1 series commenced in July 1954. This iteration featured a larger engine increased to 174 cc (10.6 cu in) through bore and stroke modifications. The kick starter was eliminated, while retaining the 12 V electrical system and electric starter introduced late in the previous series. Additionally, a glove compartment was incorporated behind the legshield, with the speedometer installed on this glove box.

A total of around 17,500 Tourist 102 A1 scooters were built before production ceased in August 1955.

103 A0

Manufacture of the 103 A0 model commenced in August 1955. The 103-series Tourist scooters featured four-speed gearboxes and ten-inch wheels, an upgrade from the earlier versions which had three-speed transmissions and eight-inch wheels. This evolution resulted in a scooter that was both larger and heavier, with increased fuel consumption, while also offering enhanced speed and greater mechanical complexity.

A total of 34,060 units of the Tourist 103 A0 were reportedly produced before production ceased in September 1957; however, this number remains subject to debate.

1956 Heinkel Tourist 103 A0

• Heinkel Tourist 103 A0
  Heinkel Tourist 103 A0
• Tubular handlebars with instrument panel mounted on fairing
  Tubular handlebars with instrument panel mounted on fairing
• Rear view of Heinkel Tourist 103 A0
  Rear view of Heinkel Tourist 103 A0
• Heinkel Tourist 103 A0 fitted with a Steib sidecar
  Heinkel Tourist 103 A0 fitted with a Steib sidecar

103 A1

The production of the 103 A1 series started in September 1957. This iteration replaced the previous tubular handlebars with a cast handlebar that incorporated an instrument panel. Although the engine displacement remained unchanged, it was enhanced by the introduction of a two-bearing crankshaft. Additionally, rubber mounts were used to attach the engine to the frame, which contributed to an improved riding experience.

Before its production ended in June 1960, a total of 50,050 units of the Tourist 103 A1 were manufactured.

Heinkel Tourist 103 A1

• Heinkel Tourist 103 A1
  Heinkel Tourist 103 A1
• Cast handlebar featuring built-in speedometer
  Cast handlebar featuring built-in speedometer

103 A2

Production of the final Heinkel Tourist model, the 103 A2 series, began in August 1960. During the later stages of its production run, the telescopic front forks were replaced by a two-sided trailing-link fork design. The rear panel was redesigned and is not compatible with earlier series body panels.

By the end of production on December 31, 1965, approximately 55,000 units of the Tourist 103 A2 had been produced.

Heinkel Tourist 103 A2

• Heinkel Tourist 103 A2
  Heinkel Tourist 103 A2
• Longer rear section on the 103 A2 model
  Longer rear section on the 103 A2 model
• Rear perspective of the 103 A2
  Rear perspective of the 103 A2

Specifications

Technical specifications for Heinkel Tourist models

Model Series	Production Years	Engine Displacement (cc)	Bore × Stroke (mm)	Wheelbase (mm)	Overall Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Height (mm)	Kerb Weight (kg)	Wheel Size
101 A0	1953–1954	149	59.0 × 54.5	1330	1980	710	980	129	4.00 × 8"
102 A1	1954–1955	174	60.0 × 61.5					133
103 A0	1955–1957			1370	2060		1000	152	4.00 × 10"
103 A1	1957–1960			1375	2085			156
103 A2	1960–1965			1380	2020			148

All Heinkel Tourist models were equipped with overhead valve four-stroke single-cylinder engines.

United Kingdom

Starting in late 1955, the Coventry-based manufacturer Excelsior began bringing Heinkel Tourist scooters into the British market. By the end of 1956, Nobel Motors, located in Piccadilly, took over as the official distributor for both Heinkel scooters and their bubble cars, known as the Heinkel Kabine.

Towards the close of 1957, International Sales from Dublin assumed responsibility for importing Heinkel scooters into the UK. This change was possibly linked to an arrangement allowing an Irish engineering firm to produce the Heinkel Kabine bubble car under license.

In February 1962, Hans Motors in London commenced importing the 103 A2 model, operating with a team composed entirely of German personnel. At that time, Trojan Cars Ltd., who were manufacturing the Kabine under license and also retailing Lambretta scooters, declined the opportunity to become importers for Heinkel Tourists.

United States

Throughout its presence in the United States, authorized Heinkel Tourist distributors changed hands multiple times:

• In 1957, East Land Motors based in Brooklyn, New York handled imports.
• From 1959 to 1963, International Scooters Corporation of Long Island City, New York served as the primary importer. They appointed sub-distributors including:
  • Schleichler Motors in Oakland, California for West Coast distribution
  • Triangle Motorcycles located in Chicago, Illinois for coverage in the Midwest
• Between 1963 and 1964, Scooterama of San Francisco took over distribution.
• Finally, Schleichler Motors resumed importing duties from Oakland during 1964–65.

Approximately 350 units of the Heinkel Tourist were sold across the American market.

Heinkel Tourists in popular culture

The book I See By My Outfit, authored by American writer Peter S. Beagle, narrates a cross-country expedition from New York to San Francisco undertaken by him and a companion on two Heinkel Tourists. While exact dates are not specified within the narrative, contextual clues suggest this journey occurred around 1960.

See also

• Maicoletta – a large scooter produced by Maico
• Zündapp Bella – a sizeable scooter manufactured by Zündapp
• List of motorcycles of the 1950s