North American Heinkel Registry
In the 10+ years of hosting this site, I have acquired nearly 200 Tourists into my registry. Approximately 150 of these include the VIN.
John Gerber wrote "A total of only 350 Heinkels were sold in the U.S. (approximately 200 A1's and 150 A2's)."
I consider it amazing that so many Heinkels continue to exist 50+ years later.
Listed below are the data points I am requesting from you:
- Picture. I still need photos of several machines listed in my registry. If yours is missing, please send it to me!
- VIN. The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) will be on a plate riveted to the left hand side of the frame, under the seat. If the plate is missing, it will also be stamped on the right hand side of the frame (same location).
- Model. If you know your model number, let me know. If not, send me a picture!
- Mileage. One thing I've realized, Heinkels generally have higher mileage than other European scooters. It is extremely common to find machines with 20,000 miles on the odometer.
- Colors. Please tell me about the color of your Tourist. Current color and original color information are important. Here is an interesting tidbit. Since recording VINs and color information, I have found that specific VIN ranges indicate certain color schemes. This seems obvious now, but I didn't think about it when I started the registry.
- Provenance. During the restoration of my 103A1, I discovered the history of my scooter. Do you know the history of your scooter? There are a few Tourists amongst us with an incredible history.
- Original USA Import? I believe that most of the original USA import Tourists had a "Made in Western Germany" badge mounted to the bottom right hand side of the nose. Since many of the badges have been removed, you might also find two small holes approximately 1" apart in the same location. Does your Tourist have the badge or the holes?
Please gather as much information as you can about your Tourist, and e-mail it to me. You will make my day!