1943 NSU Kettenkrad

Today is all about off-roaders, and this might be one of the craziest of all. The NSU Kettenkrad (Ketten = tracks, krad = German military abbreviation for motorcycle), was a half-track designed initially as a light tractor for airborne troops. Due to its diminutive size, it was the only ‘gun tractor’ capable of fitting in certain Nazi aircraft. The formal name was the SdKfz2, and the majority were used to lay down communication cables (remember the scene from Enemy at the Gates?), transport soldiers and cargo through deep Russian mud, and as runway tugs for aircraft.

Powered by an 1.5L, inline 4 cylinder Opel engine that produced 36 horsepower, the Kettenkrad was capable of 44 miles per hour, according to the driver’s manual. The engine was selected as NSU did not make a big enough engine at the time. NSU selected the engine from the Opel Olympia because the car was already in use by the Wehrmacht, so field mechanics were familiar with it. For such a contraption that weighed 2,726 pounds, it impressively got 18 mpg on-road, and about 13 off-road. Last thing you should know is how the steering works. Up to a certain point, steering was done by the front wheel, controlled by the handlebar. But if you wanted to turn even further, the bike would automatically apply brakes to the inside track to enable tighter turns. Because the Kettenkrad could turn by using brakes, you could even run without the front wheel, which is what the manual suggested when you were on serious off-road terrain. If you want more information, you should check out the Kettenkrad Homepage, especially the FAQ section.

And if you want to see what it’s like in motion (if you don’t want one after seeing this, you might be dead inside):

This specific NSU Kettenkrad was completely restored 7 years ago. The front wheel is a replica by Lehar, and the bike has only been used for shows in Europe. Possibly the coolest thing is the reproduction (also by Lehar) of the trailer that was a factory option.