{{Short description|German coachbuilding company}} [[File:Rometsch_Logo.svg|thumb|Rometsch logo]] '''Karosserie Friedrich Rometsch''' was a German [[Metallurgy|metallurgical]]-[[coachbuilding]] company based in [[Halensee|Berlin-Halensee]], Nestorstrasse 41, that manufactured, modified, and repaired coaches, [[Trailer (vehicle)|trailers]], bodies and [[chassis]].
== History == Founded in 1924 by Friedrich Rometsch, the company was one of many in Europe providing car bodies for customers buying their motor-car in "bare chassis form", complete with an engine, and then employing a coachbuilder to add a custom-built body. By the late 1930s it was becoming more usual to buy the complete vehicle.
Friedrich Rometsch and his son Fritz Rometsch had earned their experience while working for the coachbuilder, [[Erdmann & Rossi]]. During the early years most Rometsch car bodies were designed for use as taxis, using mainly [[Opel]] chassis. There were also some bespoke bodies produced for private customers. During the [[Second World War]] the company switched to manufacturing mobile field kitchens for the [[Wehrmacht|army]].<ref name=RometschlautJT>{{cite book|page=191|title=Rometsch (D) 1924–2000, Berlin|series=A-Z of European Coachbuilders 1919-2000|first=James |last=Taylor |date=2017| publisher=Herridge & Sons Ltd.| isbn=978-1-906133-78-8}}</ref>
Johannes Beeskow, a Rometsch designer who had worked for [[Erdmann & Rossi]] during the 1930s, built the first prototype of a four-door sedan in 1950; the donor vehicle being a [[Volkswagen Beetle]] in [[scrap]] condition. Rometsch took this concept into the production of a [[taxicab]]. The [[wheelbase]] had been stretched by about {{convert|27|cm|in}}. Access to the backseats was improved by incorporating [[suicide door]]s. [[File:VW Käfer Taxi von Rometsch 1953 (3).jpg|thumb|1953 Rometsch Taxi at Wolfsburg [[AutoMuseum Volkswagen]]]]
The ''Beeskow'' and the ''Lawrence'' were also based on the Volkswagen Beetle, with a Rometsch body. These were named after their designers. Both models were available as a [[coupé]] and as a [[convertible]]. These vehicles gained awards at the [[Geneva Motor Show|Geneva Automotive Show]] several times. About 17 examples were built per year.<ref>{{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/mobil/oldtimer/neues-rometsch-karosserie-museum-die-edel-kaefer-aus-berlin/12550796.html |title=Neues Rometsch-Karosserie-Museum – Die Edel-Käfer aus Berlin |trans-title=New Rometsch-Car-Body-Museum - The luxury bugs from Berlin |publisher=[[Der Tagesspiegel|Tagesspiegel]] |author1=Heinrich Niemeier |author2=Renate Freiling |date=10 November 2015 |access-date=2018-02-06 }}</ref>
When sales declined, mainly due to the competition from the mass production of the Type 14 [[Karmann Ghia]], which was 1,500 DEM cheaper and also built on the Beetle chassis, the general director of [[Volkswagen]], [[Heinrich Nordhoff]], stopped the supply to Rometsch. He also prohibited dealers from selling either chassis or vehicles to Rometsch. When Rometsch realised they were selling the ''Lawrence'' at a loss, he was forced to cut wages to [[Piece work|piece rate]].
A further blow hit Rometsch in the summer of 1961 when the construction of the [[Berlin Wall]] separated the business from nearly half of its 90 employees overnight. The production of the sports car ended later that year. From 1962 the business was concentrated on car body repairs, specialising in taxis. However, it did carry out a small series of bespoke conversions using [[Range Rover]]s, producing at least three lengthened-wheelbase "hunting vehicles" during the mid-1980s for [[Erich Honecker|General Secretary Erich Honecker]].<ref name=RometschlautJT/> During its final years Rometsch turned to producing ambulance bodies and customising [[bus]] bodies for tour companies,<ref name=RometschlautJT/> while still also rebuilding damaged vehicles. The company closed in 2000.
At least 200 to 250 customised bodies were manufactured by Rometsch; automotive historian Werner Oswald wrote of a total approaching 500,<ref name="Oswald1">Werner Oswald: ''Deutsche Autos 1945–1990.''</ref> while the magazine [[Der Spiegel]] reported up to 585.<ref>{{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/0,1518,284998,00.html |title=Käfer-Variationen der Fünfziger – Sekt statt Selters |trans-title=VW bug variations of the 50s - Champagne instead of fizzy water |publisher=Der Spiegel |date=5 February 2004 |access-date=2018-02-06 }}</ref> Taxi entrepreneurs from Berlin made Rometsch manufacture 38 of the stretched Beetle taxis.<!-- DW.COM -->
== 1951 Rometsch Beeskow == The ''Beeskow'' was twice the price of its platform and parts donor, the Volkswagen Beetle. The ''Beeskow'' became "the Beetle for the [[High society (social class)|high society]]". The design of falling lines on head and tail of the [[Ponton (car)|pontoon body]] caused it to be nicknamed "the banana". A third seat was installed behind the driver seat, turned by 90 degrees, facing the nearside. The actor [[Viktor de Kowa]] bought the first ''Beeskow'' at the Geneva Automotive Show. As Friedrich Rometsch had not thought of a price, he took a look at the [[Porsche]] exhibition booth next-door where the [[Porsche 356]] was offered for 10,000 [[Deutsche Mark|DEM]] and Rometsch offered the car for 9,800 DEM, which was accepted. Today that price would equal {{Inflation|DE|9800|1951}} EUR. Both [[Gregory Peck]] and [[Audrey Hepburn]] also bought Beeskows.
In the late middle 1950s, the design engineer Johannes Beeskow moved to the [[Karmann]] company in [[Osnabrück]] as their department manager of technical research. Some of the design elements from the ''Beeskow'' were found later in other vehicles such as the so-called "wheelbrows" on the bumpers of the [[Mercedes-Benz 300 SL]] and also the roof of the [[Audi TT]]. About 175 Beeskows were built, of which the majority were convertibles. The Coupés can be divided into three series, easily identifiable by the size of the rear windshield which grew considerably with each change.
<gallery widths="210px" heights=132px"> File:Rometsch beeskow2.jpg|1956 Rometsch Beeskow Convertible File:Rometsch beeskow3-2.jpg File:Rometsch Beeskow Volkswagen (1957) 1X7A8065.jpg|1957 Convertible File:1954 Rometsch Beeskow Coupé M-61006 in Los Angeles, rear right.jpg|1954 Series 2 Beeskow Coupé, with panoramic rear windshield File:VW Rometsch Beeskow Coupe (25816125104).jpg|1955 Series 3 Coupé with fully wraparound rear windshield </gallery>
== 1954 Rometsch Porsche Spyder == In early 1954 Rometsch manufactured a light alloy body for a [[Auto racing|racing car]], following the shape of [[Porsche 550]] Spyder, again utilising the Beetle chassis. The gearbox and the 1.1-litre, {{convert|68|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}} engine which were made by Porsche, gave a topspeed of 190 to 200 km/h (118 to 124 mph).<ref>{{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.volkswagen-classic.de/magazin/kompakt-2014 |title=Sonderausstellung "Gemeinsam gegeneinander – Automobilrennsport in BRD und DDR zwischen Kriegsende und Mauerbau" |type=Volkswagen-Classic über den Rometsch Porsche Spyder |date=14 November 2014 |access-date=2018-02-06 }}</ref> <gallery widths="210px" heights=130px"> Rometsch Porsche Spyder 1953 (14450189273).jpg 1954_Rometsch_Porsche_Spyder_09.jpg 1954_Rometsch_Porsche_Spyder_06.jpg|Original 1954 Rometsch Porsche Spyder </gallery>
== 1957 Rometsch Lawrence == The ''Rometsch Lawrence'' was introduced in 1957. The furniture designer Bert Lawrence had drawn the shape of the car. Again a modified Beetle with a [[brand-new]] body; 15 cm ({{convert|15|cm|in}} inch) lower and a harmonic two-colour appearance. The padded dashboard was uncommon at that time in Germany. A [[Petri AG|Petri]] [[steering wheel]] was available as an option. Design elements such as American-style tailfins, wrap-around windshield and Italian-styling won the car the "Golden Rose" at the 1957 [[International Geneva Motor Show]]. Available as a coupé and a convertible, it took about 1200 hours to build a ''Lawrence''.<ref>''Motor Mobil – Das Automagazin'', [[DW-TV]], 27 April 2016</ref> In 1959 in Germany it sold for 8000 DEM, which equals {{Inflation|DE|8000|1959}} EUR today.
Production of the ''Lawrence'' ended in 1961. A restored 1959 Rometsch Lawrence is exhibited at the [[Wolfsburg]] [[AutoMuseum Volkswagen]].<ref>{{cite web |language=de |url=http://www.focus.de/auto/gebrauchtwagen/oldtimer/tid-11683/sachsen-classic-rometsch-lawrence-wirtschaftswundertraum-mit-30-ps_aid_329223.html |title=Rometsch Lawrence Wirtschaftswundertraum mit 30 PS |publisher=Focus |website=www.focus.de |access-date=2018-02-06 }}</ref> <gallery widths="205px" heights=140px"> Rometsch-Lawrence Front Brunswyk (2012).JPG Rometsch-Lawrence Heck Brunswyk (2012).JPG Rometsch-Lawrence Innenraum Brunswyk (2012).JPG 1959 Rometsch Lawrence Classic-Gala 2025 DSC 0834.jpg|Rometsch Lawrence Coupé </gallery>
== Further reading == * (German) Bernd Wiersch: ''Die Edel-Käfer, Sonderkarosserien von Rometsch, Dannenhauer & Stauss, Wilhelm Karmann, Enzmann, Gebr. Beutler, Ghia Aigle, Joseph Hebmüller & Söhne, Drews, Wendler.'' Delius Klasing 2007, {{ISBN|3-768-81971-X}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * (German) [http://classi-car.de/katalog/volkswagen-rometsch/ Rometsch Modells] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQPK8ysr7tw Stylish: Rometsch Beeskow], DW-TV ''Drive it!'', 2 March 2016 * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqHvERdgoWU Vintage! Rometsch Lawrence], DW-TV ''Drive it!'', 27 April 2016 * [http://www.wolfsburg-citytour.de/Museen/Archiv_Automuseum_Wolfsburg/Rometsch_Taxi_1953/rometsch_taxi_1953.html Pictures of a 1953 Rometsch Taxi] wolfsburg-citytour.de
== References == <references /> * (German) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RAovw8Jc0o Mit Stil: Rometsch Beeskow], DW-TV ''Motor mobil'', 2 March 2016 * (German) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykDHca6U9No Das Blechkleid des Rometsch Lawrence], DW-TV ''Motor mobil'', 28 April 2016
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Germany]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1924]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2000]] [[Category:Volkswagen Beetle]] [[Category:German companies disestablished in 2000]] [[Category:German companies established in 1924]]