Das Heinkel Forum für Perle, Roller und Kabine

Forgive me, I don't speak any German. Is there anyone who could help me with a few questions about the Heinkel-Perle mo-ped?

Verzeihen Sie mir, ich bin nicht ein Lautsprecher aus der deutschen Sprache. Gibt es jemanden, der mich mit ein paar Fragen über den Heinkel-Perle helfen könnte. Ich bin mit Google zu übersetzen, so dass ich entschuldige mich, wenn dies ist nicht lesbar.

Hi rustnspokes,
no Problem i speak a bit english and i own a perle myself. Just ask , here is always someone who will rather help you.
Regards Werner

Thank you for your reply. First I'd like to locate the vehicle identification number. This is the number used for licensing. It's usually stamped into the frame somewhere. Is there any way to find out the date of manufacture? There is a number in the frame casting under the seat but I think this would be the part number? This Perle has some features I haven't seen on others. It must have had a long seat, the fuel tank cover/seat pan is flat, it doesn't drop down at an angle at the rear. The chassis has a hole in it on the right side near where the carburetor is , perhaps for an enrichment lever or fuel tap? The chain cover does not have the rubber plug for the inspection hole. The engine side covers are not stamped with the Heinkel logo. The suspension parts are all painted body color (red), rather than silver. I've attached a few photos.

Thanks for your reply.
I have never seen such a Perle. The modifications if they really are modifications look very professional. The front fork is different too. Maybe it is a prototype??? I write a short Translation and tell a friend about the photos. He knows more about Pere than me. Where do you live?

Übersetzung
Rustnspokes fragt nach ob jemand so eine Perle kennt und er fragt nach der Stelle an der sich die Fahrgestellnummer befindet. Eine eingeschlagene Nummer ist in der Nähe des Tankstutzens unter dem Sitz aber er hält sie für eine Teilenummer. Die Perle hat einige Abweichungen zur Standard Perle wie z.b. das Loch im Rahmen und hinten die Sitzbankaufnahme. Auch die Lackierung scheint anders zu sein da viele Teile Rot lackiert sind. Der Kettenkasten hat kein Loch für die Gummikappe und die Motorseitendeckel tragen nicht das Heinkel Logo.
Weiß jemand was?

I live in the United States. Heinkel scooters have a small following here, but there aren't many Perles so information is limited. All the paint matches, which leads me to believe the parts are original. The speedometer is in miles so it's likely an export model. Update: The frame and motor do not have the metal tags that say "Ernst Heinkel AG, 49cm, motor number, fahrgestell-nr, year. The holes do not exist to attach these tags. I did find a stamping of "V13" on the bottom of the motor, and on the chassis behind the fuel tank. That is a bit unusual for a "fahrgestell nr". I believe it would usually be six numbers.

What you have must be a prototype, and i am quite sure. Tehe reason why is:
- My friend Thomas says that the prototypes had this front fork but the later models did not have it because the early forks broke very often
- I found a picture in a Heinkel Book ( Heinkel Roller Moped und Kabine by Dieter Lammersdorf) where such a Perle is shown while being used for test drives in the early fifties
- The engine number has a V first and the V is a shortcut for the German word "versuch" which means test(engine)
So you got the only prototype Perle that is known, congratulations. That does not mean that you are rich now , i don`t think it has got such a big value.
Do you know how it went to the USA?
The frame number is the one you found close to the tank filler cap. Can you please tell me the number?

The number stamped in the frame near the tank filler cap is also V13. All I know about the history is that it has a license plate from 1959 so it has been in the US since then. Thank you very much for all this information. It's a shame that the previous owners had not taken better care of this machine.

Hello,
so it must be the thirteenth test model they built. I would rather see it complete . Could you post another picture please? Or better a few more. I would rather see the throttle and shifter at the handlebar. Or has it an automatic gearbox ? That would be a sensation.

Here are a few photos after cleaning.

Bad damage to the hub, swing-arm and chain cover from corrosion.

Handshift, not marked.

Magura Throttle.

V13 engine number, stamped twice.

V13 chassis number, stamped twice as well.

Too bad, the swing arm is in that bad condition but it is still a treasure. The shifter and throttle look different to mine but there have been two different types.