Brandon Twp.-As a child, township resident Susan Reddy remembers family cruises through the German countryside past vineyards and farms near the banks of the Rhine River.
‘Mom and my sister Becky rode in the sidecar while Dad and I were on the bike,? said Reddy.
Reddy’s father, Master Sgt. Jack Verveer was stationed at Hahn Air Force Base in Germany during the early 1970s and purchased the jet-black 1953 Z’ndapp motorcycle complete with sidecar. The vintage 600 cc, 28-hp German-made motorcycle cost Verveer $500. It was shipped back to the United States when the family moved back about 1973.
Verveer died in 2001, and Reddy inherited the old motorcycle about a year ago.
‘We hope to continue the family cruising tradition,? said Reddy.
So the family is in the process of refurbishing the 50- year-old motorcycle bike and sidecar, including new parts and paint.
The history of the classic bike starts in 1917 when the company was founded by Dr. Fritz Neumeyer and Friedruch Krupp. Originally named, Z’nder-und-Apparatebau, the name was changed to Z’ndapp in 1921. Advertisements claimed their motorcycles were Motorrades f’r jedermann–motorcycles for everyone.
By 1938 Z’ndapp had produced more than 200,000 motorcycles. During World War II, Z’ndapp produced motorcycles for the German military. Following the war Z’ndapp manufactured sewing machines and in 1951, a factory for mopeds was constructed in addition to motorcycles.