Michalak (Germany) - AllCarIndex

Michalak Design was a German automotive design studio and low-volume constructor founded in 1979 by Bernd Michalak, operating from Mainz and later Wiesbaden. It worked for manufacturers while pursuing its own projects, beginning with the Michalak Corsaspider (1983), a two-seat convertible on Opel Corsa underpinnings built in a small series of roughly 100 cars. The studio presented a string of concept studies: Topino (1983, Corsa-based one-off), Cilindro (1989, full-scale model), the street-registered Conciso (1993, on a Ferrari 328 chassis, shown at Frankfurt 1993 and Geneva 1994), Cocoon (1996, Dodge/Chrysler Viper with roof system), and Cheepr (1997, Jeep Wrangler–based all-terrain coupé). The business structure was formalized as Michalak Design GmbH & Co. KG in 2000 and later relocated its base to Wiesbaden.

In the 2000s Michalak offered accessories and conversions (notably for Smart and the Ferrari 550 Barchetta) and developed the Michalak C7, a Smart Fortwo–based kit roadster. The C7 was designed and produced between 2004 and 2011, with 33 kits sold; production was transferred to Tenerife before being discontinued. Contemporary reporting in 2007 documented the kit’s market launch and pricing. Vehicle manufacturing subsequently wound down, and the firm focused on design services, bespoke components and later automotive art; rights and tooling for the C7 were offered for sale.