Quiz Archive
About Quiz # 280: 1941 Electrolette (UPDATE: Villiers)
Our “Prius avant la lettre” must have caused lots of headaches, as we received only one answer that identified our quiz car correctly. And that answer by Jukka Heikkinen from Sweden told us all we wanted to know (and even some things we didn’t): “The car is an Electrolette, build in Nice (France) 1941-43. Though I can not find decent proof I assume that the person behind it is Louis Krieger (at least in Rene Bellus Voitures Francaises 1940-46 he is pictured sitting in an Electrolette). Car was built by Compagnie Parisienne des Voitures Electriques. The Electrolette had two motors, two-stroke Villiers 175cc and 1,2hp 12V electric motor. Only the electric motor could be used when reversed, it had also one speed forward (max 34 km/h, driving range 50km). Villiers had four speeds forward but no reverse. Biggest reason for two engines was fuel shortages during the war. They build maximum 350 Electrolettes (I found figures from one hundred to "a few hundred" to 350). This one was found forgotten on an attic in Turin.” Spot on, Jukka, congratulations with your first win! The Electrolette can be seen in the Museo Piero Taruffi (on the border between Umbria and Lazio).
(photos Bart Kleyn)
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Friday, 06 August 2010
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