Quiz Archive

About Quiz # 290: Prinetti & Stucchi tricycle (Upd. about the two engines)

We didn’t expect this tricycle to be a tough quiz question, as it should be well-known among the Bugattisti. It was built by Ettore Bugatti during his apprenticeship with the Italian company Prinetti & Stucchi, manufacturers of sewing machines, bicycles and motorized vehicles. You should have noticed that this was not just any tricycle when you followed our clue “the sting is in the tail” and found the twin De Dion-Bouton engines at the rear. Correct answers came in from D. C. Stephan; James Helms; Pug Vogler; Jeffrey Vogel; Guy Mahy and jury members Mark Dawber and Reg Harris. Two of the answers, from James Helms and Pug Vogler, were amazingly close so it came down to the very small details. Only James mentioned that this tricycle was a replica so we choose him as the winner, but a “special mention” should go to Pug. Congratulations James, with your third win. You are now one of the members of our distinguished jury! See Read More for his answer.

Photos from the new book "3e... Ettore Bugatti" by Bruno Nicolini and Paolo Maggi. The book tells the story about Ettore's pre 1900 engineering & racing career with Prinetti-Stucchi. If you like to see the tricycle you may consider to come with the Pre-War Via Flaminia which will make a stop at the fabulous Righini collection.

James Helms: Replica Prinetti & Stucchi tricycle. Had Rochet frame and two de Dion Bouton engines. Designed by Ettore Bugatti and designated his Type 1 vehicle. Tricycle had live axle with ring gear on center line. Right side engine crankcase was rotated 180 degrees (rotation reversed). Both engines keyed to same pinion gear. Replica engines not identical to original.
Photo on trike in Italian L'Automobile April 1899 after Bugatti won 14 March 1899 Verona-Brescia-Verona race. Automobile Club of Italy records: Ettore competed in 14 races 1898/1899/1900. Five firsts. One second. Three thirds. Two fourths. Three DNFs.

Saturday, 22 January 2011