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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2008 => Topic started by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 05:33:29 AM

Title: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 05:33:29 AM
Another difficult one - open for all!
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: grobmotorix on September 19, 2008, 12:34:39 PM
Is it the chassis of a Ferves Ranger with Fiat 500 components?

The buildings may be of northern italian origin, too.

EDIT: as I´ve found a pic of a Ferves chassis I think I wasn´t totally wrong:

(http://www.fiat500.ch/pics/Modelle/Ferves/ferves_05.jpg)
http://www.fiat500.ch/pics/Modelle/Ferves/ferves_05.jpg

Maybe your chassis is older and of a more conservative design, but there are many parallels, too...
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 19, 2008, 12:47:53 PM
Guess the steering wheel is Italian — Nardi, maybe.
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 02:54:19 PM
You're right about the country of origin - Italy - but, although I'm not sure about the chassis, it definitely doesn't have a Fiat 500 engine
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 19, 2008, 03:05:58 PM
At the risk to give it away: ISO?

But it also has a huge electric generator.  ???
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 03:32:07 PM
It's not electric - in fact the choice of motive power is what makes this an interesting machine
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 19, 2008, 03:46:02 PM
It has no gear-box and it has a strange hose-frame-construction above the front axle. Is it part of the drive?
Hydraulical or hydro-pneumatical?
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 06:08:55 PM
You're very close
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: jotage21 on September 19, 2008, 06:46:32 PM
Lawill?
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 19, 2008, 07:20:31 PM
Nothing to do with Lawil as far as I'm aware
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 20, 2008, 05:00:39 AM
Think I won't get further. I need some hints!
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 20, 2008, 12:17:39 PM
Here is another car with a similar power source
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allan L on September 22, 2008, 05:03:12 PM
Alfa-Laval? ;D
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 22, 2008, 06:16:44 PM
Alfa-Laval? ;D

Looked Alfa-Laval up on Google and it says it provides "services for liquid/solid separation". Separating fact from fiction, this car is on a different laval
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 22, 2008, 06:38:10 PM
Was this project promoted rather by a "back-yard mechanic" or is a major Italian car manufacturer behind this.
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allan L on September 23, 2008, 03:06:38 AM
Alfa-Laval? ;D

Looked Alfa-Laval up on Google and it says it provides "services for liquid/solid separation". Separating fact from fiction, this car is on a different laval
I recall them as manufacturers of milking machines and associated equipment, hence the dig!
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 23, 2008, 05:22:57 AM
Was this project promoted rather by a "back-yard mechanic" or is a major Italian car manufacturer behind this.

Yes this was one guy's vision, myopic or otherwise, not a major manufacturer
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 23, 2008, 07:49:38 PM
I definetely know the name of the yellow car and very certainly the name of the man explaining the engine. I also know the concept of the engine, but don't want to give it away for the moment.
Concerning to the inventor: is there a strong connection to Australia? Let's say he's an emigrant? Mr. A.d.P from Melbourne born in Italy? Another possibility is Mr. V.S. from Milano who built also such a car in the 1970s..

The terrible thing is: I haven't found a single pic of the puzzle car yet...
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Quiller on September 24, 2008, 05:49:04 PM
Excellent sleuthing! Your Milan connection is correct - would you like to reveal the inventor's name for a well deserved point?
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 24, 2008, 06:07:00 PM
The inventor's name is Vittorio Sorgato and his car was equipped with an air-engine (compressed air technology).
The yellow car is from the French company M.D.I. (Moteur Developement International) http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=D-A3XHFT5qc&eurl=http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/a-look-back-air-powered-engine
A collaboration with Indian brand TATA is planned.

There also was a trace to Melbourne respectively to Angelo di Pietro who also works on a similar concept, but he already left Italy in 1970.
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Allemano on September 24, 2008, 06:14:12 PM
Do you have a pic of the bodied car?
Title: Re: Q#94
Post by: Arunas on September 25, 2008, 12:04:56 PM
Possibly it is FART Break by Fabbrica Autoveicoli Rimorchi Torino ???
Title: Re: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Quiller on September 25, 2008, 02:04:20 PM
Excellent work, sir. I'm afraid the pic I posted is the only one I have - does anyone have any others?
Title: Re: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Allemano on September 25, 2008, 02:05:43 PM
For me it was a pleasure!  :D
Title: Re: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Quiller on September 25, 2008, 02:06:21 PM
I mis-moved this to News, rather than Solved...
Title: Re: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Ultra on September 25, 2008, 02:11:01 PM
I mis-moved this to News, rather than Solved...

I fixed it.

 ;)
Title: Re: Q#94 - solved - Vittorio Sorgatto's 1974 compressed air car
Post by: Paul Jaray on January 28, 2013, 10:35:09 AM
Vittorio Sorgato (one 'T'  ;) ) was from Castelletto di Senago.
His car was going to be fitted with a fiberglass body and had a 3CV engine powered by compressed air.
More than 70km of endurance and a top speed of 30km/h. All in 500kg at an estimated cost of 1.000.000 lire in 1974 plus 300.000 lire for the compressor.
Same year a brand new 127 was 1.433.000.
His vehicle was shown 2 times at Turin Auto Show and was featured in a famous italian TV show.