Puzzle #1211 - Solved! Aero Monoposto 1927

DynaMike · April 17, 2009, 06:03:37 AM

So, front wheel drive?

Otto Puzzell · April 17, 2009, 08:07:42 AM

Yes!

Allan L · April 18, 2009, 05:58:00 PM

The obvious front-drive racers include the 1947 Novi-Kurtis Indianaplois car, but I can't find a good enough photo to say for certain that this isn't that!
Is it North American?

Otto Puzzell · April 19, 2009, 04:08:33 AM

It is not North American

Otto Puzzell · May 01, 2009, 05:47:09 AM

faksta · May 01, 2009, 11:57:08 AM

1927 Aero Monoposto

Allemano · May 01, 2009, 12:10:42 PM

2007, 2008 and this year I didn't want to spend € 20,- for the Techno Classica ticket. Maybe it would be wise to go next year...

faksta · May 01, 2009, 01:07:37 PM

Well, Techno Classica is a biggest show of its kind in the world, I think...

Otto Puzzell · May 01, 2009, 02:55:16 PM

Quote from: faksta on May 01, 2009, 11:57:08 AM
1927 Aero Monoposto

That's the ticket!

Allan L · May 01, 2009, 05:14:16 PM

This puzzles me: is that supposed to be Novotny-designed Aero of Prague?
Georgano confims what I thought, and lists no other company of that name.
Those Aeros started in 1929 as single cylinder two-stroke small cars and from 1934 were front-driven.

This is said to be 1927, front-drive and clearly is bigger than a single-cylinder two-stroke.
So what is it really? That Techno Classica photo appears in all sorts of places on the internet, always without helpful comment.
We had a bit of a thread on TNF http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=93865 but no conclusions

Allemano · May 01, 2009, 05:22:35 PM

Yes Alan, I've got the same doubts, 1927 seems a little too old for that layout!
Couldn't find any other facts, though it can't be denied it has a Aero badge (No advanced Photoshop fake).
Even our well known 'standard' Czech site provides only small engined Aero race cars..

Allan L · May 01, 2009, 05:44:53 PM

Sloniger and v. Fersen mention no Aero that's anything like that either.
The steering wheel centre says Aero 55, but I don't recognise the significance of that.

Allemano · May 01, 2009, 05:52:50 PM

Unfortunately there's no a pic of the info sheet available....

Otto Puzzell · May 02, 2009, 03:59:55 AM

Definitely an Aero; it does indeed have one seat. I'll grant you the year is likely incorrect.

ImpishGrin · May 02, 2009, 04:09:52 AM

1927?? Looks more like 1947.

faksta · May 02, 2009, 04:20:31 AM

The car is obviously younger than 1927, but that's what every source says. I'd think it could be a one-off special built not by Aero themselves.

Allan L · May 02, 2009, 05:58:54 AM

Yes it's an Aero badge
Yes, all the internet items agree it's a 1927 Aero Monoposto
Aero seems to have existed from 1929 to 1947 and used small two-stroke engines. This car has an exhaust pipe each side, so maybe it has two engines to make a larger total capacity.
However the internet sources all show the car at Techno Classica; none tells us anything about it; nowhere else is there any reference to such a car (i.e. well-researched books, general internet sources (of any provenance) on Aero)

I started by thinking it was one of the Alvis specials built in the 1940/50s for the then 4 1/2 litre formula, and I agree with Pavel that it looks more 1947 than 1927.

I would like to know what it is as against what it is said to be

Allemano · May 02, 2009, 06:23:59 AM

What about the initials SSB?

faksta · May 02, 2009, 06:29:57 AM

It means 'Some say bull**** [about 1927]' (if it is SSB, and not JJB)
There is really no information on Aero related sites about this machine. I think the answer may well be found in Czechoslovakian racing history, but I don't know any more or less complete sources on the subject.

Otto Puzzell · May 02, 2009, 06:31:57 AM

Quote from: faksta on May 02, 2009, 06:29:57 AM
It means 'Some say bull**** [about 1927]'

Allemano · May 02, 2009, 06:38:36 AM

Will contact the admin of the German Aero site to get some more info.
(the same page where recently something called "Nessie" was found...)

faksta · May 02, 2009, 06:43:48 AM

It was found there indeed

Another puzzling thing for me is a color. Back in the times when the cars were painted in their national racing colors, something like this would be considered French or Austrian, while Cezch cars were painted in their flag's colors - white/blue/red.

Allemano · May 03, 2009, 06:00:44 AM

Mr. Rauch of aero-ig.de wrote back and that's what he told me:

(OWTTE)
Front-wheeled Aeros were built not before 1934 (Type Aero 30) resp. 1936 (Type Aero 50).
The car ("Aero Monoposto") you've mentioned is an obviousely custom-made probably based on an Aero 50 (engine and front axle). It reminds me a little of racing cars of Aero Minor which has nothing to do with cars of the origin Aero company. (...) it has furthermore nothing to do with any historical car of Aero at all.

faksta · May 03, 2009, 06:19:01 AM

Thanks. I wouldn't say it reminds me of Aero Minor racing cars, though.

Otto Puzzell · May 03, 2009, 06:43:24 AM

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Puzzle #1211 - Solved! Aero Monoposto 1927