Solved -PJ484- La Pulce Torpedo

[Otto Puzzell]

Scarafaggio?

[Paul Jaray]

 
Please don't get offended but it's too funny!
I've never heard of a Tonchio (and now I know what kind of insect it is...) but why 'Passeggino'?
However, not those nor Locusta or Scarafaggio.
I'll add another clue but this will cost you 
The same company offered this vehicle #2.
Vehicle #2 was named after that insect too (and in italian it was quite obvious to call these kind of vehicles in that way, just like 'buggy' is quite obvious in other languages).
The price you'll have to afford, now, is that, actually, the puzzle car was named xxxx yyyy, were x is always the same insect and yyyy is a bodystyle...now I'll need them both!

[woodinsight]

Zanzara Carrozzino? (don't laugh!)

[Wendax]

XXXX = Maggiolino?

[D-type]

From my wife's pocket English-Italian dictionary:  Sabbia Ragno?  Ragno Barchetta

[Paul Jaray]

Zanzara Carrozzino? (don't laugh!)

I know it's hard playing in a different language, I do it all the time!
Not Zanzara and not Carrozzino

XXXX = Maggiolino?

That is not Maggiolino (I'm surprised nobody thought of it before!)

The insect is not Zanzara or Maggiolino or any other named insect so far.
In Italy, we use to call Buggies in that way, not always and it was not a rule, but it was quite common.
There was at least a Buggy called with the english translation of that word, from a quite known Buggy-maker.
The second part of the name is a common bodystile, unusual for the vehicle but very used.(Not Roadster or Spider).

[woodinsight]

Is Coccinella one of the words?

[Paul Jaray]

From my wife's pocket English-Italian dictionary:  Sabbia Ragno?

I will put that dictionary back in the pocket, because 'Sabbia Ragno' is meaningless!
'Sabbia' is 'Sand' and 'Ragno' is 'Spider' but you can't say 'Sabbia Ragno' if you mean 'Sand Spider'...
...but you are somewhat close!

[Paul Jaray]

Is Coccinella one of the words?

Not Coccinella (that was used before by Lombardi in his 500).

[kwgibbs]

Cavalletta?

[Paul Jaray]

Not Cavalletta.
Now I'm really trying to help you all.
If you translate Cavalletta and match the result with my reply to D-Type, you may find that famous buggy from a famous manufacturer...
...or you may look for italian sites talking about Buggies and see how do they call them!

[woodinsight]

Cavalletta is grasshopper in English.....
Maybe Saltatore di Sabbia?

[Paul Jaray]

Cavalletta is grasshopper in English.....
Maybe Saltatore di Sabbia?

There is not such an insect...not with that name, at least!
Almost there!

[Wendax]

Pulce?

[Paul Jaray]

 
XX Pulce YYYYYYY

x: the article
y: bodystyle.

You can count Xs and Ys.

[Wendax]

La Pulce Berlina?

[Paul Jaray]

Not berlina, an open type.

[Wendax]

La Pulce Phaeton?

[Paul Jaray]

Not phaeton...

[pnegyesi]

La Pulce Torpedo?

[Paul Jaray]

Yes! 
Now for another point, is there any idea about who built
"La Pulce Torpedo" and "La Pulce"?
The factory was located in Rome, Via Nomentana 1111 (like Puma, that was in via Nomentana n.15, but it's quite far from Rome), they were available also in kit and were advertised as a Volkswagen-Maggiolino (Beetle) transformation (the Pulce) or elaboration (The Pulce Torpedo).
I tried to look for old ads of Puma and similar, but the address and telephone number are different.
That address is now shared by several activities, like a big car dealer (Imauto) that is active fromless than 20 years and at least another carrozzeria (Corvasce) that was there 30 years ago but is not familiar with any other activity at the time in that area (apart some farms!).

[Paul Jaray]

Ok, let's declare it solved!