Moto Guzzi

1960 Moto Guzzi Autoveicolo da montagna 3x3 or the so called "mechanical mule"
This Moto Guzzi has been restored in the late seventies and was exposed in the Lauwman National Automobiel Musuem in the Netherlands in the period 1981- 2006. Restoration took place in a family company next to the factory. using original. factory approved spare parts only.
That is why the Guzzi was in the Dutch museum: Original. restored and unique!
This particular machine did not run since it left the museum in 2006.
A new battery and an oil change before operating is strongly recommended
Technical specifications:
Matching numbersYear: 1960Production: 420 pcs only
Three wheel driveGears: 6 speed forward. 1 speed reverseV-twin Moto Guzzi engine 754cc OHVCarburettor: Weber 26 IMBPower 20HP at 4000 rpm
Top speed 50 km/hrWeight 1000 kg
Load capacity 570 kg
Colour: army green
Some history of the creation of this machine
End of the fifties. Moto Guzzi received received a request from the Italian Department of Defense to develop a completely new means of transportation.
This new machine was meant for the Italian mountain troops (Alpini). At that time the troops transported their equipment with donkeys.
There were several demands for the design to meet: load bearing capacity 500 kgs. all terrain specs focussed on mountain slopes and very narrow paths.
The result was a particular machine. three wheel drive and both variable track width and and wheel base.
The engine has 6 speeds forward and 1 reverse. Equipped with a central differential. dividing the drive in 20% to the front and 80% the the rear. Track width varies between 850 and 1300mm. which can be altered while driving (25 meters only) or in stand still in case of emergency.
Rear brakes are hydraulic. frontbrake mechanical with a cable.
Handling this mechanical mule by means of levers and pedals. similar with driving a car; also the steering wheel is simular to that from a car.
The rear wheels are equipped with pulleys in order to mount tracks (caterpillars). The space between front fender and front wheel is sufficient to assembel a snowchain.
However the mulo mecanico is an unique design. the machine did not meet the expectations of the Department of Defense.
Although any slope could be vanquished. while driving in a straight line. taking short turns. the change of tipping over and any big rocks could stop the mechanical mule.
This is the main reason that the production stopped in early 1963.
Only 420 pcs of the Moto Guzzi 3x3 mulo mechanica were built. divided in 3 series.
Maiden serie of 20 pcs for testing purposes and 2x a production series of 200 pcs each.
Technical specifications:
Matching numbersYear: 1960Production: 420 pcs only
Three wheel driveGears: 6 speed forward. 1 speed reverseV-twin Moto Guzzi engine 754cc OHVCarburettor: Weber 26 IMBPower 20HP at 4000 rpm
Top speed 50 km/hrWeight 1000 kg
Load capacity 570 kg

Also published at eBay.com

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