c1929 Aero 500 (10HP) Roadster

The Aero company, founded in Prague in 1919 by Dr. Vladimir Kabes, was the earliest Czech aeronautical manufacturer, beginning with a series of two-seater biplanes. Ten years later, on the 7th of May, 1929, Aero branched out to build automobiles, the first model being the smart little 500, powered by a single-cylinder two-stroke engine with water cooling, developing 10 hp at 2700 rpm and driving through a three-speed gearbox to the rear wheels with no differential. Some 1,359 Aero 500s are believed to have been made between 1929 and 1932 in a variety of body styles, including roadster, coupe and cabriolet and most were in three-seater configuration. Aero followed the 500 with a twin-cylinder model than a series of stylish front-wheel drive cars through the 1930s, many of them bodied by Sodomka, before being nationalised in 1945 and automobile production ceased in 1947, although JAWA carried on building them under licence until 1951. Very few have ever reached Australia, making the vehicle on offer here both very rare and charming pre-war light car.