c1950 Moto Guzzi Ercole 600cc Trike

Description

Italy’s Moto Guzzi is the oldest European manufacturer in continuous motorcycle production. Established in 1921 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, the company is celebrated for its historic role in the country’s motorcycle manufacturing, its original prominence worldwide in motorcycle racing, and several industry innovations, such as the first motorcycle centre stand, the first use of a wind tunnel in design, and its eight-cylinder engine. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Moto Guzzi Triporteur Ercole was a very basic three-wheeled transport vehicle – often called "Motocarro" in Italy. These versatile workhorses were a staple of Italian farming communities in the 1950s, and the Moto Guzzi Triporteur Ercole design came with the advantage that its cargo sat behind the driver, offering an unobstructed view. The Ercole first appeared in 1946 and remained in production, largely unchanged, until 1980. More heavily built than its Triporteur predecessors, and because of its increased payload of 1500kg, it was fitted with additional bevel gears behind the five-speed manual gearbox and shaft-drive. Its V-Series 600cc single-cylinder engine, with forced air cooling, had five forward gears and one reverse. Later versions had the engine of the Moto Guzzi Falcone and an electric starter. Suspension was via leaf springs at the rear to carry the load, and brakes were drums on all three wheels.