Aermacchino
Maker:
Ing. Negri & C. S.p.A.
Via Montesanto 2
Varese
(built under Aeronautica Macchi licence)
The Aermacchino is a three-wheeled light truck with the power unit of the Fiat 500. It was built by Ing. Negri & C. S.p.A. in Varese under licence from Aeronautica Macchi.
History
Aeronautica Macchi was founded in Varese in 1913 and built aircraft. After the Second World War vehicle building was added: the Macchitre three-wheeler appeared in 1945.
The Aermacchino is the smaller vehicle of that line. Every sheet of the brochures says who built it: “Costruzione motocarri su licenza Aeronautica Macchi – Ing. Negri & C. S.p.A., Varese, Via Montesanto 2”. The power unit is marked “tipo 120.000 di costruzione FIAT” – the air-cooled twin of the Fiat 500 with its gearbox.
The three brochures show three stages. The oldest quotes 17.5 hp and 770 kg payload. The two later ones quote 18.7 hp; one introduces the hydraulic tipper, the refuse-service tipper and the van, the other 790 kg payload and two platform sizes.
Technical data
From the brochures:
- Power unit: “tipo 120.000 di costruzione FIAT”, two cylinders, air-cooled by fan, bore 67.4 mm, 499.5 cc, compression ratio 7.1, maximum output at 4,600 rpm. The oldest brochure quotes a 70 mm stroke and 17.5 hp, the two later ones 74 mm and 18.7 hp.
- Transmission: single dry plate clutch, four-speed gearbox with reverse, tubular shaft with universal and flexible joints
- Brakes: hydraulic on all three wheels, mechanical parking and emergency brake on the rear wheels
- Wheels: split rims 3.00 × D 10, tyres 5.00 × 10 T.
- Electrics and tank: 12 volts, 32 Ah battery, 20-litre tank
- Dimensions: length 3.30 m, width 1.40 m, height 1.68 m; the most recent brochure quotes 3.35 m with the standard platform and 3.47 m with the large one
- Weights: 530 kg empty, 1,300 kg gross; payload 770 kg including the driver, 790 kg in the most recent brochure
- Performance: about 75 km/h in top gear fully laden; the later brochures quote 70 km/h and a 16 per cent gradient
Brochures
