Author Topic: SOLVED: Djetset #160 - Francesca, The Little Green Car by Thomas A. Troszak  (Read 1700 times)

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Offline Djetset

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Three wheels on this vehicle; one point on offer for the answer.
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2009, 06:32:01 PM »
Get your motor running Experts...
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2009, 03:52:59 AM »
Pros...
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Paul Jaray

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2010, 10:22:17 AM »
Any front view available?

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2010, 04:37:26 PM »
I can't find a front view with any bodywork, but here is a picture of the chassis if this helps.
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline guido66

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2010, 06:07:15 PM »
It looks an afwul lot like this one

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2010, 06:09:00 PM »
I agree, it does look similar, but not quite the same!  Do you know the name of this creation?
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline guido66

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #7 on: June 16, 2010, 06:11:05 PM »
No, only that is built by someone named Harlow  :-\

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #8 on: June 16, 2010, 06:14:51 PM »
Ah, the three-wheeler in my puzzle was not made by a (Mr) Harlow!
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #9 on: December 04, 2010, 06:24:51 AM »
The Black Hole cometh!
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2010, 02:55:03 PM »
The Black Hole cometh, but the car doesn't go-eth...
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Online Oguerrerob

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2011, 10:42:09 AM »
I'm not sure if it's the same but it does look similar. Cyclecar built by Mr Soldé of Prunay-sous-Ablis BMW R51 front end of a 4cv Renault

Offline jotage21

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2011, 12:06:27 PM »
Trimax?

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2011, 01:41:08 PM »
Sorry, but neiither a Trimax, nor that rather splendid machine by Mr Solde.  Thanks for reviving this puzzle though which is now celebrating its second birthday!
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #14 on: June 28, 2011, 05:05:18 PM »
It's called "Francesca, The Little Green Car". It was built by Thomas  A. Troszak of Asheville, North Carolina.,

The builder says:

"Originally inspired by a book about the Morgan 3-wheelers, Francesca was intended to be a prototype three wheeled car, but was so successful that essentially nothing has been changed since she hit the road in July 1993. Now, more than 70,000 miles later she is still going strong.

I had not recalled ever seeing a three-wheeled car in person, and in fact, my first response to the appearance of the Morgans was "weird, but cool". Once I started looking around for more information about three wheelers, I became fully enthusiastic about constructing my own car that would combine the open-air thrill of motorcycling with the relative safety and comfort of sitting in a seat with a seat belt, and the ability to haul things like a refrigerator dolly or portable welder when necessary.

Francesca took about three weeks to build, and most of that time was spent trying to extend (and understand) the Japanese wiring of the motorcycle. Did you know there are wiring connections buried in a Japanese motorcycle main wiring harness that are merely twisted together and taped? Seemed kind of cheesy to me, but there they were...

Many of the other three wheel designs for cars that I have seen have copied the Morgan idea of an air cooled motor out front, with a long drive shaft, etc... I chose to avoid that route simply because I wanted to get out on the road and have fun driving as soon as possible. So basically, all we have here is a custom built "car" being pushed by an essentially intact unmodified Japanese motorcycle. I have had no trouble whatsoever with the finished product, so I believe that my reasoning has been proven sound. If it ain't broke, don't re-engineer it, I always say."
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #15 on: July 09, 2011, 08:15:27 AM »
Hey, Djetset, over here!  :taz:
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2011, 11:09:35 AM »
Sorry for the slow reply Otto, but been off-line for a while.  As this car has been here for so long, I can not immediately lay my hands on the correct information at the moment, so I will keep this locked to you until I find my file.  Watch this space...
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #17 on: July 22, 2011, 05:13:49 AM »
PM sent with source info
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!

Offline Djetset

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Re: Djetset #160
« Reply #18 on: July 27, 2011, 01:23:46 PM »
Well done Otto, after 2.5 years this one has finally been solved.  As it's been here so long, I will award you two points for cracking it.  :applause: :applause:
A car is for life, not just for Christmas.

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Yay!  ;D

Thank you for your generosity :thumbsup:.
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!

Offline Otto Puzzell

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Note: this puzzle was solved using Google's "Search by Image" feature:

http://www.google.com/insidesearch/searchbyimage.html

I believe I have scored 30-40 points using this tool. I know other AutoPuzzles members have been using this search tool, as well. As solving puzzles in this manner is not in the spirit of AutoPuzzles, I have deleted 100 points from my total, and have banned myself from answering any other puzzles for a period of one month.

I will let the other AutoPuzzles members how have used this tool wrestles with their own consciences.
You wanna be the man, you gotta Name That Car!