You see, it was made by the famous motorcycle producer "Moto Guzzi",
3x3 naturally means three-wheel-drive
and this vehicle was called "the mechanical mule".
My friend Franco, living in Italy, has bought one of these rare vehicles some time ago.
It is absolutely original and in very good condition.
This picture shows him with the last owner, driving his "mulo" the very first time.
He told me that it is very difficulty to drive it.
Some operations are like a car, some like a bike and there is a lot of levers and switches.
In june I will stay in Italy for some days and naturally I want to drive his mulo too.
But now a short story on the "Moto Guzzi 3x3":
End of the fifties the italian general Garbari had a brilliant idea.
Until this time there were only mules to transport equipment and ammunition on the small and steep pathes through the montains of the Alpes. But mules always need food and care and most of the time they are restive.
So the general wanted a vehicle that is able to climb like a mule but faster and without
a lot of care - a "mechanical mule".
The order to realize this idea was given to Moto Guzzi because of their special experiences in
the construction of three-wheeled trucks, and the Casa di Mandello.
Their technicians developed this new vehicle, first Micucci, then the engineers Soldavini and
Carcano.
The result was a very remarkable "car".
Without a body it looks rather simple, but it has a lot of technical tidbits and is working very effectively.
From 1960 to 1963 the company has made 420 mulos - 20 prototypes and 200 of the 1st and 2nd serie.
And the mules were made to salami.
Franco's mulo with the chassis number AB 0016 is one of the first serie.
The heart of the "Moto Guzzi 3x3" is a big two-cylinder-V-gasoline engine with
754 ccm, 20 PS/4.000 and a Weber carburator. Before, this engine was developed by Carcano just for fun,
but now he could made some modifications to get a maximum speed of 50 km/h.
Much more interesting than the engine is the "Orgia di ingranaggi",
the orgy of gearwheels, so called by the italian magazin MOTO.
The gear box with 6 speeds and a reverse-gear drives directly the steering front wheel,
the transmission to the two rear wheels, which have to carry the maximum load of 500 kg, is a cardanic shaft.
Naturally the three wheels have a permanent three wheel drive.
A central differential distribute the transmisson between front and rear wheels and has a
manuel lock-out - also the rear differential has a lock-out.
But that's not all.
To be movable also on very narrow pathes you can variable reduce the track of the rear wheels
from a maximum of 1.300 mm to a minimum of 850 mm.
So you come through nearly every situation.
When you put up two additional oscillating arms to the rear wheels, you can mount crawlers
for heavy terrain. After use they will stow away into a compartment in the rear.
With this equipment the "mulo" not only has a very small steering radius of 2,20 meters
but can also climb obstacles of a remarkable height. The possibilities are only stopped by
physical laws.
But also the "mulo" naturally has its limit.
As Franco knows it is rather hard to manouver this vehicle and quite bulky
and there is always the fear to overturn at the side.
But nevertheless - for steep pathes in the mountains this "mulo" is the best you can find
besides a mule and....
...and maybe the legendary
Alfa Romeo jeep "La Matta".
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Last update: 5th of may, 1997
© Jochen "Ty" Tydecks / Hamburg, Germany