A visit to Zwischengas - Praga Piccolo
06/09/2018
Zwischengas reader Thomas visited us yesterday with his Praga Piccolo, a very pretty two-door car from 1939.
At its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show, Automobil Revue wrote in February 1938:
" The focus of interest at this well-known Czech brand is a new creation that appears on the car market under the name Piccolo. Already at the Prague Motor Show there were rumors about it in informed circles. Now it's here, the new full swing-axle car with the elegant bodywork, which with its 6.5 hp engine is halfway between the Praga Baby with its 5 hp - also a full swing-axle car - and the Praga Lady with its 8 hp. The frame of the new model is designed as a central box beam which, as with the Baby, forks at the front and rear to accommodate the engine and differential housing."
The Praga Piccolo has an elegant body that clearly shows the influence of the aerodynamics pioneers from Chrysler, Fiat and Tatra. Although Thomas' example has been restored, it has at least retained its original headlining.
Thanks to an engine overhaul, the small four-cylinder runs perfectly. Definitely fast enough for original cable drum brakes.
Thomas has lovingly restored the Piccolo, even sewing new seat covers himself as part of the work.
The spare wheel with a Barum tire, which probably dates back to that time, is something special in itself.
Today, however, the four working wheels are not fitted with Barum tires, but with Michelin tires. Incidentally, Barum was formed in 1948 from the merger of the three Czech tire manufacturers Bata, Rubena and Mitas.
Praga itself manufactured automobiles between 1910 and 1948, most successfully in the 1920s and 1930s, when it was able to offer popular vehicles with advanced technology. The Second World War marked a turning point and after the war only trucks were produced.
If history had taken a different course, Praga and not Skoda would perhaps be part of the Volkswagen Group today. However, the company survivedand even produced enduro motorcycles from the 1990s onwards. Praga is currently even producing Radical-style cars again.
In any case, we were delighted to visit the compact vehicle. The Praga Piccolo had a track width of 1180/1240 mm and a wheelbase of 2625 mm. The water-cooled four-cylinder engine produced 28 hp from 1128 cm3 at around 3200 rpm. This kept the risk of speeding fines within narrow limits, at least outside built-up areas.
You have to drive with a lot of foresight, Thomas said on leaving, as the possible deceleration is in no way comparable with modern cars, which unfortunately often show little consideration for the sprightly veteran.
