THE PRVENAC

by Tony Marshall (published in the Isetta Gazette April 1980)

I have called this series the 'rare bubbles', and I think that this one must be one of the rarest. In fact, it is possible that only the prototype was made. However, I don't know anybody in Yugoslavia, home of the Prvenac, so I can't confirm or deny this fact.

The basis of the Prvenac was a steel chassis with four wheels. However, those four wheels weren't quite what you would expect. The two driving wheels were in the centre, with another single wheel at the front, and one at the back, both of which steered. The chassis was articulated so that the ends could ride up and down independently in relation to the centre wheels, thus avoiding the possibility of the car 'see-sawing' on humps. The rate of articulation was controlled by two long leaf springs mounted near the ends of the chassis, one on each side of the car, and four telescopic dampers. These suspension units were also the only mountings for the body, so that it was completely insulated from road shocks.

The body was based on a steel platform, at the front of which (although it was difficult to tell which end was the front) was the engine, an air cooled Tomos-Puch two stroke of 250cc, with four speed gearbox, from which there were open drive shafts to the centre driving wheels. The body was elliptical in shape, and made of steel. There were two doors, one on each side, which gave access to the bench seat with room for three people. Entry was rather hampered by the fact that the wheels got in the way. The passenger accommodation was surmounted by a folding hood.

There are few performance records available, except for the turning circle, a surprisingly small 23 feet. So far as is known, series production of this highly unusual car never began.

If any member has any further information on the Prvenac, or can tell me how to pronounce the name, I would be pleased to hear from them.