To me, automobiles are more than utilitarian transport appliances that get us from one place to another. I have an inkling that deep down most people feel the same way, or else we’d all be driving in characterless cubes. To me, automobiles are the culmination of man’s mechanical and artistic genius rolled into one display of excellence, from the lowliest VW Bug to the most opulent Bugatti. 

In trying to figure out this blogging thing, I’m trying to come up with a pattern that I can follow in my postings. The Weird Cars thing didn’t seem to get much traffic. Too technical, perhaps… So, knowing that people come to read about my thoughts, and not those of others, I’d like to take another whack at the weekly feature thing with the Rolling Art series. In this series, I will be introducing what I feel are some of the most beautiful and mechanically “perfect” automobiles and automobile makes that I’ve come across in life or on paper.  

The first vehicle or rather manufacturer I’d like to introduce is the exceeding rare and majestic Bucciali. 

Bucciali TAV 12

As you will notice, this is a heartbreakingly beautiful piece of machinery. Bucciali is, or was a firm that lasted for only a blink of an eye in automotive terms, having only produced cars in France from 1922 to 1933. The example you see here is a 1932 TAV 12. 

The long, low lines of this car are rather deceiving for it is a truly massive beast of a machine with a 140 inch wheelbase! The squat, almost tank like appearance gives the car a sort of menacing look. 

 The impossibly long hood and short overhangs give the vehicle a road presence like no other. If you saw one of these barreling up behind your Hummer, you just might be wary enough to get out of it’s way!

The gentleman leaning on the car shows just how massive this vehicle really is.

Interestingly, the TAV 12 is a front wheel drive car. We usually hear a great deal about the early front wheel drive (FWD) layouts of early manufacturers like Cord, Citroen, and Oldsmobile with its Toronado of the mid ‘60s.  

The engine of this beasty is a French Voisin V12 sleeve valve engine. Sleeve valve engines, such as those popularized in the US around the same time by the Knight Automobile Company, are known for EXTREMELY quiet running, and good torque delivery. There are no valves per se, but rather an oscillating and reciprocating cylinder sleeve connected to the crank, that as it moves throughout its range, aligns apertures with the intake and exhaust ports in the block. The only downside being, rather high oil consumption due to the need to keep the sleeve well oiled in the block.

We often hear automakers talk of craftsmanship when describing their autos. This is beyond craftsmanship. Look at the front axle! That’s a SOLID brass casting, and it’s polished!

The engine compartment looks almost Edwardian in its extensive use of aluminum, brass, and bronze, most of which is polished!

The interior is pretty straight forward, with (again) the materials and craftsmanship standing out.

It is said that fashion comes and goes, but true style is timeless. This Bucciali is a prime example of just that. A fine example of form following function…

When looking at the car as a whole, its overall design is rather conventional. Yet, when you combine it’s superb craftsmanship with the use of the best materials, what you have is a vehicle that looks as though it was hewn by the hand of an artist, rather than an engineer. It’s a real shame that even the most grandiose vehicles of today do not show such a passion for details as is apparent here.  

Note: There are only 2 known surviving examples of the wonderful machines that were turned out by Bucciali during their short run. One can only imagine what vehicles they would be turning out today had they survived!