All Cars Pianoro Charly Golf – Italian tricycle with 50 cc engine
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All Cars Pianoro Charly Golf – Italian tricycle with 50 cc engine

The powerful and fast cars it is easy to find a wide circle of admirers. After all, speed and chic can impress almost everyone. Such designs are always welcome guests and regulars at various gatherings, exhibitions, salons, etc.


Let's say more, the owner of such a luxury car is constantly proud and puts it on display. Things are completely different with compact designs. It is unlikely that owners of microcars or tricycles will behave in such a way.

All Cars Pianoro Charly Golf – Italian tricycle with 50 cc engineAll Cars Pianoro Charly Golf (1974-1985). Photo: youtube.com

However, in modest-sized and characterized species Transport also have their connoisseurs. And they do not consider themselves inferior at all. No, supporters of compactness are more likely to consider themselves a galaxy of such gourmets.

Miniature cars have their fans


I hope that there are such among us, I will say more, I myself always watch this type of transport with interest. Although in Soviet times it was difficult to boast of diversity, but covered tricycles or micromobiles had their own number of advantages:

✅ easy to manage
✅ minimum parking space
✅ the most modest fuel consumption
✅ ease of maintenance

Often, these types of vehicles have a bonus in the form of an affordable price. But if the working volume of their engines does not exceed 50 cubic centimeters, then another tempting advantage opens up - the right to drive a vehicle without special driver's documents. And this situation was present not only in our country, but also in other European countries.

Therefore, in many countries with advanced automobile technology, small factories for assembling tricycles, buggies, micromobiles, etc. emerged. Something similar happened in the Italian city of Pianoro. In 1969, local resident Mario Zodiaco decided to establish a production of buggies and ultra-compact cars here.

Even for one person it is not so easy to get into the 2-seater cabin. Photo: youtube.com

True, his Autozodiaco Srl lasted only a few years. But already in 1971, the assembly of automobile equipment began here. They started with the compact buggies that were gaining popularity. The main problem was finding a suitable base chassis.

Italian miniature with German chassis


Very soon the manufacturer turned its attention to the German "people's car" VW Beetle. Its rather compact dimensions turned out to be quite suitable for future products from Autozodiaco Srl. One of the company's first models was Damaca, designed by Tom Tjaarda. The initial success allowed for dynamic development:

✅ 1971 – buggy
✅ 1974 – compact cars
✅ second half of the 70s – beach motorcycles

When we talk about small cars, the first thing that comes to mind is the Charly model. This three-wheeled bike was equipped with a plastic body. And the overall ensemble was complemented by a small two-stroke power unit. The drive was a 50-cc Minarelli engine.

But the basis of the model range continued to be beach buggies. At some point, they decided to supplement them with a beach motorcycle. Moto Zodiaco Tuareg 223-2 became the embodiment of this idea. It received a two-stroke stationary engine 1F250-1 from ILO Rockwell.

Improved modern dashboard remake. Photo: youtube.com

Its transmission was a V-belt drive and Variomatic with centrifugal control. This solution (compared to the classic mechanical gearbox) significantly reduced the labor intensity of the entire design.

The motorcycle was powered by 12 volts. It also included a flashing system and a starter. However, the engine could also be started using a pulley element. This compact bike became a farewell model, because in 1978 Autozodiaco Srl was absorbed by All Cars.

Under the banner of All Cars


The successor to All Cars is a new small Italian carmaker based near Bologna. By coincidence, its founder was the same Mario Zodiaco, who was later considered the "inventor" of the Bologna Motor Show.

The main model of the new production formation was the three-wheeled motorcycle All Cars Pianoro Charly. It was produced in several variations, the most popular was considered to be the Charly Golf.


The All-Cars Charly was developed back when the previous beach buggy maker Autozodiaco was still in business. It was also sold as the All Cars Snuggy. At some point they designed this strange-looking three-wheeled microcar and then sold the rights to All-Cars srl of Pianoro, Italy. Here are its main modifications:

✅ Charly Golf – basic version with non-removable top
✅ Charly Camel – a variant equipped with off-road tires
✅ Snuggy Tobrouk – a modification with a convertible top

The vehicle in question had a design similar to the famous Piaggio Ape, with a chassis from a three-wheeled ultra-compact car. The power unit from MotoMorini received the following characteristics:

✅ one cylinder
✅ working volume 49 cc
✅ 8-speed gearbox

The transmission had four forward gears and the same number of reverse gears. Overall, the vehicle's characteristics were more than modest, but it had a number of its own advantages. The first of which is its compactness, as well as:

✅ total weight of the structure – only 250 kg
✅ the possibility of traveling without a driver's license
✅ for Snuggy modification – fiberglass body

It was this 1976 version that won the National First Place Award from the Antique Automobile Club of America. This crew was the most beautiful, completely original All Cars Charly. Moreover, it was the only unrestored example in the entire United States.

Charly Golf also had a handbrake. Photo: youtube.com

Several similar machines have been preserved in museums, but they have undergone some kind of restoration. But the titled crew could boast of almost perfect condition, including:

✅ total 161 km mileage
✅ original body and paintwork preserved
✅ brand emblems

Also, the glass and rubber seals are in a "live" condition, even the factory headlights and taillights are preserved. The same can be said about the seat in the cabin, door panels and floor mats. The interior paint has its original appearance. The instrument part is represented by a single speedometer, and the motorcycle-type fuel switch is located right behind the driver's seat.

The end of history in the mid-80s


In conclusion to the description of this modest three-wheeled vehicle, it is worth noting that the manufacturer supported the production of this Charly model almost continuously from 1974 to 1985.

Today, a covered motorized tricycle (or, if you like, a light tricycle) is an obvious rarity. Despite its modest performance and characteristics, this technology still has its admirers, who are ready to pay a tidy sum for a sample in perfect condition.

A covered three-wheeled structure for short-distance travelers. Photo: youtube.com

Later models of All Cars Charly were also equipped with Motobecane engines, which had a working volume of both fifty and 250 cc. The products of the Italian company were distributed mainly in their homeland, but they also had a dealer in West Germany. In our country, this equipment was presented in single copies and did not receive wide distribution. It's a pity.
Would you buy yourself an All Cars Pianoro Charly Golf?
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