Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

The Regular Stuff: Chat, Buy, Sell, Off Topic, etc. => General Discussion - Model & Toy Steam Engines – Stirling Cycle – Flame Lickers – Small Antique Originals => Topic started by: Alan UK on July 20, 2020, 01:56:03 am

Title: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Alan UK on July 20, 2020, 01:56:03 am
Hi Guys,

I hope everyone is well.

Picked this little steam car up from ebay in the UK recently but I can't seem to find anything about it online. The decal says "Building By Motuva Argentina". Has anyone got one of these or know anything about them?

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Scorpion2nz on July 20, 2020, 03:07:27 am
I know nothing about it except I like it a lot.
‘Cheers
Dennis
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Steam Technology on July 20, 2020, 04:23:02 am
What an excellent model.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Alan UK on July 20, 2020, 06:05:43 am
Thanks guys. Yes I like it too. It seems to be a bit of a contradiction. The flywheel and wheels as you can see are very nice machined cast aluminium and the piston and cylinder are very well made. Yet the body is just folded up tin plate and I'm fairly sure the boiler is an old aerosol can!

There are some more pictures on my website, http://www.alspcs.com/Motuva.html
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Nick on July 20, 2020, 06:15:06 pm
I liked it too when I spotted it on ebay, so figured I better not add it to my watch list or I might get carried away bidding  :D

Hard to tell if it's original or a tin toy modified into a steam toy by a previous owner...
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: txlabman on July 21, 2020, 01:24:58 pm

This is an awesome trike Alan!

I can't wait to see your video of it running.

I did some online research and couldn't find anything on this manufacturer. 

The only manufacturer in Argentina that I have come across is D.E.O. 

I believe Nick has one of their steam driven cranes.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: classixs on July 22, 2020, 05:16:05 am
Very neat looking addition, congratulations Alan  :)

Found a user called Motuva in Argentina on Facebook, sporting the exact same logo/sticker on his profile.

No mention of steam engines, so (until corrected) i will assume this is a single project.

Looks to me like the boiler is made from a spraycan?
If so, some attention towards drying out after running it, should be paid to avoid it rusting out.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Alan UK on July 23, 2020, 08:58:57 am
Thanks everyone. I have made a little progress with it, it now has 3 new rubber tyres and a drive belt. I have also made a safety valve to replace the bolt in the the top of the spray can boiler. Just waiting for the die I need to cut the thread on the valve to come from ebay and it should then be ready to be steamed.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: txlabman on July 23, 2020, 10:13:21 am
Thanks everyone. I have made a little progress with it, it now has 3 new rubber tyres and a drive belt. I have also made a safety valve to replace the bolt in the the top of the spray can boiler. Just waiting for the die I need to cut the thread on the valve to come from ebay and it should then be ready to be steamed.

Fantastic News Alan!

I am looking forward to seeing the video.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Weedensteam on July 23, 2020, 11:35:22 am
Very cute, if the engine runs anywhere near the speed of a Mamod TE you better get some running shoes to keep up with it.  ;D

Certainly an interesting addition to any collection, nice find.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Tadfafty on July 23, 2020, 03:31:58 pm
I liked it too when I spotted it on ebay, so figured I better not add it to my watch list or I might get carried away bidding  :D

Hard to tell if it's original or a tin toy modified into a steam toy by a previous owner...

I'd say, high chance.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Jim on July 23, 2020, 05:41:39 pm
What a good find, when the spray can boiler rusts out, it looks like it would be a simple job to replace it with a copper boiler.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Alan UK on August 12, 2020, 02:24:12 am
YouTube video of the steam car now up here,

https://youtu.be/A9T7JLzooBA
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: St Paul Steam on August 12, 2020, 06:12:35 am
well hey ...it works , on a super smooth floor she'll probably glide right along, neat one that .
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: RedRyder on August 12, 2020, 08:11:36 am
Thanks, Alan. We sure enjoyed the Motuva video!
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Stoker on August 12, 2020, 08:51:03 am
Certainly a rare bird that one ........ whether it is capable of self-motivation or not, it is definitely an interesting piece from the Southern Hemisphere that has somehow managed to migrate North.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Nick on October 28, 2020, 01:45:26 pm
YouTube video of the steam car now up here,

https://youtu.be/A9T7JLzooBA

I was on vacation and missed the video, thanks for posting it, very cool!  8)
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: crazydoug on October 29, 2020, 06:57:24 am
Great find Alan! It,s not an Empire, but you seem to have found a rarity.
Crazydoug
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Hero on October 29, 2020, 09:14:04 am
I like the turntable at the beginning.
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: txlabman on November 09, 2020, 01:58:45 pm
I recommend that you all subscribe to Alan's YouTube Channel.

One of my favorite channels.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmkHNKI7DOdtNBSLDYi0y_Q

Alan also has a great content rich website:

http://www.retrosteamtech.com/

I have ranted about this before, but IMHO every Forum Member should subscribe to every other Forum Member's YouTube Channel.  I know that I have done so; as has Nick and Gil.

My channel is:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwbKFHuYsK5h0ADq0Ks1h7g?view_as=subscriber

I hope you will subscribe to Alan's channel and mine too (and all other Forum Member's YouTube Channel).   ;D
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: Nick on November 09, 2020, 02:36:44 pm
And click their bell so you know when they have a new video out!  ;)
Title: Re: Motuva Model Steam Car
Post by: txlabman on November 09, 2020, 08:23:27 pm
And click their bell so you know when they have a new video out!  ;)

Definitely!