Motuva Model Steam Car

• Motuva Model Steam Car
  Posted by Alan UK on 20 Jul, 2020 01:56
• 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?
  
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• #1 Reply
  Posted by Scorpion2nz on 20 Jul, 2020 03:07
• I know nothing about it except I like it a lot.
  ‘Cheers
  Dennis
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• #2 Reply
  Posted by Steam Technology on 20 Jul, 2020 04:23
• What an excellent model.
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• #3 Reply
  Posted by Alan UK on 20 Jul, 2020 06:05
• 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
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• #4 Reply
  Posted by Nick on 20 Jul, 2020 18:15
• 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 
  
  Hard to tell if it's original or a tin toy modified into a steam toy by a previous owner...
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• #5 Reply
  Posted by txlabman on 21 Jul, 2020 13:24
• 
  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.
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• #6 Reply
  Posted by classixs on 22 Jul, 2020 05:16
• 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.
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• #7 Reply
  Posted by Alan UK on 23 Jul, 2020 08:58
• 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.
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• #8 Reply
  Posted by txlabman on 23 Jul, 2020 10:13
• Quote from: Alan UK on 23 Jul, 2020 08:58

  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.
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• #9 Reply
  Posted by Weedensteam on 23 Jul, 2020 11:35
• 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. 
  
  Certainly an interesting addition to any collection, nice find.
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• #10 Reply
  Posted by Tadfafty on 23 Jul, 2020 15:31
• Quote from: Nick on 20 Jul, 2020 18:15

  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 
  
  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.
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• #11 Reply
  Posted by Jim on 23 Jul, 2020 17:41
• 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.
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• #12 Reply
  Posted by Alan UK on 12 Aug, 2020 02:24
• YouTube video of the steam car now up here,
  
  https://youtu.be/A9T7JLzooBA
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• #13 Reply
  Posted by St Paul Steam on 12 Aug, 2020 06:12
• well hey ...it works , on a super smooth floor she'll probably glide right along, neat one that .
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• #14 Reply
  Posted by RedRyder on 12 Aug, 2020 08:11
• Thanks, Alan. We sure enjoyed the Motuva video!
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