Bucciali
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1922 |
| Founder | Angelo Bucciali, Paul-Albert Bucciali |
| Defunct | 1933 |
| Headquarters | Courbevoie , France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Bucciali was a French automobile brand produced between 1922 and 1933 by the Bucciali brothers, Angelo and Paul-Albert. Their initial model, assembled in Courbevoie, was a cyclecar named the Buc, equipped at first with 1,340 cc two-cylinder two-stroke engines. By 1925, the lineup expanded to include a 1,600 cc engine from S.C.A.P., available in two trims: the Tourisme and the supercharged Quatre Speciale. Additionally, a six-cylinder 1,500 cc version was introduced.
Unveiled at the 1928 Paris Motor Show, the Bucciali TAV-6 stood out for its pioneering front-wheel drive (FWD) system—arriving six years ahead of the Citroën Traction Avant and more than two years before the DKW F1. This model also incorporated the innovative Sensaud de Lavaud infinitely variable automatic transmission. Displayed as a chassis-only exhibit, the TAV-6 showcased its FWD drivetrain, a large transversely mounted gearbox, and fully independent suspension on all wheels. Its wheels were made from Alpax, an aluminum-silicon alloy favored by multiple French manufacturers. The vehicle featured a 3470 mm wheelbase and was powered by a Continental side-valve 2.4-litre engine; subsequent variants included six- or eight-cylinder powerplants.
During the 1930s, Bucciali developed the Double Huit, another front-wheel-drive vehicle powered by two Continental straight-eight engines positioned side by side. The last prototypes were equipped with a Voisin 12-cylinder engine. Despite these innovations, only a limited number of front-wheel-drive Bucciali models entered production.
Exact production figures for the TAV 12 remain uncertain; however, three surviving examples are known to exist—in locations including the USA, France, and Canada. One such vehicle is exhibited at Germany’s Nationales Auto Museum. A black Bucciali was restored by Bruce Kelly alongside Robert LeMire at Lake Country Classics in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
References
- David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles.