This automobile is a replica of an 1896 Bernardi Tricar commissioned in the early 1930s by the Italian government. The replica was shipped to the Chicago and displayed at the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition. Enrico Bernardi was an Italian engineer and one of Italy’s automobile pioneers. In 1894, two engineers, Giacomo Miari and Francesco Giusti, formed the Miari and Giusti company with the objective to manufacture Bernardi’s creation of a three-wheeled vehicle driven by a gasoline engine. Two years later, the company created Bernardi’s Tricar and became the first independent automobile factory in Italy. Despite the quality and reliability of the Tricar, the vehicle could not compete with others on the market like its Italian competitor FIAT and other imported cars. In 1898, Bernardi took over the company and continued to produce his three and later four-wheeled vehicles. Despite Bernardi’s commitment, production ceased in 1901. It is estimated about a hundred Bernardi vehicles were made with most of them being three-wheeled.

This replica of an 1896 Bernardi Tricar is the only representation of a Bernardi vehicle in the United States. It is believed only five original Bernardi vehicles are still in existence in museums around Italy. Since the few surviving automobiles are considered national treasures, the Italian government did not want to risk sending an original to the 1933 World’s Fair. Instead, the Italian government commissioned this replica to be built and shipped to Chicago. After being on display at the exposition in the Italian Pavilion, the vehicle became part of the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry’s collection.