Prinoth Formel Baby
- One of 7
- Race Ready
- Austrian Papers
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Original price was: 24.900,00€.19.900,00€Current price is: 19.900,00€.
In the annals of automotive history, nestled snugly between the revs and roars of engines, lies the tale of Ernesto Prinoth. But hold your horses, or should I say, grip your handlebars tight, because this isn’t your run-of-the-mill story of a lad turned accountant.
No, Ernesto wasn’t cut out for the mundane life of number crunching, much to his father’s dismay. Leo Prinoth, sculptor art aficionado and purveyor of Val Gardena’s wooden wonders, probably envisioned young Ernesto taking the reins of the family business. But fate had other plans.
Ernesto had a grease-streaked destiny, one that unfolded amidst the clatter of engines and the allure of two-wheeled wonders. His hands, restless as a kid in a candy store, found solace in fixing and fiddling with anything on wheels, starting with his trusty motorbike.
In those post-war days, motorbikes were as rare as a sensible decision. But for Ernesto, each one was a ticket to adrenaline-fueled showdowns, where speed and curves danced a tantalizing tango.
Instead of cozying up to a cushy desk job, Ernesto planted his flag in the world of mechanics, setting up shop in the picturesque heart of Ortisei. There, amidst the cobblestone streets and Alpine vistas, he turned his passion into a profession. 
But it wasn’t just motorbikes that piqued Ernesto’s interest. Oh no, cars, those roaring beasts of the road, demanded his attention. In an era where cars needed more pampering than James May’s hair, Ernesto and his better half, Hetty, were the knights in shining overalls, taming engines and soothing rattles with a flick of a wrench.
Then came the pivot, the moment when Ernesto traded in his racing gloves for a snowsuit. From tinkering with cars to crafting snowcats, those mighty machines that sculpt the snowy slopes we all love to conquer.
But let’s not forget his racing escapades. Ernesto wasn’t just a grease monkey turned snowcat maestro; he was a racer, a builder, and a dreamer. From the zippy 500 Ster Puch to the iconic Ferrari 250 GTO, 
he danced on the tracks of Europe, leaving tire marks and legends in his wake.
And as the curtains closed on the 1950s, Ernesto birthed the Scuderia Prinoth, a haven for speed demons and daredevils. With his Formula 500 ‘Baby Junior’ leading the charge, he etched his name in racing lore, with drivers boasting names as illustrious as their victories.
But Ernesto wasn’t one to rest on his laurels. Even as he conquered the asphalt, his mind whirred with possibilities, ushering in a new era of snow-bound conquests.
So, there you have it, the saga of Ernesto Prinoth, a man whose life revolved not around balance sheets, but around the symphony of engines and the whisper of snow beneath his snowcat’s treads.
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In the scorching summer of ’63, Ernesto Prinoth unveiled his latest masterpiece to the world – the Baby Junior P. Now, Ernesto wasn’t just your average backyard mechanic; he had some serious clout as the top dog importer of Steyr Puch engines and gearboxes in all of Italy. And with those connections, he conjured up something truly special. 
Picture this: the heart of a Steyr Puch 650TR engine pumping life into a chassis designed for one thing and one thing only – domination on the track. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill racer; this was a beast crafted for the entry-level Junior Baby class, ready to tear up the asphalt with the ferocity of a hungry lion.
But here’s the kicker – Ernesto didn’t just slap some parts together and call it a day. Oh no, he meticulously handcrafted this beauty, putting his blood, sweat, and probably a few choice Italian curses into every nut and bolt.
And boy, did it pay off. The Baby Junior P wasn’t just a looker; it was a winner, a champion in the making. With the likes of Tonino Ascari, Herbert Demetz, and Erwin Gassler behind the wheel, this bad boy blazed through races like a bat out of hell, leaving competitors eating dust and wondering what hit ’em.
But here’s the twist – Ernesto himself never took this beast for a spin on the track. Nope, he was content to let his creation do the talking, basking in the glory of victory from the sidelines.
So, there you have it – the saga of the Baby Junior P, a testament to Ernesto Prinoth’s genius and the sheer power of Italian engineering.
Only seven of these beauties graced the asphalt, with chassis number 107 likely being the swansong of the lot. But let me regale you with the tale of its journey through time.
Back in ’65, this mean machine found its way into the hands of driver Hans Georg Stöhr, who wasted no time in putting it through its paces in various airfield races.
But as fate would have it, the car eventually found itself up for grabs in a raffle, landing in the possession of none other than the gifted Porsche mechanic, Josef Barbach, sometime in the late ’60s. 
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Fast forward to August 23, 1970, and the Formula Baby Junior was slated to tear up the track alongside none other than the legendary Jochen Rindt at the 5th International Hill Climb in Stainz. But alas, Josef Barbach found himself short on cash for tires, putting a damper on their racing dreams.
But fear not, for the Formula Baby Junior’s journey was far from over. It found itself in the hands of Jonny Husar, who gave it a few spins on the racing circuit before passing the torch to collector Fritz, where it spent its days gathering dust, a forgotten relic of racing history.
But just when it seemed like the end of the road, along came Walter Nissner, the Puch guru, who saw the potential in this neglected racer. And from Nissner’s hands, the Formula Baby Junior found its way to its current owner, Michael Barbach, son of the very man who first laid eyes on it.
Now, after years of love and restoration, this once-forgotten champion roars back to life, its engine rebuilt and its spirit undimmed. And though it may have weathered the storms of time, the Formula Baby Junior stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of racing passion and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to dream.
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Contact: Michael Gross
Phone: +49 176 624 33453
| Year | 1965 |
|---|---|
| Make | Stey Puch Prinoth |
| Model | Formel Baby |
| Engine | 2 Zylinder |
| Horsepower | 30 |
| Location | Austria, Wien |
