A unique French two-wheeled car called Pagnon Mauto

ONE-OFF In its development after World War II, in France had ever developed a two-wheeled vehicle style called a mauto (two-wheeled car). This style presented a unique scooter figure made by Armand Pagnon, a railcars development engineer worked for Renault. In his spare time, he built this mauto-style scooter by his-owned hand in his Nancy-located garage in 1955.

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter built by Armand Pagnon while sat on display at the Auto Motocycle Museum, the French's Châtellerault-located bicycles, motor-cars, motor bikes and scooters museum. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

Actually, there's no official name for the scooter model, however here we will refer to it as the Pagnon Mauto (as a homage to its maker). After completion of construction, then the scooter was shown on display and presented to the public for the first time at the 1957 Salon de l'Automobile de Paris (Paris Auto Salon). 

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter has been designed in such a way with a high windshield and proper front shield that the rider and passenger (if any) are effectively protected of the wind and rain exposure. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

This Pagnon Mauto has been designed in such a way that the rider and passenger (if any) are effectively protected of the wind and rain exposure. This is because the the scooter design adopts a unique appearance with a seating position in short distance from the floor, coupled with a high windshield and proper front shield.

The sketch of the Pagnon Mauto with a 125 cc two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

For the bodywork of this unique scooter, Pagnon then gave the to the Eslassant company that specializes in the production of racing cars by using the moulding machine. The Pagnon-made scooter is powered a 125 cc two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar.

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter adopted a rear wheel drive system with universal joint of cardan types, and what makes it at glance similar to a car. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

The scooter adopted a rear wheel drive system with universal joint of cardan types, and what makes it at glance similar to a car. And for its suspension system, in the front with the thrust wheels and Neiman ring. While in the rear features a deformable parallelogram and a triple of Neiman rings. And the steering is moved to the back by a cardan coupling as well. There is something confusing about the scooter riding, when you turn the handlebar to the right, it leans to the left (considered could be dangerous).

1955 Pagnon Mauto unique scooter powered by two-stroke engine from Ultima (Lyon), which is coupled with a 4-speed manual transmission system which is operated through the right-handlebar. (Picture from: Alienor.Org)

This may be due to the fork designs so that movement is transmitted to the handlebars with a cardan clutch, but most importantly, if we believe the sketch published by the "scooter review", this fork hunt is not a good fit. However this did not prevent Armand Pagnon, the builder from taking the Metz-Paris trip to present the scooter at the 1957 Paris Motor Show along with his brother as a passenger in the back.

This three-wheeled vehicle had a similar design to the scooter mentioned before and also designed by Armand Pagnon. (Picture from: Stabilcar)

Besides designed and built this unique scooter like the one above, it turns out that Armand Pagnon also had time to design (only on paper) a three-wheeled vehicle had a similar design to the scooter above (called the Tri-Pagnon), but until today never been made into real one.

This prototype is the only scooter made by Armand Pagnon, and after several decades it was restored by Yves Dumez, who later in the 1999 sold it to the Auto Motocycle Museum, the French's Châtellerault-located bicycles, motor-cars, motor bikes and scooters museum.

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information relate to the Pagnon Mauto, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops.....*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | STABILCAR | ALIENOR.ORG ] 

Note: This blog  can be accessed via your smart phone

The flying scooter in between reality and fictional

ONE-OFF 'Flying like a bird,' may be one of humanity's longstanding obsessions. And now maybe part of that obsession has been fulfilled with the invention of the airplane. Why only partly, because humans always try to develop it continuously up to a certain point of achievement which is considered to be the most recent or become what it should be. When was that accomplished? No one knows.

Vespa Alpha played a role as the Dick Smart's sophisticated rides in a spy action movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' released in 1967. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In the context of the scooter, which we know as a two-wheeled vehicle that experienced its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, has there ever been the creation of a flying scooter, both fictional and reality?

In fiction, this has been illustrated by a well-known Belgian writer named André Franquin in his famous comic strips entitled 'Spirou et Fantasio' which published from 1947 to 1969. Well, in those comic strips he illustrated neatly a yellow-colored flying scooter named Zandajet. 

The amazing Zandajet flying scooter model is built based of the André Franquin's comic illustrations and sat on display at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin in Brussels. (Picture from: Meinekleinfabrik)

Although this  yellow-colored scooter can only fly in comic books, it has actually been brought to the real world in a 1 : 1 scaled model to homage to the author and has been exhibited at the 2006 Exposition Le Monde de Franquin which was held in Brussels.

Vespa Alpha built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007' in the 1967 and now sat on display at the Vespa Museum in Tuscany. (Picture from: Gensindo)

In reality, there's an Italian company called Piaggio which is also known as one of the world's scooter pioneers as well as the largest and most successful scooter manufacturer to date turn out has ever made a flying scooter named Vespa Alpha in 1967. As we all know that before producing scooters, this Italian company is a manufacturing company that is familiar with the world of aviation until today.

The Vespa Alpha was built by Piaggio in collaboration with Alpha Willis, a British company for the shooting purpose of a movie titled 'Dick Smart 2.007', starring Richard Wyler, Margaret Lee, Rosanna Tapados in the 1967.

Only in the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. (Picture from: Vespacountry)

The Dick Smart's sophisticated scooter built based of the Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by 2-stroke single cylinder 180cc engine which in the standard condition is claimed able to run up to top speed of 105kph on the streets.

In the movie, the Vespa Alpha is described as having extraordinary abilities, not only can it be used to go fast on the highway, fly like a helicopter, it can also function as a submarine. The flying scooter's front is resembled like a tilapia fish. Moreover, there is a lamp that looks like a fish's eye and a hole in the muzzle is added as the fish's mouth.

Vespa Alpha built is built based of Vespa 180 Super Sport and powered by a single cylinder 2-stroke 180 cc engine. (Picture from: Arttrav)

Even though it looks like a helicopter, we believe that the Vespa Alpha cannot fly at all, especially if it is used as a submarine. As mentioned before, it built just for the movie making and furthermore its shape and condition are not proper being a flying vehicle or submarine. Yes, at least the scooter can still be used for speeding on the streets, if you look at the engine specifications. 

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to the Piaggio's Vespa Alpha flying scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. 

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MUSEOPIAGGIO | MEINEKLEINFABRIK | VESPARESTORATION ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

Here's the classic Breton Babymoto scooter

Unique ONES Today, again we met a French site named Moto-scooter-annee50-60.over-blog.com on the internet that contains several pictures of a classic two-wheeled vehicle was once filled the streets of France in the 1950s and also has an unusual shape. Suddenly, it's sparked and aroused our curiosity to know more about it. 

The 1952 Babymoto unique scooter produced by Breton Ets, a Saint-Étienne-based company that still exists today. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

And as usual, we then did a search through Google to find additional information of the two-wheeled vehicles mentioned above. Although not much information was obtained, from several sites, what we've obtained was considered sufficient to cure our curiosity about this mysterious two-wheeled vehicle. 

We got enough informations from the Cybermotorcycle site, the unique two-wheeled vehicle mentioned above is called the Breton Babymoto scooter produced by Breton Ets, a Saint-Étienne based small company. Well, that's equally such a unique name for an unusual shaped scooters and mopeds.

The 1952 Babymoto unique scooter features a special Roger Breton designed front suspension system and uses a 70cc 2-stroke Lavalette engine coupled with 3-speed manual transmission system, and said could be run up to top speed of 65 kph. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

Special suspension system with front
fork construction designed by Roger
Breton and had been patented.
(Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

Initially, Breton Ets is a French mediocre bicycle company that produces bicycles under the brand of 'L.R.B.' (short for Louis Roger Breton). The company was owned and founded by a real French gentleman and entrepreneur named Louis Roger Breton in 1941 was domiciled at 9-11 Rue de la Tréfilerie, Saint-Étienne. 

In short, the company then tried its luck by expanding its business into a motorcycle manufacturer and entering the market in 1951 under the Babymoto brand and is originally powered by a Cucciolo engine, and then followed by several light two-wheeled vehicles uses the (up to 125cc) engines from Aquila, Comet, Mistral, Lavalette, and etc. 

The company presented its Breton Babymoto moped at the 1952 Paris Auto Salon, and again at the same even in the 1953. At first glance, it's looks like a typical moped existed at that time, but what is unique and different is the front fork. Reportedly, Breton has even patented its unusual front fork construction. As the result, the Breton Babymoto has an elegant looks featured with the unique front fork construction and equipped with a quite powerful VAP 4 engine.

The Babymoto unique scooter features a special Roger Breton designed front suspension system and uses a 48cc Cucciolo engine. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

At that time, this French company had ever produced a Babymoto scooter with a 48cc Cucciolo engine which was also equipped with a typical Breton front fork and then they also ever had released Babymoto Duo, a moped with tandem-seats is powered by the Cucciolo and Mistral engines.

The Babymoto Duo is a tandem-seats moped is powered by the Cucciolo and Mistral engines. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

In 1954, they marketed the Scootomoto is made into 2 models, scooters and light motorbikes powered by the same Lavalette 70cc engine combined with a 3-speed manual transmission system. Unfortunately, there're no photos or pictures could be described the Scootomoto still existed today.

Other models had followed then, but some have returned to the conventional front forks and while others have continued to develop a style that will cause some wonder expression of the public when they see it for the first time.

The 1954 Scootomoto unique scooter uses a 70cc 2-stroke Lavalette engine coupled with 3-speed manual transmission system, and said could be run up to top speed of 65 kph. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

The condition then changed drastically, when those company's two-wheeled vehicle products were replaced by a standard motorbike that even had no similarity in shape to the previous product and possible that the new product is no longer self-produced, but the refurbished products, so it could be marketed in a lower price. Might be, it should be done by the company as the efforts to survive and continues compete in increasingly difficult market conditions.

Because as a small company and did not have its own sales network, Breton then entrusted its products to the Motorbecane-affiliated dealerships. Unfortunately, when Motobecane issued a policy (which could be interpreted as an unfair tactic for its competitors) that required all of their brand affiliated dealerships to sell the Motobecane products only and not allowed to sell other brands.😟

The 1954 Babymoto prototype motorcycle features a special Roger Breton designed front suspension system and uses a 70cc 2-stroke Lavalette engine coupled with 3-speed manual transmission system, but never enter into production lines. (Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

An advertisemenent leaflet of 
the Breton Babymotor scooter 
(Picture from: Moto-scooter-annee50-60)

As a result, Breton was forced to exit the market suddenly. This then had a negative impact on the survival of this innovative and creative French company, and finally in 1957, Breton was forced to stop all production activities and went bankrupt so that automatically its workers lost their jobs.😭

After his motorcycle company was declared bankrupt, Louis Roger Breton tried to show that he was not a man who could easily give up and be defeated, then he turned into the furniture business and founded new company named Furania by using the newly invented material, Formica. And he did it brilliantly. Well, once again he managed to keep tough standing as an entrepreneur who had a good reputation back then. So it is not wrong for many to say that not enough words can be used to describe this good French man.👍

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to these French company-built Babymoto mopeds and scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. 

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops......*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CYBERMOTORCYCLE.COM | MOTO-SCOOTER-ANNEE50-60 ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

A classic scooter of Netherland named Bitri

Unique ONES Scooters are a new, affordable mode of transportation that gained popularity shortly after the end of the 2nd World War. Almost all of mainland Europe and even the world feel the vibes of the trends of the two-wheeled vehicles called scooters.

1964 Bitri 150 scooter fitted with 150cc Fittel and Sachs's Rotax engine, and before 1956 this model uses a 150cc JLO engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3d5gJPx)

Then what about in the Netherlands? Yes, a country known for its vibrant of beautiful tulips has also felt the scooter trends from the 1950s to the 1960s. This situation has also attracted the interest of entrepreneurs in this windmill country to produce scooters.

As quoted of Cybermotorcycle, the first scooter manufacturer existence in the Netherlands is related to a company called ''Bedveerenfabriek Fa.'' owned by W.W. and H.B. van der Gang in Aalzum (near Dokkum) which was founded in 1905. Until the late fifties, their main business was in the sale of the Javanese kapook (cottonwood), Danish goose feathers, Frisian forest rye straw, patented mattresses and spring beds.

1962 Bitri 200 scooter fitted with 200cc Sachs's Rotax engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3ph3de4)

After the war, one of the sons of the owner of the company named Wim van der Gang had an interest in the automotive world and wanted to develop the motorized vehicles. In the process, he and his friend who was also a TU Delft student named Eelco de Vries then decided to design and develop a vehicle after had been through several discussions. As the result, they managed to build a small car powered by two Triumph 350cc engines.

1953 Gedo Victoria moped prototype is an ancestor of Bitri scooter and fitted with a 49cc Victoria engine. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3ph3de4)

Because there was no market for that small car, they then looked at the scooter or two-wheeled vehicle segment which was booming at that time. Therefore they were trying to find other partners who had sufficient experience in the two-wheeled vehicle segment. Coincidentally, Eelco de Vries knows two brothers Peter and Age Geertsma who inherited the Gedo-branded bicycle wholesale company named F. Geertsma B.V. from their father. Those company opened its shop and wholesale business in 1937, and later tried to make the bikes with auxiliary engines in 1949 or earlier.

The first crew of Nederlandse Scooterfabriek N.V. posed along with the first Bitri 120cc scooter prototype in front of its Dokkum-based manufacturer in 1954. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZbcdqG)

In short, these gentlemen collaboration succeeded in making a moped prototype powered by a 49cc Victoria engine, named the Gedo Victoria in 1953. Unfortunately, the moped with the 16-inches size wheels can't be acquired roadworthy certificate. Not only that, its production cost was high too, thus making the Geertsma brothers resigned from the project.

Line of the Bitri scooters on display in front of its manufacturer in Dokkum. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZbcdqG)

Then in 1954, Wim van der Gang and Eelco de Vries founded a company called "Nederlandse Scooterfabriek N.V." which carries the Bitri brand. And those mentioned brand consists of 2 syllables is an abbreviation of Bi which means two and Tri for Triumph (referring to the small car had built by them both before).

The 1955 Bitri 150 scooter uses a JLO engine and still has the the cooling holes in the hood. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MYYqRz)

Initially the scooter production was carried out of an empty space of the spring bed factory owned by Wim van der Gang's father. By the plans to do as much work as possible inhouse, and their first production scooter was made of aluminum plates by using a 120cc engine of JLO plus the two-speed manual gearbox. The choice of aluminum is due to an easier in process, lighter and rust proof, in the 1955, the 120cc models replaced with 150cc version.

The Bitri's Promotional Team posed along with the 1955 Bitri scooters used 150cc JLO engines. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZbcdqG)

Furthermore, the Dutch manufacturer produced the next 150cc engined scooters with the JLO engine blocks, it was also stated that the models were designed by Eelco de Vries and inspired by the Lambretta LD scooters of the 1952. Due to there're many complaints about the excessive steering characteristics and the poor quality of the JLO engine, this resulted in the 150 cc Rotax (Fichtel and Sachs) engine being fitted to the scooter from September 1956 under the aluminum hood, and the steering was slightly modified.

Line of the Bitri scooters while in assembling process at its factory in Dokkum in the 1955. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZbcdqG)

The Bitri Cigarette vending machine
(Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZbcdqG)

The Bitri 200 cc engined scooter was rolled out the manufacturer of the 1957, and has 10 cm longer than the 150 cc version, but infact the biggest difference was in the cooling slots in the "hood" gone. From 1958, the 150 cc model were also carried out with the extended frame of 200 cc and from that moment was the range, next to the 200 LD, the 150 KL (standard with kickstarter), the 150 ES (more luxurious model with electric starter) and 150 EKS . The latter was equipped with both a kickstarter and electric starter, but was again taken out of production in 1960.

The Van Der Gang's Vlieger Satiné
watches. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2MYYqRz)

The Dookum-based manufacturer continued production until the scooter glory was over for them in the 1964.😭 On those difficult days, Wim van der Gang and his brother, Jacob led the Dutch company should be diversified its productions by produced the candy and cigarette vending machines so that they could be survived passing through the times. 

It is not known how many scooters they had ever produced, but certainly is in these days the Bitri scooters are scarce which makes the price automatically to be exorbitant.😲 The company is now owned by the son of the Bitri scooter inventor and focused in the premium watches under the brand of the Van Der Gang family name. 

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to these Dutch company-built Bitri scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article. 

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops......*** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BITRI | CYBERMOTORCYCLE.COM | AMKLASSIEK.NL ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

An extreme alteration of the Lambretta LD classic into a new unique modern scooter

Modern CREATIONS The appearance of a classic scooter turned out can be rejuvened into a unique modern looks scooter through skillfull and creative hands. Just look at the following unique Lambretta LD 125 made in 1957 scooter figure below that we found while surfing in cyberspace some time ago. Although we do not get much detailed information about the unique scooter with a neat blend of classic-modern styles. There're only a series of pictures scattered on several sites on the internet.

The Lambretta LD 125 Custom with a neat blend of classic-modern styles built by Adris's Custom, a Landivisiau-based automotive modification workshop. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

Now, let's start from who exactly built this unique scooter? He is Adri Faure, an automotive builder from France and also the owner of Adri's Custom, a Landivisiau-based automotive modification workshop. As we mentioned earlier, this modification process takes the basis of a Lambretta LD 125 classic scooter.

The Lambretta LD 125 Custom built based of the the Lambretta LD 125 scooter and used a 172 cc engine taken from Yamaha Majesty. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

As quoted of scooter-center.com, the Lambretta LD 125 scooter is one of the rare classic scooters produced by Innocenti between 1951 and 1955. This scooter was first introduced in December 1951 as the 125 Model D, which featured a newly designed frame and a greatly improved chassis. Overall, the D was basically an improved model C, also the appearance was very close to that of its predecessor.

As seen of the pictures in Adri's Custom album on the Facebook page, the LD 125 scooter used as the basis for this modification is a scooter wreck in incomplete conditions, it can be seen the seats gone, the headlight broke, and also unknown whether its engine can be started.

The Lambretta LD 125 Custom's rear section looks unique with the rear tire looks like protruding out of its body. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

So it is not surprising that the modified scooter is used a 172 cc engine taken from Yamaha Majesty. And for this purpose, the scooter's frame must be adjusted to the new and larger sized engine. Apart from the frame adjustment to accommodate the new engine installation, there's a total change also occurred in the legs both in front and rear sections.

The Yamaha Majesty's 172 cc engine setting on the Lambretta LD 125 bodywork. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

Even for the scooter's rear leg, which use a 12-inches size five-spokes rim wrapped in the wide-tread tire and set low, so the body has to be made its tire-tread sized tear, as a result the rear tire looks like protruding out of its body. As for the front, after the old-leg parts of the LD 125 scooter were removed then replaced with a 12-inch sizes closed rim which was also wrapped in a wide-tread tire and combined with a pair of new telescopic suspension (thought the front suspensions were almost rigid).

A final adjustment of the radiator mount and cooling fan on the Lambretta LD 125 Custom's frame. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

We believe that the engine swapping has an impact on its performance, and thus the modified scooter braking system should be upgraded by removing all the default braking systems and replaced by using a more capable disc brake braking system for the front and rear wheels.

The Lambretta LD 125 Custom while on the constructruction setting at the workbench. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3aU7MG2)

As a final touch, this classic and modern mixed-style scooter is given a jet black color which adds a grim impression to the low-pitched scooter. After its construction completed, the modified result scooter was once offered at Leboncoin, a French online trade site and was offered for € 4,000 (approx Rp.64 million) back in 2019. We think that's a fair enough number for such a good scooter work like this, but so far it's not known whether it managed to be sold. So you can see how handsome the scooter is when it poses with Adrien Faure, the maker.

The Lambretta LD 125 Custom poses with Adrien Faure, the maker. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2N9FL5m)

That's it, and if the article above is still considered inadequate or inaccurate, or if you have additional information related to these French-built unique-shaped LD 125 scooters, please don't hesitate to let us know via the comments column below this article.

Kept spur your adrenaline on the power of the two-wheeled monster and stay alive with true safety riding. May God will forgive Your sins and so does the cops...... *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ADRIEN FAURE | ADRI'S CUSTOM | SPECIAL SENZA MARCE | BIKER KULTURE | JALOPI JOURNAL | LAMBRETTA BRASIL | SCOOTER-CENTER ]
Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.