Bultaco Motos de leyenda (noviembre 2014

Barcelona Motorcycle Museum
Temporary Exhibition. November 2014 – November 2015
Bultaco. Legendary Motorcycle
The Motorcycle Museum Foundation, at the time of Bultaco’s come back trough an
advanced project of electrical bike which incorporates a great portion of the sport and
deep passion philosophy of the historical firm, wants to pay tribute to which most likely is
the Spanish motorcycle brand with highest charisma ever.
In spite of its short productive life –hardly 24 years- firm created by F.X. Bultó in 1958 left
an amazing legacy, especially in those mythical models, together with commercial and
sport hits which materialise in this new temporary exhibition of the Barcelona Motorcycle
Museum: Bultaco, Legendary Motorcycles.
It is a thorough selection of 26 motorcycles besides material and documentation of the
factory which expects to liaise the recalled history with the new era which Bultaco affords
now 32 years after it was closed down and which, no doubt will give raise to a new
“Bultaquistas” generation with the same spirit ever.
The exhibition will be opened from 31 October 2014 until November 2015.
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THE BEGINNING. “Passion around a leader”
Bultaco was born in 1958 out of the rebel spirit of one of the most charismatic figures in
motorcycling history, Mr. Paco Bultó and the drive given by a group of loyal followers. A
solid and compact team around a leader all of them united through an identical passion.
Hotel Ritz, Barcelona, Mars 1959
· TRALLA 101 - 125 cc – 1959
Tralla 101 was the model that allowed Bultaco to enter the motorcycle world in March
1959. This model fitted a monobloc engine which technically exceeded their rival
Montesa stressing their sport features from the very beginning
· BULTACO 200 - 200 cc – 1962
Bultaco started with the 200 model their line of touring motorcycles. Paco Bultó himself
used this very unit as his own vehicle to go to work; as a matter of fact he named it “The
taxi” due to their trustworthiness and efficiency features.
· CAZARÉCORDS - 175 cc – 1960
This motorbike gave Bultaco a world standing name. Bultaco brand, with this 175 cc
prototype, beat five world speed records in long distance in the French circuit of
Montlhéry. Only one year after its birth, Bultaco clearly showed their competition spirit.
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THE BRAND. “A successful iconography around a thumb-up”
Starting with the names of the bikes and finishing with their colours and merchandising.
Bultaco decided for a spectacular design being consistent and faithful to their principles in
a time when little attention was given to the corporative image, thus creating a great
feeling of passion for the brand. The so called Bultaco fans or “bultaquistas” were born in
the same moment that Tralla 101 reached the market place
·
GAVIOTA - 200 cc – 1970
So that her daughter Inés could easily move around Barcelona, even wearing a skirt or
during rainy days, he ordered this unique “Gaviota”. This only model, designed by Daniel
González and Lluis Carreras, may be regarded as the forerunner of current high wheel
scooters.
PRODUCT AND MARKET. “Diversification, the key to success”
Despite Bultaco’s beginning was closely linked to their passion for sport, they quickly
started to diversify their products range in order to cover as much market portion as
possible. With a view to get international expansion, they also produced specific
motorbikes for certain markets, especially for the US.
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· CHISPA - 49 cc – 1974
Incited by Montesa 25 Cota success, Bultaco launched their model Chispa to the market, a
motorcycle for children in order to train future trail users. It fits a 49 cc Mototrans Ducati
engine being one of the very few Bultaco units without their own brand engine.
· LOBITO MK6 - 74 cc – 1973
It became an icon for the youth in those days. Those fortunate owners of the 74cc version,
roused the envy for the rest of the teenagers when they could park these bikes in front of
their schools and managed to take their girlfriends aboard.
· JUNIOR GT2 - 74 cc – 1973
This is the Bultaco road option for the youngest ones. In spite it never reached the
charisma of its off-road sister Lobito, the Junior with its peculiar aesthetic design, it was
one of the most Bultaco sold models between 1965 and 1974
· STREAKER - 125 cc – 1978
Streaker meant the rebirth of the teenagers desires to own a Bultaco bike. It replaced the
obsolete Junior, thanks to an advanced design in which it stood out a trellis frame, derived
from the project by French technician Jean Pierre Fournales.
· METRALLA MK2 - 250 cc – 1967
MK2 version marks the Metralla saga superior quality by adopting a new 250cc engine and
five speed gear box. It was regarded as the faster street 250cc bike at the time and was the
favourite tool in motorcycle competitions deriving from mass production in the world.
· BULTACO 155 - 155 cc – 1961
With 101 Tralla already established as a clear sport motorcycle, Bultaco launched a second
model for a wider target range: 155. The increase of capacity made it easy to ride and with
the possibility to fit a side-a-car as shown in this unit.
· ALPINA - 250 cc – 1971
Due to the popularity of trial thanks to the launching of Sherpa T caused that many fans
used these bikes to go out in excursion, with no competition ambition. With that in mind,
Bultaco launched the Alpina model which fitted a more comfortable seat, a bigger capacity
fuel tank and longer gear ratio.
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· ASTRO - 360 cc – 1976
Astro was a model specifically designed for the Flat Track American races on oval clay
tracks, in which it got an incredible prestige. Evolved from the motocross Pursang bikes, its
name comes after a victory in the Houston Astrodome circuit.
· PURSANG MK12
- 250 cc – 1978
Bultaco sent their motorbikes to their dealers knocked down packed in boxes just like this
MK12 Pursang addressed to the Dutch importer who never managed to sell it and it is kept
in its original condition.
THE COMPETITION.“Market follows the wake of the checkered flag” (Paco Bultó)
It was his passion for racing competition which made Bultó to move from Montesa and as
a result Bultaco’s birth. After countless triumphs and national and international victories,
the competition spirit stayed alive until the same day the factory closed down.
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ROAD RACING
· TRALLA TS - 125 cc – 1959
The excellent sport features of the first model launched by Bultaco, Tralla 101, caused the
production of a short badge of these motorbikes focused exclusively for competition
purposes. They were named as “TS” for “Tralla Sport” and riders such as Ramón Torras
started their careers using this bike.
· TSS - 125 cc – 1968
TSS was the first exclusively produced Bultaco motorcycle for road racing competition.
With this model, Salvador Cañellas was the first Spanish rider who in 1968, won a World
GP Championship.
· TSS MK2 - 50 cc – 1976
In 1976, Ángel Nieto won for Bultaco the first World Championship by leading the 50cc
category riding this monocoque motorcycle inherited from disappeared Italian Piovaticci
motor racing team.
TRIAL
SHERPA T Mod. 10 - 250 cc – 1965
When Bultaco launched in 1965 their first Sherpa T unit, it meant a revolution within the
world of trial. It was developed by mythical Irish rider in those days, Sammy Miller, and
put away for good the heavy English four strokes motorbikes. This model meant for
Bultaco an incredible chain of victories in this specialty
· SHERPA T Mod.80 - 250 cc – 1971
This model was commonly known as “Kit Campeón” due to its group of tank and side
covers in just one single piece, which originally was to hitch the previous version, 49 Mod.
following the aesthetic design by Montesa with their Cota 247 model.
· SHERPA T Mod.199B - 340 cc – 1981
The last Sherpa T glorious trial saga version as well as the last model made by Bultaco
prior to their closing down. With respect to preceding versions, it stands out because of
its six speed gear box and a newly white painted frame with shortened rear end.
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MOTOCROSS
· SHERPA S - 125 cc – 1964
Sherpa S represents Bultaco first launch in off road competition which later on, in years to
come, meant so many triumphs for this brand. Derived from road devoted Tralla, it was as
well the first Spanish motocross mass produced motorcycle.
· PURSANG MK8 GP - 250 cc – 1974
In 1973, Jim Pomeroy reached a milestone after winning Motocross GP for Bultaco, it was
also the first time that a US rider defeated his European colleagues. From then onwards,
motocross Pursang proudly showed in their fuel tanks the blue and white striped bands
inspired in Pomeroy’s helmet.
· PURSANG MK 11 - 250 cc – 1978
Bultaco, with MK11 version, picked up the fruit of the accrued experience of high class
riders as Harry Everts and Toni Elías. It is the first Pursang in adopting an upper exhaust
pipe and 45º lean angle shock absorbers, as per market trends at the time.
ENDURO
· MATADOR MK5 SD - 250 cc – 1973
MK5 means the last evolution in the Matador saga as sport off road Bultaco’s model,
given that the next one, MK9, constituted a much quieter version after appearing in the
market the modern Frontera. “SD” initials refer to the Enduro Six Days, which was the
competition that made these bikes so famous.
· FRONTERA - 370 cc - 1979
Directly derived from the official Enduro motorcycles, the Frontera saga was born in 1975
to replace the obsolete Matador model. Narcis Casas, riding this model, obtained four out
of his seven national titles in this specialty
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Bultaco Dream Again
Last May 17th 2014, on the anniversary of the founding of the brand and the birth of its
creator – Mr. Paco Bultó – Bultaco, announced his official return as manufacturer of
motorcycles, revealing the first two prototypes of its new motorcycle range.
The Bultaco Story is based on one of the purest feelings we have in life: to dream.
Dreams and ambition were the factors leading Don Paco Bultó and his committed team to
undertake their ambitious challenge.
Today, the re-launch of Bultaco brings us back challenges, projects, emotions and, above of
all, dreams. The Brand and the Company dream. All those fans that since more than 30
years have been hoping to see it back, dream too. And the beauty of the dreams is that
sometimes they come true.
More information at www.bultaco.es
RAPITÁN
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