Lot 171: 1959 Velosolex 50cc Moped

Developed in the late 1930s, the French Velosolex first appeared in 1946, just in time to exploit the post-war boom in moped sales. In what many considered an act of Gallic eccentricity, the designers chose not to put the engine in the conventional position in the centre of the frame, but above the front wheel, which the single-cylinder two-stroke motor drove via a roller. Pressure from rival manufacturers eventually forced the introduction of more conventional models, but the original Velosolex remained an immutable fixture of the range. This example is offered with Autocycle Register Dating Certificate, two expired MoTs (most recent 2004) and Swansea V5 document