Bultaco 360 TSS factory prototype & Rocamora - 24 Hours of Montjuich 1968 photo

Description

A superb and rare photo of the magnificent
Carlos Rocamora
, in action on an equally magnificent
Bultaco 360cc prototype TSS factory racer
, during the
1968
edition of the prestigious
Spanish 24 Hours of Montjuich
.
Carlos
Rocamora
teamed up with Salvador Canellas. Unfortunately, they were forced to retire due to mechanical problems after 19 hours of racing. The photograph was taken on
July 6, 1968
.
The 360cc
Bultaco
racer that Rocamora is seen riding, is a prototype that was build around a reinforced TSS frame and a revised and tuned 360cc offroad Bultaco engine. It was a prototype that would be the predecessor of the TSS 350 and 360 production racers that would be entered production shortly later. A similar bike would win the 1972 24 Hours of Montjuich and in 1969 it was also ridden by the future world champion
Barry
Sheene
! The Bultaco TSS were amongst the most powerful production racers of the world and were incredibly successful on circuits worldwide!
Montjuic
, alternatively spelled
Montjuïc
or
Montjuich
, is a hill located in the Spanish city op
Barcelona
,
Spain
. The roads in the slopes facing the city formed once the famous Montjuic circuit, where for decades motorcycle and car races were being organized. For decades the 24 Hours of
Barcelona
races were ridden at Montjuic, and also the Spanish Grand Prix races. On four occasions Formula One car races were organized on the Montjuic circuit.
The origin of the
Bultaco
motorcycle company dates back to May 1958.
Francisco
"Paco" Bultó
was a director of the Montesa motorcycle company founded in 1944. After several years of steady growth and road racing success, in 1957 Montesa moved to larger facilities. The move was protracted, disrupting production and was followed by a downturn in the Spanish economy. This slump bought to a head disagreements between Bultó and the other senior director Pedro Permanyer. As an economy measure, Permanyer (the majority shareholder) felt that the company should withdraw from racing. Bultó, the driving force behind the racing program and responsible for much of the company’s technical expertise was violently opposed. Failing to reach a compromise, Bultó decided to leave Montesa to concentrate on his other business interests. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of Montesa's racing department left shortly afterwards as well. The suggestion to form a new company is said to have come a few days later when
Sr.
Bultó
was invited to a meeting by several of the former staff of Montesa's racing department. Keen to return to racing, they persuaded him that their greatest hope lay in forming a new company. Setting up shop in very primitive conditions at an old farm owned by Bultó, things developed quickly and in February 1959 Bultaco held a press day, launching their first bike, the road-going 125cc Bultaco Trala 101. Just two months later Bultaco entered its first Spanish Grand Prix taking seven of the first ten places.
BULTACO
comes from combining the first four letters of
Sr.
Bultó
's surname with the last three of "Paco", his nickname (BULT)+(ACO). CEMOTO is an acronym for "
Compañía
Española
de Motores
". The other part of company logo, the "Thumbs up" symbol, came after
Sr.
Bultó
witnessed British motorcycle racer
David
Whitworth
giving the signal to his pit crew to signify that all was well. Although they made road and road racing motorcycles, the company's area of dominance was off-road, in motocross, enduros, and observed trials competition. Perhaps the most famous Bultaco model is the Sherpa T, a trials bike, which revolutionised the sport in the 1960s. At that time trials were almost exclusively a British sport using big heavy four-stroke machines. Irish trials ace
Sammy
Miller
worked with señor Bultó to produce a lightweight two-stroke machine which, overnight, rendered the heavy four-strokes obsolete. This coincided with and, perhaps, stimulated the growth in the popularity of trials in Europe and later the
USA
, which provided a lucrative market for Bultaco in the years to come. Bultaco's premier model in the USA, the Pursang, was an excellent handling and powerful 250 cc competition model that could readily compete in virtually any type of speed-based off-road competition. In later models this was expanded to 125cc, 360cc and 370cc Other models, such as the Sherpa T (trials), the Astro (flat tracker) and the Matador (trail bike), provided more targeted approaches to specific types of races. Bultaco motorcycles were mainly powered by single-cylinder, air cooled, two stroke engines, but they also made water cooled versions. The rider was required to mix the oil and gasoline manually. Built in
Barcelona
,
Spain
, Bultaco motorcycles were exported throughout the world, but their largest market ultimately became the
USA
, allowing aspiring racers to purchase legitimately competitive motorcycles right out of the box. Due to industrial unrest and market pressures, Bultaco production closed in 1979. The factory reopened in 1980 but closed again in 1983. MotoGP star,
Sete
Gibernau
is the grandson of the founder of Bultaco,
Paco
Bultó
. Legend has it that Mr. Bultó asked to be buried "with his Bultaco t-shirt and his moustache properly waxed". In 1998, rights to the Bultaco name were purchased by
Marc
Tessier
who used it to help launch a range of purpose-built trials motorcycles from his company Sherco Moto S.A.R.L. The bikes were initially named
Bultaco
Sherco
's, then in 2000 the bikes became 'Sherco by Bultaco' and in 2001 the Bultaco name was dropped altogether.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, long distance racing was extremely popular in
Europe
. These events were responsible for the quick gaining popularity of the heavier sports motorcycle, like the Ducati 750 SS, the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport, The Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans and the Benelli 650 Tornado, the BMW R 90 S Daytona and the Laverda SFC 750; but also the Japanese sports motorcycles like the Kawasaki 350, 500 and 750 triples, but also heavy four strokes like the Honda CB 750 Four. Riders that would make world fame, like
Franco
Uncini
and
Marco
Lucchinelli
, all participated in these races before they made the steps to the Grand Prix World Championship racing scene.
We have more photos listed on Ebay, also motorcycle (racing) photos! Check them out and use the shipping discount!
This is your rare chance to own this
non period
photo that reflects a very interesting and historic piece of motorcycle and Bultaco history. Therefore, it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x
30 cm
).
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.