Bultaco TSS125 Gonzalez jr. Isle of Man TT 1963 Lightweight motorcycle racing

Description

A superb and rare photo of the magnificent
Francesco Gonzalez jr.
, in action on an equally magnificent
Bultaco
TSS
125 production racer
, during the
Isle of Man Lightweight T.T.
of
1963
. We see him accelerating out of
Parliament Square
in the town of
Ramsey
. The
Isle of Man
is not only a place of outmost natural beauty, it also houses the most famous roadracing circuit
s
in the world!
The
Bultaco TSS125 production racer
that Gonzalez is seen riding, featured a very smartly build 124.98cc single cylinder two stroke aircooled engine, with a bore and stroke of
51.5 x
60 mm
, delivering a power output of 25 bhp at 10,000 rpm. The engine had a compression ratio of 13.5 : 1. The buyer had the choice: a gearbox with six - or four speeds. The Bultaco TSS 125 was one of the most powerful production racers of the world and were incredibly successful on circuits worldwide!
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 companies 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 was 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.
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 9.5" (ca. 20 x
24 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.