Founded around 1911, the Arms manufacturer “Echave, Arizmendi y Cia” were based in Eibar (Guipuzcoa) where they produced pistols and hunting shotguns, At the end of the Spanish Civil War, they diversified and moved over to the manufacture of “Fénix” bicycles.
They started to add engines to their bicycles from 1950 and they used either the IRESA 48cc, 2-stroke, 2 speed engine of 1.5 CV or the IRESA 53cc, 2-stroke, 2 speed engine of 2 CV.
This Echasa Model B (49.7cc) is in the Team Lazpiur Collection at Bergara, Gipuzkoa.
They made enhancements to their frames from 1952 and acquired a manufacturing license from IRESA for the 65cc engines, now supplied with 3 gears manually controlled by a lever that was to be mounted on the right side of the fuel tank. They continued to refine the bikes and launched the Model “A” in 1954.
At the end of 1956, they launched the Model “B”, equipped with a telescopic fork and the 65cc engine, with the 3 speeds now being controlled by the left handlebar grip. However, when the Spanish law was amended so that from 50cc and over, a driver’s license was required, they launched a revised variant with a 49.7cc engine. The machine in the photographs has this smaller unit.
Catalogo Español de Motocicletas 1957 Finanzauto SA
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Spanish Motorcycles 
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