The company was founded in 1925 by Antonio BARBACIL, a lathe operator/machinest by profession and a competitive cyclist. From 1930 onwards, it produced two motorcycles of 250 cc and 350 cc, both 2-stroke. Some sources state that the engines were inspired by the British Villiers but another states that they were imported Villiers units.
Barbacil manufactured all the components “in house”, including the frames and saddles and he also produced engines under the AN-BAR brand, a name taken from his own (ANtonio BARbacil).
The instability within Spain caused the Barbacil family to postpone expanding the business for a few years. However, in 1944, still in the midst of the materials shortage following the Spanish Civil War, Barbacil manufactured 12 motorcycles, without a gearbox but with a flat clutch based on a cork disc.
During the period from 1944 to 1947, Barbacil appeared to work exclusively for another Zaragoza firm, the JV – JV Special.
This example of a Barbacil 125cc is in the Sala Santy Collection and was photographed in 2024.
Then, in 1948, they would return to production with, as always, 2-stroke engines based on the British Villiers, 98cc, single-gear, but now with a four-disc clutch.
In the early 1950s, the firm continued to produce the 98cc but added a 123cc An-Bar with an Albion 2 speed gearbox and then they produced a 125cc An-Bar with a 3-speed monoblock engine. The firm was also involved in the repair of motorcycles and to the distribution and sale of a number of brands that included BH and Motobic velomotors.
Antonio Barbacil was technically gifted but he was hampered financially. He still sold engines under the brand name An-Bar but eventually, had to reach an agreement in 1957/58 with the suspension firm {Betor} for the manufacture of his last model. This agreement included the sale and transfer of all of his machinery and plans to Barcelona.
Under the terms of the agreement, Antonio Barbacil moved to Barcelona to become the Works Manager. Here, he directed the manufacture of this new motorcycle, which appeared on the market in 1959 under the brand name Dian GP in addition to the continued production of the renamed Barbacil 98cc (Dian Junior) and 123cc (Dian Sport) machines.
This low resolution photo of a 1960, Dian 125cc, was taken at the now closed Barcelona Motorcycle Museum. It is fitted with a Barbacil engine. The photo was downloaded from the 360carmuseum.com website, who I have contacted for permission to share here but the website seems to be defunct.
Spanish Motorcycles 
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