In 1955, Ducati had established a presence in Spain as the Barcelona based company Cliper, owned by Eusebi Andreu Virgili, were importing Ducati lightweight motocarros and the Ducati Cucciolo model. In 1957 Cliper approached Maquitrans, another Barcelona based business that had diversified into the production of motocarros and microcars. Their proposal was an amalgamation of the 2 companies to assemble and build Ducati based motorcycles under licence.
Under the arrangement, Maquitrans would contribute operating capital and facilities, whilst Cliper would bring its significant sector knowledge and sales expertise. In 1958, the agreement was sealed and a new, joint company, was formed as Mototrans. The changes created upheaval as the Maquitrans workforce was divided with the mechanical and electrical staff transferred to Mototrans, whilst those connected to bodywork and bus tasks remained in that role but as part of the forerunner to TMB and relocated to garages on Carrer Almogávares.
The old Maquitrans facility, also on Carrer Almogávares was re-equipped with all the machinery needed to assemble the new motorcycles. Very early into the new era of Mototrans, the new company produced most of the parts that they needed locally and, to a higher quality even though some parts still had to be brought in from Italy.
1956 Ducati Mototrans 98TL – photographed at the Museu de la Moto – Bassella
1968 Ducati Mototrans 160TS – photographed at the Museu de la Moto – Bassella
During its existence, Mototrans managed to manufacture more than 30 different models with high quality materials and components and continuous technical innovations – these were not just Ducati copies.
Mototrans-Ducati 125cc TS at the Sala Team Museum in Manresa
I am not going to reproduce lists here, but I have selected one model that was both highly successful and is still much sought after by collectors – the Mototrans-Ducati 24 Hours 250cc.
In 1964, Bruno Spaggiari and Giuseppe Mandolini won the 24 Hours of Montjuïc race with the 285cc Mototrans-Ducati based on the successful De Luxe 250cc. To take advantage, the Mototrans-Ducati 24 Hours 250cc appeared the following year although it was originally conceived to be dedicated to the exclusive world of privateer riders or the Mototrans official team.
1973 Mototrans-Ducati 24 Hours 250cc, photographed at the Museu de la Moto – Bassella
The first Mototrans-Ducati 24 Hours had a bevel drive, single overhead camshaft SOHC, engine of 247cc, air cooled, capable of delivering up to 25 CV, reaching speeds of 160 kph through its 5-speed transmission. The bike was closely related to the Italian built Ducati Mach 1. The bike was produced between 1965 and 1974, with modifications and improvements and about 2000 were built in total.
1979 MTV Yak 410 at the Museo de la Motocicleta Española, 28802 Alcalá de Henares (Madrid)
There were further attempts to save the company and, in 1981, a range of MTV branded mopeds were released, powered by German Zundapp engines but in 1982, a legal intervention at the factory saw an administrator appointed. Banesto (a Spanish financial institution) claimed its debt and the company announced suspension of payments. Although the mopeds continued to be marketed for some time, finally it was decided to close the factory.
