The history of the Orbea company is a long and successful one that began in 1840 when the three Orbea brothers created the armament producer in Eibar, in the Pays Basque, Spain. Predominately a rifle producer, Orbea moved into bicycle manufacture in 1930. The company ran into financial difficulties in the late 1960s and, in 1969, a workers co-operative was formed and bought the company from the Orbea family. The new co-operative relocated to a purpose-built facility nearby at Mallabia. Throughout its cycle history, Orbea has been involved and successful competitively and Orbea mounted riders have won Olympic Gold Medals.
Orbea had harboured the idea of becoming involved in motorcycle production but for various reasons, their plans never came to fruition. However, when the French VeloSoleX was becoming such a success, Orbea opened negotiations in 1956 to build the unit in Spain under licence. The success of the VeloSoleX was, in part, due to its simplicity with a roller in contact with the front tyre and a single lever that engaged and disengaged the drive.
Orbea Velosolex at “Cotxes nans utilitaris de postguerra” in Gironella, Catalonia 2023. Part of the Collection of Claudi Roca.
An agreement was reached to produce the VeloSoleX with the 38cc engine and market it as the Orbea Velosolex. Some major problems remained because of the political situation, as it was not possible to openly import parts from France although there is anecdotal evidence that certain items might have found their way across the border at Hendaye! The eventual solution was to relocate a Solex Engineer to Eibar to train the Orbea production staff and the Orbea Velosolex was launched in 1957.
The Orbea Velosolex was a success with an advertising campaign that stressed the prestige already attached to the Orbea cycle brand and the simplicity and reliability of the newly built moped. The sales were boosted again when the Spanish Post Office placed orders in 1961.
The Orbea Velosolex was manufactured in Eibar from 1957 to 1968 and represented a significant part of the Orbea turnover. Orbea are still an active cycle manufacturer.
Orbea VeloSolex 3800 (49cc) from 1965 – on display at the Col’leccion Vehiculos Historicos “Vall de Guadalest” 03517 Guadalest (Alicante)
This advert is taken from and reproduced with the permission of the Catálogos de motocicletas clásicas españolas
Spanish Motorcycles 
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