Miquel Simó i Sànchez (Barcelona, 1906–1977) was one of the earliest pioneers of Spanish and Catalan motorcycling. By the time that he had entered his teens, he was already a talented mechanic, and he went on to combine the roles of rider, engineer, and inventor at a time when the motorcycle industry in Spain was still emerging.
When he was 14 years old, Simó was entering races on a bicycle with a 118cc DKW auxiliary engine that he had built himself. Soon after, he was studying at the Escola Industrial de Barcelona (Industrial School of Barcelona), where he used their facilities to build a 148cc, two-stroke, engine which he used in the first motorcycle that he built and competed with.
This is the restored Simó Model 1 148cc from 1924, on display at the Museu de la Moto – Bassella, Catalonia.
A visit to the Industrial School by the Spanish Minister of Industry allowed Simó to display his work and point out that with suitable funding, he would be able to make a more modern and faster machine. In 1927, he received 2,500 pesetas as a grant to build that machine. Still a 148 cc two stroke but with improvements – double exhaust, chain transmission and functioning brakes front and rear.
He later presented his bike and his plans directly to General Primo de Rivera (Dictator and President of the Spanish Government from 1923 to 1930). and received an order to produce 148cc and 250cc two-stroke models for the Spanish army and the public services of the Post Office. From 1929 until 1932 he was producing these machines from his workshop in Barcelona.
Simo 150cc 1928 – Part of the Sala Santy Collection
Miguel Simó was still a keen competitor and took part in major events such as the Sitges Autodrome and Rabassada Hillclimb. He bought a Terrot 250cc OPC that he raced throughout Europe in the 1930s. Simó is believed to be the first Catalan rider to compete in the Isle of Man TT races – he went on to compete in 5 TT races with a Terrot that had some factory support – the Lightweight TT of 1935 and 1937 and the Junior TT of 1936. 1938 and 1939. In the 1939 race he crashed on some spilled oil and was badly injured, spending months in hospital and requiring crutches to walk from then until his eventual death in 1977.
Unable to return to the racetracks (his true passion), Simó shut himself up in his workshop and devoted his time to designing and building – either for himself or on commission from other manufacturers. His contribution to the overall advances in post war Industrial Spain, isn’t always appreciated but he designed and produced motorcycles, motorized tricycles, and small vehicles.
Miquel Simó is rightly recognized as a visionary of early Spanish motorcycling. His technical creativity and racing achievements helped lay the groundwork for later Catalan manufacturers.
Spanish Motorcycles 