Sanglas
Sanglas was a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer in Catalonia that existed from 1942 until the late 1970s. During the Franco era , when a one hundred percent import tax on foreign vehicles made importing motorcycles unaffordable, Sanglas models were the heaviest motorcycles on Spain's roads. They had single-cylinder four-stroke engines with a capacity of up to 750 cc . From the end of the 1970s, Sanglas built a two-cylinder model, but disappeared from the market a little later.
history
origin
Sanglas was founded in Barcelona in 1942 by the two brothers Xavier and Martí Sanglas . The company name was "Motores Vellino" until 1945. At first, engines were built for agriculture and industry, which were mainly used to drive water pumps and threshing machines or to generate electricity.
Spare parts manual (title page)
original state
After the major overhaul in 2004
This engine with the serial number 2224 is a version that runs on oil (diesel). It has the upright cylinder arrangement typical for the time. The magneto ignition comes from Bosch . The coupled pumps work according to the thermosiphon effect .
Sanglas SA
Xavier and Martí Sanglas planned early on to build large-displacement motorcycles for everyday use. Motores Vellino merged into the company "Sanglas SA", whose aim was to offer an alternative to the then known brands BMW , Zündapp , DKW , AJS and BSA , which had also supplied models for military use during World War II.
In 1945 the first 350 cc model appeared at the Barcelona trade fair. The first documentaries come from this time. The first authorized dealers went into operation. The 350 / A, 350 / B, 350/2, 350/3 and 350/4 types emerged from the basic model of the 350 cc series (1945 to 1947). The first 350 cc was approved for road use in Barcelona with registration number B-75205. Today it is in the exhibition room of Fundacion Can Costa. In 1947, serial production with modern machine tools began in the newly built Sanglas factory in Barcelona, which took up an area of 12,000 square meters. In 1948 more than 100 workers were employed, the focus was on the mass production of motorcycles and the development of light motorcycles. The target group were workers and the rural population. The first model was equipped with an engine of 347.75 cubic centimeters (bore × stroke: 69 × 93 mm) and developed 14.4 hp at 4,800 rpm. In 1952, models with different frames and chassis were offered as a further development of this series.
In 1954, the Spanish racing driver José Raja won the 24-hour race in Montjuïc with a prototype that was already fitted with hydraulic shock absorbers and a vibrating fork . The model series 350/4 and series 500/3 were created on this basis. A four-wheeled motorcycle (now known as a quad ) was on sale for a short time but met with little interest. Production was soon discontinued.
In 1957, Sanglas presented a lightweight motorcycle with a fiberglass frame at the Barcelona trade fair . This construction method was introduced into series production for the Montaña II model. The Montaña II developed 25 hp and 500 units were produced in 1958. In the same year Sanglas built a new plant in L'Hospitalet near Barcelona. There were 200 more jobs for series production of the 400 series.
At the beginning of 1959 Sanglas motorcycles were also built in England, which were sold there under the trade name Rovena . The name came from Javier Sanglas. Because of his enthusiasm for the Italian city of Verona , he designed this artificial name, which was based on a rearrangement of the syllables (Verona - Rovena). Two variants were manufactured in the English factory, the “Rovena 250 cc” and “Rovena 250 cc SPORT”. They had two-stroke engines from Hispano Villiers SA with 249.4 cm³ displacement, an output of 20 hp at 6,500 rpm. and 17 "aluminum wheels. The top speed was 135 km / h.
During this time, Sanglas tried again to sell quads, but these were now made from fiber composites . The vehicles were equipped with the "Cromática" engine with 295 cubic centimeters and 13 hp at 6000 rpm.
In 1960, the 100 cc motorcycle series came onto the market in Barcelona. It was delivered in four versions. The Zündapp two-stroke engine had a displacement of 98 cm³ and delivered 8.5 hp to the gearbox. The shifting wheel block of the transmission and the hydraulic brake system were new. The brake drums of the aluminum spoked wheels had a diameter of 14 cm at the front and 18 cm at the rear. The top speed was 115 km / h. The prices of the series 350/4, 400 and 500/3 ranged between 37,000 and 56,500 pesetas .
In 1964 the Sanglas 400 cc appeared. It was slightly smaller and lighter than its base model in the 350 series. With the improved single-cylinder engine of 423 cm³ and the also new 30 mm carburetor from Amal , the 400 cc reached 30 hp at 6,500 rpm. The target groups were the public sector and private consumers. The 18 "wheels had 3.25 × 18 tires at the front and 3.50 × 18 tires at the front. The four-speed gearbox, which was also new, had a footshift. The machine reached a top speed of 160 km / h. The fuel consumption at a cruising speed of 100 km / h was 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers. For the first time, a 12-volt alternator was used, which fed an accumulator with 12 ampere-hours. Parts of the tank were chrome-plated, and paintwork was available in four colors, black, green, blue and salmon The weight of the 400 cc was 160 kilograms and the model was built until the end of 1973.
The 400 T followed in 1971 and was bought by 1973. The T stood for Tourismo, and the suspension was set up accordingly. The chain case was completely covered. The speedometer came from VDO . The mudguard was chrome-plated, the model had the well-known 18 ″ aluminum spoke wheels and brakes with an extended braking surface. The single-cylinder monoblock engine had a displacement of 423 cm³ and made 30 hp. This made the 400 T particularly suitable for touring. In 1973 the 400 E was built on its basis. It was the first to have an electric starter from Bendix , a double oil pump supplied the engine with lubricating and cooling oil.
In 1965, the production of inexpensive mopeds with 49 cm³ engines and a total weight of 68 kilograms, which was low for the construction methods at the time, began. The market was hostile to these lightweights. It was only years later that these innovations were crowned with success. The Sanglas 50 cc was equipped with a two-stroke engine from Zündapp, which achieved an output of 5.1 hp at 7,700 rpm with a displacement of 49 cm³. The model had a four-speed gearshift and reached a top speed of 90 km / h. The alternator delivered 18 watts of power. At the 1970 Barcelona Motor Show, the Sanglas 50 cc was a sensation because of its value for money.
In January 1967 Sanglas presented a machine with 500 cm³, which was intended for the authorities and the military. The daughter Rovena developed a light motorcycle, which was equipped with two-cylinder two-stroke engines from Hispano Villiers with 250 or 350 cm³. The prices of the 350/4, 400 and 500/3 series were between 37,000 and 56,500 pesetas during this period.
List of models
with production period
The list does not claim to be complete.
- 350 cc (1945-1947)
- 350 cc (1947-1950)
- 350 B (March 1950 - June 1953)
- 350 C (July 1953 - December 1953)
- 350/3 and 500/2 (1953–1955)
- 350/3 and 500/2 (1955–1956)
- 350/3 and 500/2 (1956–1963)
- 350/4 and 500/3 (1958-1960)
- 100 cc (1960–)
- 350/4 and 500/3 (1960–1963)
- 350/4 and 500/3 (1963–1964)
- 350/4 and 350/2 (1959–1961)
- 50 cc (1965-1969)
- 295 (1959-1961)
- 295/1 (1961-1969)
- 50 "PLEGABLE" (foldable) (1970)
- 400 (1964-1973)
- 400 T (1971–1973)
- 400 E (1973-1976)
- 400 F (1976-1980)
- 500 S (1976-1978)
- 500 S2 (1978-1979)
- 500 S2 V5 (1979–1981)
Prototypes
These models never went into series production.
- 500 cc BS (1949-1952)
- 500 cc TT ENDURO (1979)
- 750 cc single cylinder (1976)
- Sanglas "MILITAR" (1961) Melderkrad with two-stroke engine
- Sanglas "MILITAR-BOOT" sidecar version with MG equipment. 20 pieces were delivered to the military. They are used to explore the terrain.
Web links
- sanglas.es Club Sanglas
- Photo gallery of the Sanglas Friends Germany (JavaScript required)