Solex

Solex H30 as fitted to a 1970 Volkswagen

Solex is a French manufacturer of carburettors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.

Solex carburetors were used by many top European automobile marques, such as Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes Benz. They were also licensed, with Japanese maker Mikuni supplying them to Toyota, Suzuki, Yamaha, and others.

History

The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators. These were fitted to several makes of early cars including Delaunay-Belleville and buses of the Paris General Omnibus company.

After World War I the radiator business went into decline and the company bought the rights to the carburettor patents of Jouffret and Renée and named them Solex after their business.

The Solex brand is now owned by Magneti Marelli. The original Solex company changed its name in 1994 to Magneti Marelli France and on May 31, 2001, Magneti Marelli France partially bought its assets (including the trademark SOLEX) from Magneti Marelli Motopropulsion France S.A.S.

Carburetors

Solex manufactured carburetors used by some of the most famous European marques, including Rolls-Royce Motors, Citroen, Volvo, and Volkswagen. They were also employed in performance vehicles by makers such as Porsche, BMW, Alfa Romeo, and Mercedes Benz, which also used a 3x2 set-up on its W194 Formula One racer.

Solex carburetors remained widely used by many European makers, and under licence to Mikuni in Asia, until the mid-1980s, when fuel injection was widely adopted to conform with increasingly strict auto emissions regulations.

Among the makers who used Solex carburetors were:

License

Solex carburetors have been made under licence by a number of companies including, Mikuni, of Japan, which entered into a licensed manufacturing agreement with Solex in 1960, and further developed many of Solex's original designs. Domestic automakers and motorcycle manufacturers using Mikuni carburetors include:

• Toyota
• Mitsubishi
• Suzuki
• Yamaha

Powered bicycles

Solex S3800

The Vélosolex has a 49 cc (3.0 cu in) motor mounted above the front wheel. Power is delivered via a small ceramic roller that rotates directly on the front wheel by friction to the tire.

The first prototype of a VeloSolex was created in 1941 and used regular bicycle frames such as those under the "Alcyon" brand and were powered by a 45 cc (2.7 cu in) engine developed by Solex. VELOSOLEX were produced commercially and sold starting 1946 with a 45 cc engine without clutch, then later with a 49 cc engine. The solex, although not varying much from one version to the next was sold in these models:

• 1946–53: 45 cc
• 1953–55: 330 (first 49 cc engine - no clutch)
• 1955–57: 660
• 1957–58: 1010
• 1958–59: 1400
• 1959–61: 1700 (first version equipped with a clutch)
• 1961–64: 2200
• 1964–66: 3300 (first frame with a square section)
• 1966–88: 3800
• 1971–88: 5000

Export versions were also created (sold outside France)

• 3800
• 4600
• 5600

Current version (made in France)

• 2007–2011: Velosolex 4800

More than eight million were eventually sold, mostly in Europe. It was also constructed under licence in many countries. Today the Velosolex is again manufactured in France. The trademark "VELOSOLEX" is the property of Velosolex America, LLC which markets the Velosolex motorized bicycle worldwide.

Company timeline

• 1905: The company was created by Maurice Goudard and Marcel Mennesson, both graduates of the École Centrale Paris.
• 1973: the carburetor division is taken over by Matra, and later by Magneti Marelli, then by Renault and Motobécane in 1974.
• 1983: Motobécane is bought by Yamaha and becomes MBK.
• 1988: production in France, at Saint-Quentin, ends.
• Circa 2001 production ceased in China and restarted in France.
• In June 2004, the mark "Solex" was bought by the French group CIBIÉ
• In October 2005 CIBIÉ launches the e-Solex, designed by Pininfarina and produced in China (400 W brushless electric motor, 35 km/h, autonomy of 30 km)^[1]
• In 2009, CIBLE launches the e-Solex 2.0, a new version with a lithium polymer battery
• Solex, Velosolex and Solexline are trademarks, property of SINBAR SARL
• The trademark "VELOSOLEX" is the property of Velosolex America LLC, who markets the Velosolex worldwide.

References

External links

• Mikuni
• Velosolex America official web site
• Magneti Marelli
• Velosolex collection - technical descriptions
• Steve McQueen rode a Velosolex
• SoleXin - a list of SoleX resources