Notes on Argentinian marques of which currently limited information has been gathered.
See also the main index page, Made in Argentina
Albor
Manufactured by Distributor del Litoral SRL, Maipu 794, Rosario, Santa Fe
Built 1960 using 125cc Jungla 4 speed engines.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com (Argentine Resources)
Aller Meteor
Built by Talleres Electro Mecánicos Argentinos.
One very handsome model has an engine cowling which looks like a jet engine intake, trailing link forks, and a nacelle headlight.
Jorge Pennacchioni of Cordoba writes:
Se me cae un lagrimón, porque por allá antes de los años 70, mi padre Alfredo, tuvo mucho que ver en el novedoso diseño de la 'Meteor' con motor PUMA 98cc. Llegué a manejar alguna. Antes que las grandes marcas le aplicó la amortiguación trasera en el centro del cuadro. Fué un creador adelantado, quien en 1971, falleció con solo 47 años de vida.
I drop a tear, because over there before the 70s, my father Alfredo had a lot to do with the new design of the 'Meteor' with PUMA 98cc engine. I got to drive some. Before the big brands he applied the rear cushioning in the center of the frame. He was an early creator, who in 1971, died with only 47 years of life.
Source: Zanella on Facebook
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Appia
Founded in Cordoba in 2003, the company became bankrupt in 2015 as a result of severe difficulties in the motorcycle sector. At the time it was the second largest motorcycle company in Cordoba.
Models made in China, asaembled in Argentina:
Appia Citi Plus 110 107cc OHC
Appia Vectra 110 107cc OHC
Brezza 150 149cc OHC,
Brezza Euro 150 149cc OHC,
Stronger 150 149cc OHC,
Stronger 250
Sources: motoargenta.blogspot.com; ar.motor1.com
Bersagliera
Furgonetta manufactured by J.L. Cabrera in Cordoba, powered by a 125cc MAE engine. It had a scooter chassis with leading link front suspension.
Source: period advertising
Betamotor Argentina
Established in Argentina by Beta of Italy 1995
Products include ebikes, scooters and motorcycles.
Sources: betamotor.com.ar, motoargenta.blogspot.com
Brava
DACORD SA was established in 1989 and were distributors of DAELIM motorcycles from Korea until 2012.
Their Córdoba factory assembled some 12,000 50cc Daelim Liberty mopeds annually. After 2001 they imported Chinese machines, and by 2016 total production exceeded 200,000 motorcycles.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
Canotti
Built mopeds and minibikes with 49cc Zanella engines, along with 60cc and 80cc models. Manufactured in Argentina 1991 to 1998.
Source: OTTW
Cerro
Cerro Motos is a firm based in La Rioja, Cordoba with offices in Shanghai, China.
Formed with government assistance, it occupies the former premises of metalurgical firm Argelite and employed many of their former workers.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
Corven
Based in Venado Tuerto, Santa Fe, the company was formed in 1969.
A specialist in braking and suspension systems for over 5 decades, the company exports to more than 35 countries.
It manufactures its own motorcycles in Argentina and also assembled machines imported from India under licence to Bajaj, and was the distributor for Arctic Cat.
The firm was restuctured in 2007 and became Corven Motos.
In latter years they offered a range of lightweights, scooter, mx machines, road machines and quads.
Their website, corvenmotos.com, ceased advertising motorcycles around 2019.
Sources: motoargenta.blogspot.com, es.wikipedia.org
Da Dalt
The Da Dalt brothers arrived from Vittorio Veneto in wartorn Italy in 1949 and began manufacturing motorcycle parts. Their first complete machines were foldable mopeds named Clementina, built in 1978. By 1984 the range included utility mopeds. From the 1980s their engines were based on the Franco Morini.
The firm still exists as Dutori-Da Dalt, in Villa Luzuriaga, Buenos Aires, and exports light motorcycles and three-wheelers to several South American countries.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com, OTTW, et al.
Danuvia
C. Barros of Cordoba was representative for Argentina for the Hungarian marque and advertised the Moto Danuvia with Csepel 125cc engines.
Source: period advertising.
De Carlo
Manufactured by Salvador De Carlo of Metalmecánica S.A.I.C. in José C. Paz, Buenos Aries
These were BMW 600 and 700 microcars, both fully imported and locally assembled from imported chassis and engines. Few if any locally produced parts were employed.
The firm later built Paperino, Super Paperino and DEC-100 scooters using components sourced from Industria Meccanica Napoletana.
Source: bmw700.net/decarlo, which gives a fascinating account of the Italian fascist.
FAMA
Based in Rosario, Fábrica Argentina de Motores Automotrices SA produced the Jungla marque in the 1960s.
The 128cc engine had a bore & stroke of 53 x 58mm and was fed by a Dell'Orto MB 20 carburettor. Suspension was by telescopic forks and swinging arm with hydraulic dampers.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
N.B. The Fama name was used by several other firms; one in the Netherlands, one in Germany, and another built by Blomme & Lecompte in Belgium - see Disambiguation
Gaudino
Gaudino Motor S.R.L., Av. Santa Fe 5400 Buenos Aires T. E. 72-7126
Built lightweight motorcycles using 98cc Sachs Televel engines. Telescopic forks and swinging arm rear suspension. Production dates unknown but likely early 1960s.
Source: period advertising
Ghiggeri
Based in Puerto Tirol, Chaco, north eastern Argentina. Advertising claimed that the factory of 15,000m2 was capable of producing 1000 motorcycles per month.
ghiggeri.com, which gave scant information in August 2019, was offline a year later.
Gilera Argentina
Established in 1957, the firm built motorcycles under licence from Gilera Italy. A new factory was built in 1962, and in 1963 employed 600 staff. They had a test track, and a foundry in Spegazzini where much of the casting was done.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
Guerrero
Dealer in Santa Fe, Argentina
The firm formed a business relationship with Honda in 1978. In 1993 they built a factory in San Lorenzo which now produces around 400 machines each day.
Guerrero models include Motocarga 200 (motocarro), along with minibikes, mopeds, 110cc lightweights, scooters, sports roadsters and a variety of trail and mx machines.
Source: https://www.tuguerrero.com.ar
Juki
Founded in 1972 as Juki Sacifia in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, as a manufacturer of sewing machines. Later named Mondial, the firm had a long association with Kawasaki. Then, from around 1999 they produced motorcycles, scooters and utility vehicles which were mostly sources from China and locally assembled.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
KTM Argentina
The Duke 200, built by Bajaj in India, was assembled by the company Simpa S.A. of Campana in Buenos Aires beginning in 2013. Subsequently a 390 Duke was announced - 373cc 89 mm x 60 mm, 6 speed, 139kg.
Projected production for 2014 was 1500 units per annum.
Sources: Wikipedia, simpa.com.ar, motoargenta.blogspot.com
Landia
Marketed by Bv Guzman of Cordoba, models included Landia 115cc and Landia 125cc Super Sport. Both were two-strokes with telescopic forks and swing-arm rear suspension.
Source: period advertising.
Lorena
Manufactured in the early 1960s using 125cc Televel Sachs engines. The chassis and bodywork were similar to that used by numerous other makes, with swingarm rear suspension and telescopic forks. The company logo included the Cross of Lorraine, ☨.
They offered finance via MOTOFAMA S. C. (la tiene y la vende con amplios planes do financiacion MOTOFAMA S. C.)
Source: period advertising.
Maverick
Manufactured by an established motorcycle dealer in San Juan which began motorcycle production in the late 1990s. In 2008 they built a new factory employing 60 people.
Their website displays numerous motorcycles similar in style to those emanating from China.
Models include: City 125, Street 150, Maxim 250
The firm began selling and distributing products in Brazil under the MVK brand in 2002.
Sources: maverick.com.ar; es.wikipedia.org.
Micron
Well-known in Argentina for the trip that Ernesto "Che" Guevara made when he toured 12 Argentine provinces doing more than 4000 kilometers on a bicycle powered by a Micrón-Garelli engine. The history of the firm founded by Adalberto Garelli dates back to the early 20th century.
Motomel S.A.
Established in La Emilia, Buenos Aires, the company began assembly of Suzuki motorcycles in 1992. In 2011 they formed an agreement with Piaggio and began assembly of Aprilia STX 150 motorcycles, and by 2020 offered some 60 different models, including quads. One of their more popular machines is the Blitz scooter, available with a 110cc or 125cc engine.
Motomel models include:
Road:
MX/Enduro
Scooters
Three-wheelers
NSU Argentina
Manufactured under licence by Dory y Cia, the factory was in Beccar. In the 1950s and 60s they produced Quickly, Max and Super Max NSU motorcycles, and Prima scooters. They also built automobiles including the Prinz.
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
R.P.F.
Manufactured in BahÃa Blanca, Buenos Aires
Built in 1949 only
Source: motoargenta.blogspot.com
Tibo
Established in 2008 by AKAN SA with a factory in Don Torcuato, Buenos Aires.
Model range for 2021 includes Jet 110 scooter, RS 150 road, Aero 150 Enduro, R200 STi Road, Zunda 200 road and Coaster 250 V-twin custom.
Sources: motoargenta.blogspot.com, tibo.com.ar
Vagiro
Manufactured in Buenos Aires by Vagiro SRL in the late 1950s or early 60s. These were motocargo tricycles powered by 100cc Sachs-Televel engines and were distributed by Argensa S.A. It seems likely that most of the components were sourced from Puma, and that very few were built.
Source: period literature.
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