One of motorcycling’s many legends, the foundation of Bultaco was occasioned by the resignation of Francisco Xavier Bulto from Montesa, a company he had co-founded with Pedro Permanyer in 1945. The Montesa board wanted to withdraw from racing; Bulto disagreed and left in 1958, taking most of the racing department with him to set up a new company – Bultaco. By the spring of 1959 the fledgling concern’s first machine - the Tralla 101, a 125cc two-stroke - was ready for production. Given the circumstances of Bultaco’s birth, it should have surprised no one that the company began racing soon afterwards, entering a team in the roadster class at the 1959 Spanish Grand Prix. It was a most promising debut; seven Bultacos finishing in the top ten with works rider Johnny Grace’s in second place. Spurred on by this and other successes achieved by the tuned Tralla 101, Bultaco went one stage further and developed its first purpose-built racing motorcycle – the legendary TSS. Among the first racers to campaign the Spanish two-strokes in the UK were Tommy Robb and Dan Shorey, the latter taking the coveted ACU Star (British Championship) in the 125cc class in 1961. Armed with a 196cc TSS, Shorey enjoyed a phenomenal run of success in the 1962 250cc World Championship, twice finishing 4th behind a trio of works Hondas to end the year in 7th place overall. Hs also took the British 125 and 250cc Championships that same year. Despite upping the capacity of its larger single to a full 250cc and adopting water cooling, Bultaco struggled to maintain its competitiveness at Grand Prix level in the face of overwhelming Japanese and Italian opposition, although there were occasional flashes of brilliance. In 1965 Ramon Torras split the works Yamahas of Phil Read and Mike Duff at the Spanish 250cc Grand Prix to finish 2nd, while Tommy Robb scored a memorable victory in the 250cc class at the Northwest 200. Contesting both the 125 and 250cc World Championships, New Zealander Ginger Molloy scored a number of top-ten finishes and in 1966 brought Bultaco its first Grand Prix victory at the Ulster round. The latter event was also notable for Tommy Robb’s 3rd place riding a 252cc TSS in the 350cc class, beaten only by Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Meanwhile, in production machine racing the 200cc Metralla sports roadster had become a force to be reckoned with, winning its class in the 1963 European Grand Prix d’Endurance series despite giving away 50cc to its rivals. By 1967 the Metralla was available as a full 250, and in that year’s Diamond Jubilee TT in the Isle of Man secured a remarkable result in the production race when a team of race-kitted bikes entered by the importer for Southern Ireland, Harry Lindsay finished 1st and 2nd, Bill Smith leading Tommy Robb across the line, with Kevin Cass in 6th place. Acquired by the vendor in 1999, this Metralla was previously ridden in the Isle of Man TT (on two occasions) and then for three seasons in the Irish Racing Championships by various riders. The machine was restored by long-time Bultaco stalwart Tommy Robb circa 1999 and last ridden in the 2002 Isle of Man TT Parade, when its rider was none other than Tommy himself. Presented in immaculate condition, it is offered with correspondence from Tommy Robb and engine builder Paul Wilkinson of P W Racing, detailing work carried out, parts used and costs. No reserve.
One of motorcycling’s many legends, the foundation of Bultaco was occasioned by the resignation of Francisco Xavier Bulto from Montesa, a company he had co-founded with Pedro Permanyer in 1945. The Montesa board wanted to withdraw from racing; Bulto disagreed and left in 1958, taking most of the racing department with him to set up a new company – Bultaco. By the spring of 1959 the fledgling concern’s first machine - the Tralla 101, a 125cc two-stroke - was ready for production. Given the circumstances of Bultaco’s birth, it should have surprised no one that the company began racing soon afterwards, entering a team in the roadster class at the 1959 Spanish Grand Prix. It was a most promising debut; seven Bultacos finishing in the top ten with works rider Johnny Grace’s in second place. Spurred on by this and other successes achieved by the tuned Tralla 101, Bultaco went one stage further and developed its first purpose-built racing motorcycle – the legendary TSS. Among the first racers to campaign the Spanish two-strokes in the UK were Tommy Robb and Dan Shorey, the latter taking the coveted ACU Star (British Championship) in the 125cc class in 1961. Armed with a 196cc TSS, Shorey enjoyed a phenomenal run of success in the 1962 250cc World Championship, twice finishing 4th behind a trio of works Hondas to end the year in 7th place overall. Hs also took the British 125 and 250cc Championships that same year. Despite upping the capacity of its larger single to a full 250cc and adopting water cooling, Bultaco struggled to maintain its competitiveness at Grand Prix level in the face of overwhelming Japanese and Italian opposition, although there were occasional flashes of brilliance. In 1965 Ramon Torras split the works Yamahas of Phil Read and Mike Duff at the Spanish 250cc Grand Prix to finish 2nd, while Tommy Robb scored a memorable victory in the 250cc class at the Northwest 200. Contesting both the 125 and 250cc World Championships, New Zealander Ginger Molloy scored a number of top-ten finishes and in 1966 brought Bultaco its first Grand Prix victory at the Ulster round. The latter event was also notable for Tommy Robb’s 3rd place riding a 252cc TSS in the 350cc class, beaten only by Mike Hailwood and Giacomo Agostini. Meanwhile, in production machine racing the 200cc Metralla sports roadster had become a force to be reckoned with, winning its class in the 1963 European Grand Prix d’Endurance series despite giving away 50cc to its rivals. By 1967 the Metralla was available as a full 250, and in that year’s Diamond Jubilee TT in the Isle of Man secured a remarkable result in the production race when a team of race-kitted bikes entered by the importer for Southern Ireland, Harry Lindsay finished 1st and 2nd, Bill Smith leading Tommy Robb across the line, with Kevin Cass in 6th place. Acquired by the vendor in 1999, this Metralla was previously ridden in the Isle of Man TT (on two occasions) and then for three seasons in the Irish Racing Championships by various riders. The machine was restored by long-time Bultaco stalwart Tommy Robb circa 1999 and last ridden in the 2002 Isle of Man TT Parade, when its rider was none other than Tommy himself. Presented in immaculate condition, it is offered with correspondence from Tommy Robb and engine builder Paul Wilkinson of P W Racing, detailing work carried out, parts used and costs. No reserve.
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