The Société Bel Motors was a French microcar (automobile) manufacturer established at Les Sables-d'Olonne in 1976 by Jean Bellier.[1] The cars used the name Véloto which reflected aspects of their light-weight design, notably in respect of the spoked wheels which would not have looked out of place on a bicycle.[2]
Bel Motors International had manufactured a number of products, including children's pedal cars, before progressing to automobile manufacture.[3]
Carsedit
The manufacturer's first car was the Super Véloto, described as a "quadricycle" with an auxiliary motor.[3] The motor was a rear-mounted twin cylinder air-cooled 50cc engine[3] from Motobécane which powered the rear wheel via a V-belt and chain linkage.[3] Front suspension was a minimal affair involving rubber rings: suspension at the back was non-existent.[3] Comfort was not a priority and nor was noise suppression in respect of the engine. There were no brakes at the front, but the rear wheels had drum brakes fitted: these were controlled using a hand-lever.[3] The thick leather-look steering wheel was generously padded and provided a contrast with the minimalist approach applied to the rest of the design.[3]
When empty the Super Véloto weighed just 150 kg.[3] The car was 2,120 mm (83.5 in) long and sat on a 1,460 mm (57.5 in) wheelbase.[3]
The Super Véloto's first public outing was at the 63rd Paris Motor Show in October 1976. Some observers spotted a retrospective character in the vehicle which sported simple technical solutions recalling the Vélocar of the early 1940s.[3][4] The light weight design meant that it could legally be driven by people too young to qualify for a driving licence.[3] Its appeal to young people will have been enhanced by a retail price advertised by the manufacturer in October 1976 of 5,950 francs, although this had risen to 6,850 francs by June 1977.[3]
By the autumn of 1978 there were two version of the Super Véloto' advertised.[5] The "Type A" had a listed price of 7,600 francs and the "Type B" was offered at 9,300 francs.[5] The principal difference was apparent when starting the engine.[5] On the "Type A" the driver was required to pedal hard and then connect the engine so that it could be started using the momentum of the movement built up through pedaling.[5] The "Type B" came with an electric starter controlled using an ignition key.[5]
The Véloto C-10 S followed in 1979.
In 1980 the Minoto was exhibited. This featured polyester bodywork strengthened with aluminium, supported by a conventional steel frame, but nothing more was heard of this vehicle. The name Minoto did, however, return on a lightweight vehicle produced by the aluminium Arola during their final two years of independence, 1982 and 1983, but the Arola Minoto was not technically related to the earlier Minoto design from Bel Motors.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Véloto.
Microcarfan 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine (französisch, accessed 6 April 2013)
Further readingedit
Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008, ISBN978-3-8032-9876-8. (German)
George Nick Georgano (Chefredakteur): The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. Volume 3: P–Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, ISBN1-57958-293-1. (English)
George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris 1975. (French)
Sources and notesedit
^ abLinz, Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie.
^"Vélo" is one of the words for a "bicycle" in French.
^ abcdefghijkl"Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1977 (Salon [Paris, Oct] 1976). Nr. 78s. Paris: Histoire & collections: 12. 2006. {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
^"Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1940-46 (Années sans salon). Nr. 26. Paris: Histoire & collections: 80. 2003. {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
^ abcde"Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1979 (Salon [Paris, Oct] 1978). Nr. 84s. Paris: Histoire & collections: 8. 2006. {{cite journal}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
January 01, 1970
motors, société, french, microcar, automobile, manufacturer, established, sables, olonne, 1976, jean, bellier, cars, used, name, véloto, which, reflected, aspects, their, light, weight, design, notably, respect, spoked, wheels, which, would, have, looked, plac. The Societe Bel Motors was a French microcar automobile manufacturer established at Les Sables d Olonne in 1976 by Jean Bellier 1 The cars used the name Veloto which reflected aspects of their light weight design notably in respect of the spoked wheels which would not have looked out of place on a bicycle 2 Societe Bel MotorsFounded1976Defunct1980HeadquartersLes Sables d Olonne FranceKey peopleJean BellierProductsLight Automobiles Veloto production ended in 1980 1 when Jean Bellier founded the Bellier 1 company and started to manufacture vehicles badged with his own name Contents 1 Origins 2 Cars 3 External links 4 Further reading 5 Sources and notesOrigins editBel Motors International had manufactured a number of products including children s pedal cars before progressing to automobile manufacture 3 Cars editThe manufacturer s first car was the Super Veloto described as a quadricycle with an auxiliary motor 3 The motor was a rear mounted twin cylinder air cooled 50cc engine 3 from Motobecane which powered the rear wheel via a V belt and chain linkage 3 Front suspension was a minimal affair involving rubber rings suspension at the back was non existent 3 Comfort was not a priority and nor was noise suppression in respect of the engine There were no brakes at the front but the rear wheels had drum brakes fitted these were controlled using a hand lever 3 The thick leather look steering wheel was generously padded and provided a contrast with the minimalist approach applied to the rest of the design 3 When empty the Super Veloto weighed just 150 kg 3 The car was 2 120 mm 83 5 in long and sat on a 1 460 mm 57 5 in wheelbase 3 The Super Veloto s first public outing was at the 63rd Paris Motor Show in October 1976 Some observers spotted a retrospective character in the vehicle which sported simple technical solutions recalling the Velocar of the early 1940s 3 4 The light weight design meant that it could legally be driven by people too young to qualify for a driving licence 3 Its appeal to young people will have been enhanced by a retail price advertised by the manufacturer in October 1976 of 5 950 francs although this had risen to 6 850 francs by June 1977 3 By the autumn of 1978 there were two version of the Super Veloto advertised 5 The Type A had a listed price of 7 600 francs and the Type B was offered at 9 300 francs 5 The principal difference was apparent when starting the engine 5 On the Type A the driver was required to pedal hard and then connect the engine so that it could be started using the momentum of the movement built up through pedaling 5 The Type B came with an electric starter controlled using an ignition key 5 The Veloto C 10 S followed in 1979 In 1980 the Minoto was exhibited This featured polyester bodywork strengthened with aluminium supported by a conventional steel frame but nothing more was heard of this vehicle The name Minoto did however return on a lightweight vehicle produced by the aluminium Arola during their final two years of independence 1982 and 1983 but the Arola Minoto was not technically related to the earlier Minoto design from Bel Motors External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Veloto Microcarfan Archived 2007 09 29 at the Wayback Machine franzosisch accessed 6 April 2013 Further reading editHarald Linz Halwart Schrader Die Internationale Automobil Enzyklopadie United Soft Media Verlag Munchen 2008 ISBN 978 3 8032 9876 8 German George Nick Georgano Chefredakteur The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile Volume 3 P Z Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers Chicago 2001 ISBN 1 57958 293 1 English George Nick Georgano Autos Encyclopedie complete 1885 a nos jours Courtille Paris 1975 French Sources and notes edit a b Linz Schrader Die Internationale Automobil Enzyklopadie Velo is one of the words for a bicycle in French a b c d e f g h i j k l Automobilia Toutes les voitures francaises 1977 Salon Paris Oct 1976 Nr 78s Paris Histoire amp collections 12 2006 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a volume has extra text help Automobilia Toutes les voitures francaises 1940 46 Annees sans salon Nr 26 Paris Histoire amp collections 80 2003 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a volume has extra text help a b c d e Automobilia Toutes les voitures francaises 1979 Salon Paris Oct 1978 Nr 84s Paris Histoire amp collections 8 2006 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a volume has extra text help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bel Motors amp oldid 1220664934, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
