1951 Peugeot BMA 25L 48cc 2-Speed
Although this machine is a Peugeot – one of the leading cyclemotor manufacturers throughout the 1950s – this particular model is very rare. It was Peugeot’s first cyclemotor, a ‘stop-gap’ model fitted with an ABG engine, and was only made for 6 months with total production figures of 3,500.
The BMA 25L was sold only in early 1951 until Peugeot had finalized production of their own cyclemotor engine, that new machine being known as the Bima.
Peugeot’s first postwar foray into cyclemotoring was a very simple affair: in 1949, they added a VAP4 engine to their Peugeot bicycle models. The illustration below shows the VAP4 fitted to a Ladies Peugeot bicycle.
…and below, for comparison, you can see a similar Gent’s Peugeot fitted with a VAP3 (I sold this one to Trevor in New York in 2009).
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Bear in mind that, at the end of the forties, the French manufacturers were still establishing themselves after the ravages of WW2. Peugeot was in a better position than most but, at first, priority was given to motorcycles, which started production again even before the end of the war.
Nevertheless, with the success of the Velosolex from 1946, it was obvious there was a demand for very cheap motorized transportation and many companies started to make cycle-attachment engines. The VAP, fitted alongside the rear wheel, was a very well-built and popular attachment; by 1951 the company had been purchased by ABG and developed an engine to fit in front of the pedals. But if you compare the photo of the VAP3 above, you can see the similarities in design between the rear wheel VAP3 and the centrally-mounted BMA 25L engine.
Below is a publicity shot of the Peugeot factory, taken from the 1951 brochure.
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I’m a confirmed Peugeot addict. I’ve owned a varied selection of their motorcycles, BMA’s, cyclemotors, triporteurs (three-wheelers) and Peugeot scooters. It’s easy to be impressed by vintage Peugeots: they are always well-made, reliable, and sport that quirky French design that I admire so much. To compare this BMA 25L with the later Bima, here’s a picture of a 1954 model I used to own.
As you can see, below, these mid-fifties Bimas have their engine-engage levers on the seat tube, whereas the BMA 25L lever is on the actual engine.
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I purchased this rare BMA 25L in France. It had been hand-painted by the seller’s children. I’ve since bought a period saddle to put on it.
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