1973 ‘Mosquito Baby’ Cyclemotor 35.5cc
I’ve owned this fabulous little machine for many years, originally bought on a whim because I couldn’t resist its charms. Each year I take it out of its storage and MOT it.
It runs well, is in excellent original condition, has a current MOT and is DVLA registered. When not being used, you can hang it on the wall 🙂
The Mosquito Baby is one of the rarest cyclemotors. The cycle attachment era had really passed by 1973, and not many of these were produced.
I’ve seen one or two Baby Mosquito engines, mounted to miscellaneous frames. This one is particularly rare as it has its original frame and Garelli saddle.
The paint is a little scratched here and there. I don’t do concours. I prefer good working condition. I had it serviced last year, and it’s in good original running order.
*****************
GARELLI’S BABY MOSQUITO
The final production version of the Mosquito was the Baby Mosquito. It had a centrifugal clutch like the previous Centrimatic, mounted on specially fabricated fixings on the bicycle frame. A number of interesting changes were made for the Baby Mosquito, including a reduction in capacity to 35.5cc; an alloy rather than cast iron cylinder barrel; and a centrally located, rather than upwardly inclined, spark plug.
The Baby Mosquito frame was a mini-bicycle with one large curved diameter tube for its main frame.
Production of most of the original postwar cyclemotors ended with upgraded versions of the original design, killed off by the mopeds of the fifties. If any lingered beyond that era, the Honda Step-through 50cc 4-stroke dealt the final blow. So it’s interesting to see how the Mosquito mutated into the Baby to find a new market in the sixties and early seventies.
*****************
***********************
History of Garelli and Mosquito
Obviously the Mosquito was designed and built in Italy. However, it was also built under license in France and Britian. After the Velosolex and the VAP, it was the 3rd most popular French ‘moteur-auxiliaire.’
At age 22, Adalberto Garelli received a degree in engineering and dedicated his work to developing and perfecting the 2-stroke engine for Fiat. He quit in 1911 due to Fiat’s lack of enthusiasm for the 2-stroke engine, and continued his own engine design between 1911 and 1914 which resulted in the 350cc split-single. Garelli worked for other motorcycle manufacturers from 1914 to 1918 during which time he won a competition organized by the Italian Army to design a motorcycle with which he used his 350cc split-single engine.
After WWI Garelli began to produce motorcycles in his own factory. The Garelli 350cc split-single stayed in production until 1926 and made a major impact in racing. By 1928 his motorcycle interest was waning and his factory began producing military equipment leaving motorcycle production completely.
After WWII, military equipment was no longer needed and Garelli introduced an engine called the Mosquito. The Model 38A began in 1946 as a clip-on engine for a bicycle frame. The concept was a huge success over two million of the engines were sold worldwide. Power was delivered to the back wheel via a friction wheel and was able to reach a top speed of 20mph.
They opened a branch in France too. In 1952, an endurance run illustrated the reliability of the Mosquito, with continuous use for 55 days.
The Mosquito Model 38B. introduced in 1953, was a 48 cc engine; while the final attachment engine, in 1955, had a special automatic transmission.
More information can be found on the Cyclemaster Museum website (Page 34) – PLEASE CLICK HERE
*********************************************************************************
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE BIDDING
OWNER: BuyVintage Online Auctions
LOCATION: Brighton, E.Sussex, United Kingdom
***********
DELIVERY is not included in this auction.
This means that it is not my responsibility,
BUT I can put you in touch with a delivery chap and organize collection;
you liaise with them direct re delivery and pay them separately.
Great Britain – delivery is only £60 to main parts of England;
extra to extremities such as Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, etc (and may take longer to arrive)
(Please email your postcode if you want to confirm price).
THIS BARGAIN PRICE DELIVERY IS ON A PART-LOAD BASIS.
(Collection when they’re in my area; delivery when in yours).
LOCAL DELIVERY FREE
If you want it fast, please organize your own collection.
***********
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY
This is a small cyclemotor so I can box it and ship it by UPS courier
Europe & North America – would be £150
Australia, New Zealand, Asia – would be £250
PAYMENT: Paypal, bank transfer, etc
INTERNATIONAL PURCHASERS:
Please communicate with me before the end of the auction to discuss payment and shipping options.
***********
AFTER PURCHASE: Please email me your phone numbers; I prefer to speak to all purchasers personally.
I do everything I can to make your purchase a pleasurable experience.
I’ve been selling obscure vintage vehicles on ebay since 2002.
Sharing similar interests, I’ve become good friends with many of my customers.
Please feel free to email or phone with any comments or questions…
***********
VEHICLE CONDITION: Vintage vehicles are wonderful beasts
– but each has an individual personality and they sometimes have bad days just like you and me.
You will need basic mechanical skills (or a local mechanic) to use one on a regular basis.
Two-strokes invariably need basic servicing before starting them, if they’ve been left to stand for more than 3 weeks or so.
These are rare vehicles whose values are not necessarily based on running order.
IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE ABOVE, PLEASE DO NOT BID.
********************************************************************************************
If you have any questions about this (or any other vehicle in these BuyVintage Online Auctions),
you can contact Colin in the Customer Service Department between 9am and 7pm daily:
By Phone – (UK 0044) 07866-126469
By email – Buyvintage@mac.com
The Auction Catalogue is our website –
*********************************************************************************
to see what’s currently being sold
PLEASE CLICK HERE – http://buyvintage.co.uk/
2nd BuyVintage Online Auction: 2015 Onwards 