1900 - Ideas and men
in the early 1900s, Maurice Goudard and Marcel Mennesson were future engineers with a passion for mechanics. They sensed that the automobile sector was about to explode. Their friendship and conviction gave birth to a strong and creative partnership.
1905 - "Goudard et Menesson" is a name that unites the identities of the two partners. But it's also a bit long and not always easy to remember. A problem that is reflected in the parts they produce, notably radiators, on which the brand name does not appear correctly.
Maurice Goudard called on his family to solve the problem. A communicator ahead of his time, he imposed constraints and methods that were relevant and still relevant today. The company's modernity was already evident at this stage.
For his brand name, he wanted a short name, 5 letters and 2 syllables maximum, euphonious, without any meaning and pronounceable in any language...
Solex was the unanimous choice of the family. The legend can begin. The year is 1905.
14-18 The turning point
shunned by carmakers, Goudard and Menesson got off to a rocky start.
A call for tenders from the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus saved the company. Inventions and production continued apace... Until Marcel and Maurice went off to serve in the army between 1914 and 1918, entrusting the keys to the company to their secretary.
Inevitably impacted, but quickly remobilized after the war, the company went on to gain recognition and international expansion, including in Germany and Japan as early as 1923! But at the dawn of a new war and a shrinking economy, Marcel Menesson finally gave life to an idea that had been in his head since 1917: that of a motorized bicycle.
1940 - A motorized bicycle
but not just any motor... An economical and, above all, supportive motor. Bicycles with auxiliary motors had already been tested, under the acronym BMA.
December 1940: the revolution was underway, with the first prototype boasting a speed of 35 km/h! The innovative idea was to combine the roller transmission with a solid frame to create a complete moped. The first of its kind! Pre-series production began in 1942.
An official decree approved this new category of two-wheeler in 1943. Production and sales began in April 1946.
Success was dazzling, not least because of its selling price, less than a month's minimum wage. And, of course, its low fuel consumption: "it only costs a penny a kilometer! "a decisive argument for the public.
1947 - Solex's strengths
solex's success is also due to its exemplary after-sales service! A network of Vélosolex service stations criss-crossed France, and spread even further afield.
These stations sell Solexine, the fuel developed with BP in 1947. A pre-measured mixture of oil and gasoline sold in 2-liter cans, ideal for long engine life and performance.
the '50s... Happy days and glory days for Solex! As soon as the first models went on sale in 1946, the figures became dizzying...
In 1948, the factory produced 25,000 units, and no less than 36,000 in 1949! an incredible 100 Solexes sold every day at the end of the decade!
When you love it, you can't count! from 1951 onwards, models were perfected, and production rose to 100,000 units by 1953... The first serial numbers appear: 330, 660, 1010 and 1400.
1960 - The Yéyés and their wind of lightness make the Solex a cult object, and even more so, the accomplice of a state of mind. To get to the office, the Sorbonne or even the beach, there's nothing better than a Solex! In the mid-60s, up to 1,500 Solexes were sold every day!
As society evolved, so did the Solex, in keeping with its functionalist design. As early as 1960, the 1700 model was equipped with an automatic clutch. The S3800, the best-known model, came out in 1966. Its engine had more torque and a new gear ratio, even though speed was still limited to 30 km/h!
The Vélosolex was a practical, fuel-efficient way of getting around, appealing not only to young people and workers, but also to the biggest stars of the day. In town and on screen, Brigitte Bardot was a prime ambassador for Solex! A bicycle that's not content to play second fiddle. Featured in the films of Jacques Tati, and blending in logically with Gabin and Belmondo, Solex is an actor in its own right, even on the Super 8 films of every Frenchman.
2005 - A new chapter
in 2004, Solex found its way back into the public eye, thanks to the Cible group, and a new expression of its timeless style was presented in 2005. While its motorization was modernized by switching to electric, its design was entrusted to Pininfarina. The e-solex, the first electric Solex, goes on sale in early 2005.
2014 -> Today
now owned by the Easybike Group, the Solex brand continues to inspire generations old and new.
Credits : Solex & MGF Easybike