We don’t see many Spanish vehicles here at Barn Finds, let alone a Bultaco, but Adam “Iron Man” Clarke wrote about one here a couple of years ago. They are interesting machines with a very interesting and somewhat convoluted lineage dating back to the late 1950s and a company called Montesa. The seller has this 1968 Bultaco TSS (Tralla Super Sport) 250 posted here on craigslist in Laguna Hills, California and they’re asking $23,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Nevadahalfrack for the tip!
Yes, I would also keep this Bultaco TSS in my living room if I owned it. I would devise some sort of lift system to raise it up a few feet to display it on the wall as art while it isn’t being ridden. Grand Prix motorcycle racing is immensely popular around the world, maybe more so than it is here in the U.S., but it’s also followed by many fans here, too. Bultaco was born out of another famous manufacturer, Montesa, who held a board meeting about whether the company should continue with Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and the majority voted to discontinue that program. One board member, Francisco Xavier Bulto, had other ideas.
While having dinner with a dozen or so former Montesa employees, the group talked Señor Bulto into starting another company to continue their beloved Grand Prix racing endeavors, and in early 1959, Bultaco was born. The Bultaco name was a combination of Bulto and “Paco”, a nickname for Señor Bulto’s first name, Francisco. Two short months later, Bultacos took seven of the top 10 spots at the roadster class of the Spanish Grand Prix. Several other impressive showings and improvements lead to the TSS class of racing bikes. The early models were air-cooled but within a short time, the water-cooled TSS motorcycles were the ones to beat. They were made from 1960 (introduced in 1961) until 1970.
The seller gives little information about this example other than confirming matching frame and engine numbers. Speaking of the engine, it should be a Bultaco 244-cc water-cooled two-stroke single-cylinder, backed by a six-speed manual transmission. We have to assume it runs but don’t know anything else about it from the seller’s incredibly short listing. There’s some paint lifting from the left side of the lower faring, but it looks good otherwise. Have any of you owned a Bultaco?
Cool 😎
Note the four leading shoe front drum brake.
A beautifull device, soon to be eclipsed by discs, but the Acme of drum brakedom.
With brass screen on the air inlets.
Very cool …bul-taco is an acquired taste
Actually, they are quite good- you just need to use enough salsa. Cheese helps too.
Yes I have three having this is like having the holy grail for bultacos road racers
I remember when Bultacos were a rather common sight in the 70s, but they were all enduros or motocrossers. This is the first road racer I’ve seen. And they weren’t the only Spanish makes. You would often see Montessa and Ossa running the trails too. They all broke often, but they were also easy to repair.
I have owned a bunch of Bultacos. The Bultaco Astro waa a great flattrack motorcycle. Alpine waa a good trail bike. The shifter and brake are on the opposite side of American motorcycles.
Yes I have three having this is like having the holy grail for bultacos road racers
I raced Motocross in Montana on a 360 Pursang. I also used to drag race One-eighth mile against muscle cars. Good and fast they were.
Back in the 60s Bultaco was a formidable challenge for the competition. I wasn’t all that well read in Grand Prix racing other than watch Mike Hailwood wear through the sides of his boots and never skin a toe. And he was racing for Honda at the time.
The only Bultacos that made it out west were the dirt bikes. Mostly Pursang 250s but there were a small contingent of us who let it all hang out and went for the 360 Banditos.
The Pursangs and Banditos held up pretty well against the other European makes, until Maico brought out the Monoshock rear suspension, which, as we all know, got copied ad-nauseum by the Rising Sun.
Back to this one, I used to read Cycle World which featured Grand Prix racing a lot. I used to see Bultaco in the road racing lineups but it seemed to maintain a high ranking but I never saw anything spectacular. But then, I was more into Flat Track or Motocross.
Nice bike just the same…