1951 Mosquito on German Express de Luxe Gents Bicycle

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Express bicycles are superbly styled and very well-built. I particularly like the company mascot that graces the front mudguard of every Express.

This sturdy machine makes an ideal mount for a cycle-attachment engine.

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This particular one is fitted with a 1951 Mosquito engine, made under license in France.

I had it running last year, but when I fired it up this week, it lost its spark after starting. So there must be an electric problem.

Also, the rear tyre (1.75 x 2) is too wide a profile; it needs a slightly smaller one.

I prefer to sell my vehicles as runners. But I've no time to attend to it, so unfortunately I have to sell it as 'requiring restoration.'

Mosquito engines enjoy an excellent reputation, so I'm sure a fellow enthusiast will have it sorted in no time.

It's not registered, so if you want to use it on the road, you'll need to join the NACC, apply for a dating certificate (£7), MOT it, and pay DVLA £50 to get a registration number allocated.

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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

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It even has an Express bicycle bell

Optima saddles were top of the range.

There's a German Torpedo rear hub