![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik12kdhhUara0Iz7CtRUfaA2HTRgzcFdEy8T1ynBW-IH8wS4IK3JcmK9t0AB_uiTl7-TRTda0sLPWdSmgt_PbWcb24BGR1vBWr8fXcCDSjEuZGfVVRtzj1oqE6AyJUc-yThXTgO2U90tw/s320/660.jpg)
"In 1940 Marcel Mennesson would a prototype of a 38cm-engine assited bycycle. Its characteristics are the of the actual Solex, including, among other things, a transmission with a running wheel, a cylinder out of the line of the wheel, and a gas pump that brings the gas back to the tank. By december 1940, this engine is installed on a men's bike - the "Alcyon" with is black with a gold trim, This was indeed the first production model of Velosolex.
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In 1953 over 100,000 of the "bicycles with emergency engines."are sold. Its success is phenomenal, Solexes are sold to dealers 50 at a time and the dealers having to pay pay cash in advance due to the high demand. At the same time Solexes have even become a hot commodity on the black market.
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On January 29 th 1974, Félix Goudard dies at the age of 86-in charge of the worldwide commercialisation of the Solex the company soon wained. A few months after Renault (the french car producer) took control of the Vélosolex. In 1988 the production line of Saint-Quentin stopped on november 7 and the last 100 units were be sold at an charity auction for "Les resto du coeur".
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If your lucky you can still see the early Solexes chugging around the E.U. irritating both traffic and noses alike.
Thanks to the French Velosex site.
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