Georges Mochet began to produce cycle-cars at his, now-demolished, premises at 68, Rue Roque-de-Fillol at

Puteaux Puteaux () is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department, from the centre of Paris. La Défense, Paris's business district hosting the tallest buildings in the metropolitan ...

in approximately 1946 and by about 1952 had progressed to more modern looking two seater micro-cars and powered two-wheelers. In 1958, with approximately 3,000 vehicles manufactured, production ended. Georges had inherited the business from his father, (1880–1934) under whose leadership it had, after the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, produced children's’ pedal cars and, between 1924 and 1934, the ' Vélocar' lightweight, pedal-powered, cycle-car. In 1934, the firm's revolutionary 'Vélo-Vélocar'

recumbent bicycle A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position, and often called a Human-powered_land_vehicle, human-powered vehicle or HPV, especially if it has an aerodynamic fairing. Recumbents are available in a w ...

s, ridden to record-breaking speeds by

Francis Faure Francis Faure (1910, Ambert – 1948) was a French bicycle racer who captured the world hour record in July 1933 on a Vélocar. This prompted the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to restrict bicycle designs for all future competitions. Early ...

, were banned from cycling competitions by the

Union Cycliste Internationale The Union Cycliste Internationale (; UCI; ) is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland. The UCI issues racing licenses to riders and enforces di ...

. Charles Mochet died soon after. The continuation of recumbent cycle production and of the cycle-cars, popular in occupied, no-petrol France, and the subsequent switch to micro-cars under Georges after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

was therefore a direct evolution from the pre-war business built up by his father. The “Type CM Grand luxe” for 1953 retained the 125 cc and added a new “ ponton” format body, with headlights set into the front wings. The Mochet now looked like a normal car, but smaller, at just 2550 mm long and 1130 mm wide, recalling the pedal cars produced under the patron's father before the First World War. Despite the modern body-work the 1953 “CM Grand Luxe” retained the same 1700 mm wheelbase and 980 mm front-track of the original “Type K” cycle-car. In October 1953, at the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show () is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently takes place in Paris expo Porte de V ...

, Mochet exhibited a modern looking small cabriolet bodied car closer in size to a (small) normal car. The car was powered by a twin cylinder 748cc unit providing a claimed 40 hp of output. The unit was based on the engines used by the BMW motor bikes used by the police. However, this Mochet 750 never progressed beyond the prototype stage.

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Harald H. Linz, Halwart Schrader: ''Die große Automobil-Enzyklopädie'', BLV, München 1986, *

G.N. Georgano George Nicolas "Nick" Georgano (29 February 1932 – 22 October 2017Nick Georgano
Alvis Archive Bl ...

: ''Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours.'' Courtille, 1975 (French)

External links

Mochet.org
{{French bicycle manufacturers Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France Car manufacturers of France Cycle manufacturers of France Companies based in Île-de-France

See also

References

External links