Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricycle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis. There is also a page on really obscure French brands.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
FAC
Motorcycle trailers manufactured in the 1950s by France Auto Cycle (F.A.C.) of 47 Bould Pasteur 47 Clermont-Ferrand.
Built under licence to Michelin, so likely very similar to Michelin trailers.
Source: contemporary literature.
Farman
The Farman brothers (Henri, Maurice and Richard) built a motor-tricycle using a De Dion-Bouton 1 ¾hp engine in 1899. Henri Farman is the man who coined the term aileron. The Farman brothers were best known for their aircraft - they built more than 200 types and two of them took part in the 1932 Tour de France des avions de tourisme. They also built luxury cars of very high quality, producing some 100 of them between 1919 and 1931.
They were associated with the British firm Hopper
Sources: Bourdache, mini.43.free.fr/farman.html, aviafrance.com, autopasion18.com, et al
Faure & Bayle
Founded in 1922 by André Faure and Claude Bayle at 94 Rue St Roch in St Etienne
Manufactured frames, motorcycle parts and light motorcycles. Between 1922 and 1925 they built single-speed machines powered by 125cc and 175cc Massardier engines.
The company ceased trading in 1926, and Faure became a works rider at Royal Moto.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Faure-Durbize
Faure Jean and Durbize Barthélémy of 2 place Desnoette, St Etienne, built bicycle and motorcycle frames and components from early in 1920.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Feminia
1933-36
Built lightweights using 98 and 123 cc two-stroke engines from Aubier Dunne and Stainless
Sources: Tragatsch p134, wikipedia.nl
Fernand Clément
Around 1908 the bicycle firm is understood to have built motorcycles and tricycles fitted with Z.L. engines.
They appear unrelated to the products of Adolphe Clément.
Source: Bourdachep434
Flamand
Ets Flamand, 80 Rue Tronchet, Lyon
Advertised Le Cyclomoteur Flamand 49cc in 1951, also 85cc Le Poulain in 1951.
Source: contemporary advertising
Fleury
1905
Entered the the M.C.F. competition, ridden by Demmler.
Bourdache pp 233, 435
Flinois
Established 1898, they built the Centaure in 1900.
In 1905, Flinois-Bonnel were established at 15 bis, Route de la Révolte, Neuilly
Bourdache pp 432, 435, 444.
F.M.L. (FML)
La Société Fabrication Mécanique de Levallois (F.M.L.).
Paris-based producer of Junior and Le Poulain engines, and also Myster.
Sources: mo-ped.se, Junior Magazine March 1954.
Fonlupt 1926~1956
Foray
The origin of this machine is unknown.
Probably built in the 1950s, it has an NSU engine and bears the Sovexia brand on the forks, and the FORAY name painted on the bodywork (and possibly stamped on the frame).
Gilles Péris y Saborit writes, on Flickr: "Je n'ai trouvé aucune information sur cet élégant deux-roues disposant d'un moteur NSU et portant la marque SOVEXIA sur la fourche et le nom FORAY sur le cadre. Les Rendez-Vous Mécaniques, St-Pierre-la-Palud (Rhône)"
Fox
1931~1949
Post-war they produced 100cc BMA lightweights.
Sources: wikipedia.nl
F.R.
Ets François 6 Rue St Ferdinant, Paris
Models include 1954 Type L54 70.5cc
Source: La Moto Francaise
F. Simon
Établissements F. Simon of Agen built mopeds using De Boxon engines which were marketed under a number of brand names including Elite (Agen), Esper, Mondia, Prester (Agen), Semper and Sport.
Notes.
1. Esper is a brand associated with another manufacturer (Moreau), as is Prester. This information needs clarification.
2. An advertisement for F. Simon & S.I.F. gives the address as 154 Avenue Pasteur, Troyes.
Source: The Moped Archive (globalnet.co.uk), et al.
Fulgor
Participated in the M.C. competition in Lyon, April 4, 1902
There is also an Italian Fulgor marque in the 1920s, unrelated.
Bourdache p435
Fulgur (1905)
Manufactured by Édouard Cannevel and Jean-Joachim Journaux
Built bicycle attachment engines named Fulgur in 1907, perhaps earlier. The Journaux firm is also known for the Tractocyclette.
Source: lestricars.es.tl
Several firms used the Fulgur name; see Disambiguation
Fulgur (1950s)
Manufactured by Établissements Taillandier of 61 Rue de la Prévoyance, Vincennes
Presented a Fulguretta 50cc scooter1 at the 1952 Foire de Paris and the Salon de Paris, powered by most likely a VLT or Lavalette engine. The firm also made motorcycle trailers, the M100 for motorcycles and the M50 for lightweights (pour velomoteur et derny).
1. This information requires verification.
Source: Amis Terriens, period advertising.
There was also a Fulgur engine, 1903.
Furan 1900s~1950s
Rarer French Marques
