Tehuelche was an Argentine motorcycle that was produced between March 1957 and 1964.
The Tehuelche was the only Argentine motorcycle that was mass-produced continuously in Argentina for seven years. [1]
The Tehuelche competed with the Puma Primera and Puma Segunda (from Guericke), the Zanella (from Ceccato), and the Gilera. The Tehuelche distinguished itself not only by the characteristic sound of its gear train (SOHC engine) but also by its racing performance.
The creators of the Tehuelche were Juan Raffaldi and Roberto Fattorini. The two men moved to Argentina from Italy in 1949, specifically for this project. Raffaldi and Fattorini brought machinery and capital for the Tehuelche.
In 1955, the two men designed the Telhuelche. Raffaldi included a four-stroke engine of 50 cc displacement (single overhead camshaft- SOHC). This design was a little unusual for its time; up until then, it had been used primarily in racing motorcycles. Furthermore, it had no oil pump and it was made totally out of aluminum.
Raffaldi and Fattorini, along with several other partners, started mass-producing the Telhuelche. They raised the engine capacity to 75 cc to enter a new market category. This first partnership barely lasted two years, during which just over 1,200 motorcycles were produced.
Raffaldi and Fattorini started another partnership with new members, continuing production until the middle of 1964. This partnership secured importation rights for Italian Legnano motorcycles and manufactured approximately 3,500 motorcycles, bringing the total number of Tehuelches ever produced to almost 5,000.
In its almost seven years of manufacture, some of the colors and the decals of the Tehuelche were changed.
In 1962, two models were produced: the Sport and the Super Sport, the latter bearing a speedometer. In addition, since the second partnership had the right to import Legnano motorcycles from Italy, they introduced a model of the Tehuelche called the “Legnano,” hoping to increase sales.
This model appeared on the market with a different gas tank and painted red and white. Finally, in 1964, toward the end of production, the camshaft that had been driven by gears was changed to a chain drive camshaft.
In 1964, Raffaldi and Fattorini decided to abandon the Tehuelche. Hyperinflation and government instability in Argentina made it difficult for them to continue.
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