Most of the countries in the developed world have produced motorcycles at one time or another. Some countries, such as Australia, mainly assembled bikes rather than manufacture them from scratch (some 400 motorcycle have been built since 1900 in Australia!). But one country stands alone having manufactured but one machine: Argentina.

For a country with a passion for speed, it is hard to believe that only one motorcycle was made there.

However, the machine in question, the Tehuelche, is considered by many classic motorcycle aficionados to be one of the best small bikes ever made. (It should be noted that other motorcycles were produced under license in Argentina, these included Puma Primera and Puma Segunda, Ceccato Zanella, and the Gilera).

Italian Designers

Credited with the design of the Tehuelche are two Italians, Roberto Fattorini and Juan Rafaldi. Along with a close friend of theirs, Carlo Preda, the three arrived in Argentina after the Second World War in 1949 to start a manufacturing company.

Having set up a manufacturing facility, and designing a machine that could be mass produced, the three entrepreneurs produced their first machine. The engine design is credited to Rafaldi and was a single cylinder 4-stroke of 50-cc. The engine was unusual for a street machine in having a mechanically driven single overhead cam (SOHC), a design more likely to be found on race machines at the time, and was made primarily from aluminum.

Competing in some local races the little machines soon showed its abilities and attracted interest from racers and street riders alike. For street use the capacity was increased to 75-cc which resulted in a very efficient and economical machine (50 kilometers per liter or 117 miles per US gallon).

Few Remaining

During the first two years the company produced some 1,200 machines. Production continued until 1964; by that time approximately 5,000 motorcycles had been produced. Today, it is believed that there are only around one hundred examples still in existence, with considerably less (20) still running, making them highly collectable. A clean running example is valued at $10,000 to $15,000.

In 1964 the company ceased production, sighting the economic situation in Argentina which had resulted in very high inflation rates. However, Fattorini and Rafaldi did set up a workshop to service existing owners and tuned some race bikes (increasing the cubic capacity to 100-cc) which made the bikes very competitive in the hands of riders Jaime Enriuez and Alberto Gomes.

Specification:

Engine: Air cooled single cylinder 4-stroke, producing 4.75 hp at 6,500 rpm.

Capacity: 74.2-cc (Bore 48-mm, Stroke 41-mm)

Compression ratio: 6.5:1

Fuel consumption: 50 km /liter (117 US miles per gallon)

Valve configuration: One inlet and one exhaust placed at 90 degrees operated by OHC and rockers

Lubrication: Wet sump with splash transfer (a rotating metallic extension on the connecting rod collects oil and splashes it around inside the engine

Clutch: Single disc (wet configuration)

Gearbox: Three-speed (max speed in each gear: 17, 30, 46 mph respectively)

Carburation: Dellorto MA16 carburetor (manufactured under license)

Frame: Single loop, steel tube

Weight: 96 kg (211 lb’s)

Note: The name Tehuelche is from Mapudungun (a language used by nomadic hunters in Chile) and translates into English as “Fierce People.” There is also an airport (PMY) named Tehuelche in Argentina.