Purchasing classics there

A rare Spanish

The large Spanish single cylinders with their monumental engine blocks are just as impressive as they are rare here. Sanglas was a company that actually built motorcycles for the Spanish government. But that turned out not to be enough. That is why they also built for the civilian market. But even in Spain the engines are quite rare. Here in the Netherlands you see much less. But recently there was one for sale.

Head valves

Sanglas was founded in 1942 by the brothers Martin and Javier Sanglas who made single cylinders from 248 to 499 cc for which they built their own engine blocks.

In 1962, the company moved to Hospitalet de Llobregat, where 1962 cc, 295cc and 350 cc head valves were produced from 423. In 1978 came a Sanglas with a Yamaha 400 cc two-cylinder engine, and that was the beginning of the end. Yamaha wanted to get a foothold on Spanish soil because the Spanish government had banned the import of Japanese brands. And then buying locally is the better option than starting a war.

Takeover

In 1981, Yamaha took over the company and shortly thereafter the name Sanglas disappeared. The 249 and 323 cc two-stroke branches produced by Sanglas from 1963 to 1968 were launched under the Rovena name. The two-stroke machines had engine blocks from Hispano-Villiers and Zündapp. They also disappeared from view.

Not many were sold outside of Spain. The brand was sold from 1972 in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg by De Bruin Motoren in Driebruggen. I still remember that there were three in the 'showroom'. And if it was a coincidence that 30 years later I saw 3 ZGAN Sanglassen on a trade show? In Spain there is another "Club Sanglas Catalunya". But how many members does it count?

In the meantime, such an 400 or 500 cc Sanglas should be a motor for enthusiasts who have taste, want to distinguish themselves and have no problem with the parts provision only resembling something when you speak Spanish and your Spanish network is at least over Sinterklaas runs.

Beautiful things, those Sanglassen.

Read on: Spanish Post war motorcycles from Mick Walker. That is very educational.

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