This machine (1953 Elvish Fontan, Rocher Ducati Cucciolo 48cc) is so rare that we think it’s best to have the seller take the lead a bit on describing it. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions!
“Elvish Fontan, the ‘Bentley of Autocycles’, an Elvish Fontan Rocher Cucciolo with the very rare Mark VI Rocher engine. Motor is running, although has been prepared for dry storage currently so will need oil before starting it again. The bicycle frame has been stripped back to metal and some brazing done to repair the rack on the back before full restoration. It was then repainted, and passed to a sign writer to faithfully recreate the sign written original design before finally being clear lacquered. The hubs have been restored with fresh nickel plating, and the rims and other cycle parts freshly chromed. The pedals have also been rebuilt using period correct matching rubbers sourced from Newfoundland in Canada! The bike has been rebuilt with all new bearings in the wheels, steering column and pedals. It comes with a specific Rocher workshop manual, dating certificate and a signed postcard of the great French cyclist Victor Fontan himself. It is not registered in the UK but the dating paperwork I have makes that a straightforward operation by filling in a V55/5 and a V112 DVLA form.
The history behind this very rare model is quite something – Victor Fontan (born Pau, France, 18 June 1892, died Saint-Vincent 2 January 1982) was a French cyclist who led the 1929 Tour de France but dropped out when his bike was broken beyond repair in a bad crash. In with a real chance of winning the event and having worn the leader’s Yellow Jersey, Victor spent the night knocking at doors in nearby homes to ask for another bicycle to ride. Sadly, he couldn’t locate one and his plight led to a permanent change of Tour De France rules to prevent it happening again by allowing spares and spare bicycles to be provided to riders in the event of a crash or equipment failure. He was also one of three riders who all wore the yellow jersey of leadership on the same day, the only time it has ever happened in the history of the event.
The Elvish bicycle company started out in England, with the company closing in WW1 and resuming in France after the war under different ownership. They joined champion cyclist Victor Fontan to create the team ‘Elvish Fontan’ and they took part as an official team in the Tour de France in 1928 and 1929 where Victor’s retirement led to the rule change. Later the team became Elvish-Fontan-Wolber, with racing successes in 1948, 1949, and 1950.
Victor continued his association with the Elvish company from the late ‘20s well into the 1950s. Elvish branched out into high end autocycles & cyclemotors after WWII in response to the demand for convenient two wheeled transport, and to celebrate the career of the great cyclist, they produced a limited run of Elvish Fontan autocycles in 1953 running a two speed hand change Ducati Cucciolo engine and flamboyant art deco style designed components. This was in contrast to the (relatively) cheaper Elvish autocycles that ran a variety of small French engines, particularly those of Le Poulain. Elvish became renowned for building the best of the best in terms of quality, equipment design and styling.
With an enviable reputation for reliability, manufacturers in various countries bought in Italian Cucciolo engines to power their mopeds. As the engine was a top-of-the-range 4-stroke unit, it was reserved for upmarket machines, and many French cycle shops created special frames to house the Cucciolo engine. The Elvish Fontan Rocher Cucciolo was the most glamorous of all of them.
Rocher didn’t just buy in Ducati Cucciolo engines, they added their own touches like Rocher engine numbers, a series of Rocher marked flywheels, of which this sports the extremely rare Mark VI version, where only a handful are known to exist, plus, Rocher re-created some parts like the head in high quality aluminium instead of the high silicon content alloy of the original Cucciolo, meaning that in the event of a maintenance, welding is possible, where it isn’t on the Ducati Cucciolo head. Despite these trademarked touches, the engines are operationally the same and so spares can easily be had by seeking out the Ducati equivalent.
The Elvish Fontan is the perfect example of a ‘rich person’s moped’ and rightly deserves comparisons as ‘the Bentley of Autocycles’. Not only is the engine top of the range, but little expense has been spared in the design and manufacture of the machine. The handlebars in particular are a work of art.
Personally, I have only ever seen pictures of one other Elvish Fontan in gold and never seen another in the flesh, so this is an opportunity to own an extremely rare and very beautiful machine with stunning art deco style features including the signed postcard of the great man, Victor Fontan himself. Don’t take my word for it, Google the heck out of it and you will only turn up either this machine, or the gold one that was last seen around 20 years ago. This is probably explained by the extremely low handful of production numbers, potentially limited to a single year of production.”
This example is VIN: 51666. The seller acquired it eight years ago.
It has only been a restoration project for the seller, he has not ridden the bike during his ownership. There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown though it has not been ridden since the restoration.
The owner has sold other bikes through Iconic, including a 1955 Vincent Black Shadow Series D.
Maintenance:
“Fully restored cycle parts, everything, new bearings, seals, chrome/nickel plating, re-upholstered seat using original leather as a pattern etc etc. Engine has not been opened since it ran perfectly before the cycle parts were restored so it retains its original patina.
The chassis and cycle parts have been fully restored. At the point of restoration, the bike was running nicely. The engine was prepared for dry storage while the restoration was done and hasn’t been tinkered with so will need filling with oil again before running.”
Mechanical Issues:
The seller states that there are no known mechanical issues, but that “it hasn’t been run for 3 years so will need light recommissioning. It also comes with a tub of carb spare parts for the rare Zenith 12mm carb.”
Modifications:
“100% original bar the seat leather.”
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes a “hand signed postcard photograph of legendary cyclist, one time Tour de France leader and the man who gave his name to this rare autocycle, Victor Fontan.”
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
“Original patina on the engine as this is unrestored cosmetically.”
Currently located in Sandbach, Cheshire, Great Britain, this is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any Fontan stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
